AN EXPEDITION TO THE KING COUNTRY,

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 13 November 1890, Page 31

AN EXPEDITION TO THE KING COUNTRY,

Auckland, November 6.

The whole city was thrown into a state of excitement again this morning by another of the Hon. E. Mitchelson's expeditions against the Maoris. An armed force under Inspector Broham, Sergeants Gamble and Bernard, Detectives Chrystal and Ede, and Captain Morrison of tbe permanent foree — accompanied by Mr Lewis, Undersecretary, lefb by special train for Mercer, en route for Pukekawa, at 2 a.m. Tawhiao's settlement, oh the left bank of the Waik&to river. The object of the expedition was to arrest Kerei Kaihau, Tawhiao's secretary; who flom^ months ago destroyed the trig station in the Upper Thames district, thus interfering with tbe survey which was being carried on by Mr Cheal, the Government surveyor. The block on which the trig station was destroyed is Native land, and outside the 45,000 acres handed over to the Government for advances; but it was necessary that surveys should be made in order to have boundaries correctly defiued, and Mr Cheal was appointed to superintend the undertaking. Some of the King's party were opposed to the surveys going on, while other Natives were in favour of them. Ultimately it was thought that the matter was amicably settled, it having been explained that the trig stations were no iufringments of their rights. Kerei Kaihau and some of Tawhiao's adherents were, however, uot satisfied, and Kerei Kaihau destroyed, or rather took down, the trig station. The ironwork he sent to the postmaster at Miranda, and he wrote to Mr Wilkinson, the Government Native agent, stating that he bad done the act. A summons was issued, but Kaihau ignored it. A warrant was then issued here, and in the dead of night the Government emissaries were hurrying about, and the railway station where the forces were assembled was a soene of great excitement. Henare Kaibau, brother of the man to be arrested, went to the station to accompany the party. He expressed himself astonished at such preparations, and said there were only women at the settlement, and if anyone was sent to tell his brother be would come down.

The expedition despatched for the arrest of Kerei Kaihau, left Auckland by special train at 2 o'clock this moruing. The force comprised 22 of the police (under Inspector Broham) and about 32 of the permanent force (under Captain Harri-jou) Mr Lewis, Under- Secretary for Native Affairs, accompanied the party. Mercer was rnhched at 4 o'clock, and the men h«.d breakfast there, and were taken across the Waikato rirer in a steamer. They started on foot for Pukekawa, about ai'ven miles off ; but no one was found in the first settlement reached, and the force then inndo a detour, and entered upon a road about a mile long, which was almost a sea of mud. Two other settlements vrere passed, | and it was only on reaching the fourth that ' Kerei Kaihau was seen reclining in the fern, with Tawhiao, the Maorj king, a little distance from him. The police and artillery drew up in line and parleying began. Mr Lewis, with the aid of Mr Buckley (interpreter^, explained to Tawhiao why they had come, Tawhiao replied that Kerei had pulled up the trig station by his orders, as it was on his (T&whiao's) land. He had not done it with the intention of destroying the property, which was to be handed to the Government. His mana was from heaven, and not like the mana of a piece of paper. This was evidently in reference to the warrant. Tawhiao said the police and soldiers ought not to have come. Mr Lewis told him that Kerei had shown contempt of the Queen's authority, and the law would have to be obeyed. Inspector Broham then arrested Kerei, who was taken to the train, and bought to Auokland, the expedition arriving in town about 2 o'clock. (Fbom Otra Own Cobbespondent.) Auckl/ASD, November 6. The arrest of Kerei Kaihau, Tawhiao's secretary, to-day at Fakekawa, Tawhaio's settlement, marks a new stage in the advance of the supremacy of tbe law. It was made in the presence of Tawhiao, who was told that there was bub one authority in the country, that of the Queen, and but one law for the Native and European alike. This is the first arrest which has ever been made by the police in the usual way in open day, in tho district formerly subjected to Tawhiao's jurisdiction. When I saw him this morning at Fukekawa, Tawhiao was angry and vexed at the turn events bad taken, appeared to feel acutely the new relation which the Government bad now assumed towards Kingisro. The Natives were sullen and kept out of sight; in the background