TURBULENT NATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6488, 17 May 1899, Page 1

TURBULENT NATIVES.

A queer disturbance took place at Okaia.wa, Taranaki, on Monday night. Tlie facts as they have reached the " Hawera ' Star" as somewhat as follows: — At about eight o'clock some thirty Maoris congregated at the Okaiawn, Hotel, and after being supplied with tea declined to pay, and on Mr Nicholson remonstrating with them he was attacked by several, who dragged him from the dining-room, through the passage i of the hotel, into the kitchen, and threw him on' the range, in which there was a fire. From here Mr Nicholson managed to escape and get outside, where he wns taken charee of by some Europeans. The Maoris- continued to hold possession of the hotel! and danced a haka. Constable Redicn was brought and set to Avork to clear the 'Natives from the house. At first they declined to l«ave, savincr they had a rirfit to remain till ton o'clock, but after persuasion all left the premises but one, who snirl. he would lenv<». for no roan. Constable Rsriicn pot t" work to eje n t him. and 'after, a. eevre tussle, rhirinjr which his Hothes suffered. euce' > ed<Hl. and all the Natives shortly after left for the pah. Mr NicholFon. flip landlord, was considerably knocked about, but not. eeriouslr. All the Maoris were sa.id to be nerfectlv sober, and there is at nresent no explanation for their creatincr the disturbance, other than .being asked to°pay for their tea. Prior to leavinir for the pah. the Maoris kicked the panels of one of the doors in.