THE NATIVE OUTRAGE AT LAKE TARAWERA.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 74, 14 November 1885, Page 2

THE NATIVE OUTRAGE AT LAKE TARAWERA.

The following additional particulars of the native outrage at Lake Tarawera have been received :— The cause of the trouble was the Terrace Hotel, which the native owners had leased to the late Mr Robert Graham. Since his death they have desired to resume possession, and so notified Mrs Graham, but it was arranged that she should rewain in pos: essioi pe.Min.rt se.dement of claims for improvement. This agreement w made on Friday morning, but that night, after Mrs Graham had retired, the natives entered the house end slept in some of the rooms. Next morning they forcibly broke into Mrs Graham's bedroom, the door of which she had locked, and attempted to eject her from the house. Her screams for help attracted the attention of Sophia, the gif'de, who, with others of the tribe, came to Mrs Graham’s rescue, and ultimately she made her escape to the grounds adjoining the hotel. The hostile natives

meanwhile proceeded to break the doors and windows, A messenger was despatched to Rotorua, and soon after Constable Abrahams appeared. . Mr Johnson, the Government agent, was also appealed to, and he sent a letter to the chief o f the Tohowarangi tribe, who is a paid assessor and chairman of committee, to beware of countenancing such proceedings, but it appears this was treated with contempt, as were also the warrants for the apprehension of the offenders, which were issued that night. One of the leading chiefs, it is stated, loudly maintained that the law had not come into force in his district. On Sunday morning Constable Abrahams arrested two of the offenders, when their rescue was made by the tribe, led on by the chief Kepa, the constable being severely maltreated and bitten by the frantic savages. At this juncture Mr Lunden’s assistant road engineer lent valuable assistance, and, although he was held by Kepa while the others almost beat his head out of shape, eventually succeeded, with the assistance of other Europeans, in rescuing the jured constable and placing him inside Mr Mcßae’s hotel. Another desperate struggle here ensued, and in the melde the constable managed to escape to Ohinemutu. Later on Wi Kepa sent a message for the Government agent to come out and see him, and he complied with his request, the upshot of the interview being a promise to him for the appearance of the offenders next day in Court at Rotorua. At two o’clock on Monday the five made their appearance, but the proceedings were delayed till the arrival of the Resident Magistrate on the 3rd December, bail being accepted from the natives and half-caste members of the same tribe, to the extent of /'iooo.

(own correspondent.) Auckland, Friday. The Hon. Mr Ballance has received copious details respecting the outrage at Rotorua, and regards it merely as a row which has not been very judiciouly dealt with, but feels confident nothing serious will come of it.