NATIVE TROUBLES IN THE NORTH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1418, 14 November 1885, Page 1

NATIVE TROUBLES IN THE NORTH.

Information was received in Auckjand on Wednesday of a daring native outrage at Tearoa, Lake Taraweara, on Saturday last. ' The caSuse 1 ! of the trouble wap tins Terrace Hotel, which the native owners had leased to the late Mr Robert Graham. Since his death they have desired t 6 resume, possession, and so notified j Mrs Graham, but it was arranged she should ; remain in possession pending a settlement, of claims for improvements. This agreement was made on Friday morning, but. that night, after Mrs Graham had retired, the. natives entered the house, and slept in some of the rooms. Next morning'they forcibly broke into Mrs Graham’s berdobra, the door of which she had locked,’ and attempted to eject her from the house. Her screams for help awakened the ah lention of Sophia, the well-known Maofi female guide, who, with others of her tribe, came to Mrs Graham’s rescue. Ultimately she made her escape to the grounds adjoining the hotel. The hostile natiyeS: meanwhile, proceeded to break the doors and windows. A messenger was despatched to Rotorua, and soon after Constable Abrahams appeared. Mr Johnston, the Government agent, was also appealed to, and he sent a letter to the chief of the Tuhoarungi tribe, who is a paid Assessor and Chairman of the Committee, to beware of countenancing' such proceedings, but it appears that this was ireated with contempt, as well as the warrants for the apprehension of the offenders, which were subsequently issued One of the leading chiefs, it is stated, loudly maintained that the law had not yet came into force in his district. On Sunday morning Constable Abrahams arrested two of the offenders, when a 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 Landens, Assistant Road Engineer, lent valuable assistance, and although be was held by Kepa while the others , almost beat his head out of shape, be eventually succeeded, with the assistance of other Europeans, in rescuing the injured constable and, placing him inside Mcßae’s Hotel. Another desperate struggle h*re; ensued, and in the melee the constable managed to escape to OhinemutuJ Later on Wi Kepa sent a message for'the Government agent to come out , setp him, and Mr Johnston complied wjith~,ilie request, the upshot of the interview being a promise to bina for (he appearancA of. the offenders next day in Court at Rotorua,' it 2 o’clock on Monday five 'iheir appearance. The proceedings were 1 do-' layed till the arrival of the Resident, Magistrate on the 3rd December, " bail being accepted.from the natives and halfcaste members of the same tribe| to the extent of £IOOO. The Kiugites are blackmailing railway contractors at Kibikihi, charging 7s . 6d before permitting a waggon to qross, the, Purirl river. Auckland, Nov. 12. The Hon. Mr Ballance, Native Minister, has received copious details respecting tlu

.outrage at Rot-irua. He '. regard's jt as merely a row which has apparently not been very indiciousjy dealt with, but.feels confident,nothing serious will ensue. ;,