THE NATIVE OBSTRUCTION AT KAWHIA.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1060, 16 July 1883, Page 3

THE NATIVE OBSTRUCTION AT KAWHIA.

Particulars are furnished to the Auckland

Star by its Cambridge correspondent as fol-y~~-iows :—Mr Burd, surveyor, who has been at work laying off the Aotea-Kawhia Hoad, reports having been obstructed by “King” Tawhiao and a body of natives, who protested against the survey proceeding through native territory, and pulled up a large number of pegs. This is looked on as a serious matter, and the settlers in Kawhia district are naturally very anxious, and talk of appealing to the Native Minister to firmly with the obstructionists. The action taken was evidently the result of certain inflammatory speeches made on Tuesday at a meeting of natives at Kawhia. An old chief, speaking on behalf of the King, said the Europeans had no right in Kawhia harbour ; the land all belonged to the Maoris; and if the pakehas were ordered off they must go. Mr Bryce, it was said, had given Tawhiao a great load to carry, but the natives did not want roads, and the surveyors would have to , go. After this meeting over sixty natives stopped Mr Bard and party, who were threatened with violence if they resisted the demands of the Maoris; It is considered here that the action in question is no more than a fitful assertion of Tawhiao’s “ mana,’’ and that Government should insist on the new road being carried through at all hazards