THE NATIVES AND THE SALE OF ARMS AT WANGANUI.

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1169, 8 December 1868, Page 4

THE NATIVES AND THE SALE OF ARMS AT WANGANUI.

The following paragraph we take from the Wan- ■ gnnui Evening Herald : — ' " Two half-caste men yestei'day obtained a permit from the Collector of Customs, and proceeded to \ Messrs. Brown and Dutlne's shop, and purchased .three double-barreled guns, 31 bs powder, six boxes, caps, and 301bs shot. Mr. Duthie, before making; .the sale, went to the custom-house when he was told; •by the collector that it was all right—he might sell ,the guns &c, as the men were well known and wanted them for sporting purposes. The men, after paying •for what they had purchased, crossed the river, and .had not proceeded far, when they were followed by a number of the up-river natives, brought back, and the guns taken from them.- These natives say that the two half-caste men are related to Hanhaus, and bought the guns and ammunition ( for evil,' wbich is highly, probable. The men attempted to get the money back and return the guns, but no tradesman .would be fool enough to comply with such a request, and the consequence is that the presumed 'gobetweens' have been completely foiled; through the activity of natives themselves. It is a pretty state of things that men are being murdered on every side, and-the means daily placed in the hands of the murderers, under authority. The Arms Act requires amendment. The guns, &c, ore in the hands of the police. The natives, before bringing the half-castes back, went to Col. Gorton, who communicated with Col. Haultain, when the latter immediately gave the natives orders to obtain possession of the guns."