THE OHINEMURI OUTRAGE.

Poverty Bay Herald, 12 September 1879, Page 2

THE OHINEMURI OUTRAGE.

The tribes of Hauraki have been holding a korero over the recent shooting for the past two days, at which the culprits have been in attendance, with 3 5 armed men of their tribe in war-paiut and a body-guard of 30 or 40 others. Pineaha, their chief, is said to be willing to deliver up the culprits if the tribes find them guilty of any crime deserving punishment by European law. On Sunday a number of chiefs of the Hauraki district met at Paeora to consider the late outrage. There were present representatives of the Ngatihinerangi, Ngatitokotoko, Ngatihaua, Ngatimaru, and other tribes, also the two men Wepiha and Pakara, together with about thirty of the Ngatihako. The natives were assembled in three groups of about thirty each, forming a sort of triangle. At the apex were to be seen the two disturbers of the peace, surrounded by thirty of their tribe as a body guard, all in war costume, fully armed with guns, &c, with huia feathers on their heads. The aspect of these was not an indication of peace and good will, nor was there any indication among them of regret or shame for the occurrence. The two parties at the base of the triangle were conversing one with the other, while 'the armed Ngatihako were quietly listening to the debate going on. Tiuiaha and others are reported to have denounced at the meeting the acts of the two men, but the chief subject under discussion was that of boundaries and the question of title. Owing to the bad weather there was not much progress made on Saturday, and the meeting was adjourned until this morning. The Government throwing the onus of peacefully settling the disturbance on the natives themselves is good policy in many respects, and if further troubles rise through the men not being handed over to justice, the Maoris cannot accuse the Government of havimg brought about a war. Had force been used at the onset, it would have been repelled, and it is thought by men acquainted with 'the circumstances of the case that the country would now have been suffering the ill effects of such action. The attempt to capture would have been attended with loss of native life, and those escaping would have been on the war path for revenge. As a capital offence has not been committed, it is believed the culprits will be handed over to the European authorities to be dealt with according to law. The natives as a body do not want war, as one of the Hauraki chiefs remarked: "The idea of these few individuals (the Ngatihako) threatening Europeans, who are like the sand on the seashore." As proof of the feeling of security, it may be mentioned that on Saturday Mr. Firth's steamer made its trip past the spot where the meeting was held, and past the various settlements, without any approach to interference. ■•