EJECTION OF MAORIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3944, 8 December 1880, Page 3

EJECTION OF MAORIS.

[Bx Tblbgbaph.] NAPIER, Dec. 7. A. Supreme Courfc writ in the caße of the Omaranui block owned by Mr Sutton, bufc which ho has been deprived of by the Maoris for the last ten years, was ssrved to-day by the Sheriff. An officer and a party of eight went lo servo tho writ, and on arrival at the pah ifc wa. founi that all tho men were absent, and from what subsequently transpired, it appeared that i hey had determined to loave only women and decrepid men, in the belief thatthe Europeans would not uae force to eject them. The bailiff and his assistants waited all day Irving to find somo of the men, but unsuccessfully, and afc lasfc having fjtiled in repeated efforts to get the women to leave peaceably, they wore obliged to use force. The women declared that they would rather die than give up their land, and taunted the Europeans with sending a war party against defenceless women and children. A sudden fancr took them, and they began to strip, declaring that they would be removed naked, and when at last thoy were carried out, shuffling and screaming, they wore only j chomises. Po.aeaaion was then formally given to Mr Sutton. Very aoon the women seemed reconciled, and aßked Mr Sutton to send them conveyances to carry them toTareha's pah, and this waa done. Tareha was acquainted with the proceedings, and acknowledged that orders of the Supreme Court must be obeyed. Three men were thon left in possession, fche remainder returning to town. All seemed satisfactorily settled, when two hours later a Native policeman and eight Maoris wont and romoved the men in possession. They stated that Captain Preeco, tho Native agent, and Mr Hamlin had informed them that the ejectment had been carried out by the ordera of Mr Sutton, and nofc of the Supreme Court. Though they would yield to Court, they would nofc yield fco Mr Sutton. This agreed with tho statements made by the women, to the effect that Captain Preece had told them that the Nativo Minister had instructed him to inform them that Mr Sutton was the author of the proceedings. If thia be ao, a great victory over Maori treapaasers on European land has bean lost. All assistance was refused to the Bhercff, and he waa left to act on hia own responsibility, which seems to bear out the aaßertiona of the Maoris.