NATIVE AGGRESSION NEAR HAWERA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7114, 12 July 1886, Page 2

NATIVE AGGRESSION NEAR HAWERA.

MAORIS VERY SULLEN. NATIVES PLOUGHING UP EUROPEAN LANDS. j Tho following is a moro detailed account of: the trespassing by the Maoris on the Europeans 1 land near Hawera, which wo have summarised from' tho Hawera Star: — Mr. Lyaaght states that on Friday afternoon, shortly after 1 o'clock, tho natives first put in an appearance on somo land ho has leased from the Public Trusteo at Mokoia, tho rent of which tho natives have refused to take. They brought two drays with them, loaded with poles, and tents, an'l all requisites for camping. Thoy had succeeded in erecting a portion of the breakwind, but Mr. Lysaght had obstructed thorn as much as possible. Tho land on which they had commenced work is Mr. Lysaght's freehold. Some time during tho night they must hare received word that tho police had arrived in flawera, because at daylight in tho morning they had shifted their drays and tents away. They told Mr. Lysaght on Friday that they were going "to start the same thing at several places. Tutaki was the leader oE the Maoris, o£ whom thero were 17, exclusive of women and children. , - Mr. Lysaght further stated that the natives said thoy did not want to take money from Mr. Rennell ; nor did they seom to wish that Mr. Lysaght should pay a second timo to them tho rent that ho had already paid to the Public Trustee. They said that Mr. - Lysaght in . former times had always paid his rent to them, and there had been no trouble, and it things could go on again in that way, why all right. The place, where this wharebuilding had been commenced, it should Se explained, was a paddock between the main road and the wool shed, and only separated from the shed by a wire fence. As the natives refused to leave, Mr. Lysaght Bent -word to the" police, and on Saturday morning Inspector Pardy, with a force of nine-constables, left for the scene of the wharo-building. Arrived there, it was found that the natives had decamed, leaving behind them the portion of the taiapa, or break-wind, which they had erected, eleven kits of potatoes, and a load of firewood. A fire had been lit on the ground on Friday, and there was a heap of stones for cooking. Inspector Pardy gave his men orders to pall down the poles, which was quickly done, and shortly after Rangihaeata, the principal man at the Mokoia pab, rode up to the scene of action. Ho was asked to give his name, but was silent on that point. In answer to further questions, he said that Titokowaru was going to march c"own to Patea shortly, and that the natives were going to build a house on Mi\ Lysaght's land for them. He was ordered to leave the ground, and did so. Before leaving, he 'was warned that if he returned he would .be arrested. As he was leaving, 'a Maori dray was seen approaching, but Rangi. spoke to tbe driver, and it turned back towards the pah. Constable Ryan, had previously been despatched to tho pah, to tell the natives that the kits of potatoes had been put out on tho road, and that they could tako them away. He reported that the only answer that the natives had made was, that the police could have thorn. He had repeated that they had been put thero for the natives ; and had come' away, according to instructions. Inspector Pardy, with Sergt. Anderson, and Constables Franklin, Roche, Ryan, and Tapp, and accompanied, by Mr. Lyeaught, went to tho "Maori village. Here they found 15 men arid about 20 women. The native who had previously ridden on to tho ground standing up, and admitted that his name was Rangihaeata, and that he was the chief of the pah. Being questioned as to what was the meaning of his behaviour, ho said that he was going to build on Mr. Lysaght's land, and to plant it under Te .Whiti's government. Te Whiti had told him tb do so. po'ico told him that if ho went thero again he would bo sent to gaol. llangi, said that Mr. Lysaught ought to go and talk to To Whiti. The police said they had nothing to do with Te Whiti. It was the Government of the country that all must obey. They again warned him and all the natives. Rangi. said that they should get tho korero with To Whiti, and was told in reply that if Te Whiti went on to Mr. Lysaght's land he would be arrested, to which Rungi replied : Very good. Tho natives were quiet, but sullen, and Beemed to care but little for what was said. Inspectoi 1 Pardy and his party then returned to the spot where tho natives had attempted to squat down, and were preparing to leave, when suddenly a party of 11 natives on horseback, with Ngahina at their head, appeared approaching the wool shed, through Mr. Lysaght's land, from tho direction of his dwelling-house. Instead of riding along tho main road, and entering the paddock by a gate opening direct, from tho road, they had gone in at tho front gatr, up the avenue a abort distance, nnd then turned into the woolshed paddock by another gate. Mr. Pardy promptly gavo orders for theso natives to bo turned back, which was done without any resistance on their pnrt, the police following them until they were out on tho road. Ngahina was not, however, suffered lo pass out with the others, but was detained and questioned. All ho .had tq say was, that he was not angry with Mr. Lysaght, and tho latter must not be angry with him. Mr. Pardy warned him that if he or any other natives who were then there, were found on tho land again, they would be arrested., Ngahina was then allowed to depart, and ho and his party rode off to the Mokoia pah. There being nothing moro to do tho police returned to Hawera.