MAORI DISTURBANCE AT THE WANGAEHU.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 4301, 12 April 1880, Page 2

MAORI DISTURBANCE AT THE WANGAEHU.

The long-standing feiul existing between the inhabitants respectively of the Matatera aucl Kanangaroa villages culminated last week in a free light, in the courae of whicb one man lost his life. The Wangaehu Natives have lately been acquiring a considerable number of sheep • and, having previously let most of their lands on long leases, have begun to lind feed getting scarce. The Kanangaroa peoplu therefore determined to push forward their claim to certain lands lying between their village and Matatera, and for thac purpose drove their sheep on tn them. The Matatera men drove some of ihe aheep off, and killed others On Thursday the Kauangaroa people went down iv force, and drove their sheep uver lhe disputed boundary. The Matatera people mustered and endeavoured to get them off, but were overpowered. In ihe course of the struggle, whicli lasted several houis. a Matatera man, of the name of Parae (Kry), wis urging his horse against some bewildered sheep, over which the horse stumbled. Fry was thrown, and fell on his head. He got up, called out to his comrades to catch his horse, staggered round and rouud, and dropped dead. The Maoris at first would not believe the man was dead. Wlien at length they were convinced, thfl Kauangaroa mou pronounced his death the act of God, to show llis disapproval of the Matatera men's proceedings; while the Matatera people declared the poor fellow had been knocked on the head witli a stockwhip. There seems no ground for tho latter imputation. Several white men were present and saw the whole all'air. We have not yet beard the result of the inquest.