HOSTILITY PF NATIVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1926, Page 10

HOSTILITY PF NATIVES.

TIMBER TRAMLINE BLOCKED. PROGRESS OF TRAIN BARRED. WOMAN LIES ACROSS RAILS. There have been further developments in the situation at Tiroa since the native owners stopped Messrs. Ellis and Burnand’s locomotive from traversing the length of line over the natives’ land. The natives own a great tract of timber country near Mangapeehi from which the company obtains its supplies, and the company’s log train from the mill was stopped by natives at the boundary of their land last Thursday. They ordered the driver to go no further, as the company’s rights had been terminated. On Saturday morning the company sent an engine up to the junction of the Paemako and Mahai lines. The gate which the owners had erected across the line at the junction was found to be unguarded and the engine ran up the line over the Tuhua Block and picked up a train of logs. In the meantime, however, the owners became aware of what was afoot and when the returning train arrived at the gate a party of natives was waiting for it.

A Maori woman lay down upon the track and the engine was forced to stop. The mill manager was informed, but he found the owners adamant. They consented to allow the engine to be taken back, but they refused to allow the logs to pass. Accordingly the engine was detached, but to the surprise of the natives it went up the other branch of the line and picked up some logs waiting there. The owners then set a guard at the gate and the line was closed. The owners’ committee then decided to pull up a portion of the rails. It was decided to communicate with the general manager of the company and inquire whether he would respect the owners’ decision to re-enter the Tuhoa Block, and close the lines, advising him that if he would not promise to do so the committee intended to lift part of the line. It is understood that the reply received was to the effect that the company would call in the police. Thereupon the committee telegraphed to the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare, at Wellington, advising him of the position and requesting that he acquaint the Commissioner of Police with the facts. The committee then went up to the junction. In response to a telephone message from the company a constable from Te Kuiti went to the scene this morning in order to prevent a possible breach of the peace, but no trouble occurred. A locomotive took a truck of foodstuff up to the company’s camp at Paemako, but no attempt was made to transport any logs to Mangapeehi. The natives have not interfered with the line.