EKATAHUNA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 81, 10 February 1879, Page 2

EKATAHUNA.

(From an Oocoasional Correspondent,) Ekatahuna, Feb, 8,1879.

A few weeks ago,l saw in the columns of your valuablo paper how a swagsman was deprived of his swag by the Maoris in tho Forty-inilo Bush, because he would not or could not pay tho fare imposed by - them'lor crossing the Mahgatiriokb i-iyer',. i ho haying forded the same. I have now to report another! instance .which occurred yesterday. Mr H. tli,omp!son, the contractor for. .building, tho two bridges over the Makakahi river, at the upper and lower crossings,, sent his cart away to the saw-pit' for a; few ipioces of timber urgently required, at oiib: of the bridges. On the way back with the timber the driver was much surprised to find his reins seized and his .cart"surroundecl by the Maories when opposite ' the ' pah; but ;on the public, road,, and. airtlie;'timber | taken, from liim ana carried into' thb ; pah. I Mr .Thompson a few hours after this .occurred, and lie informed nie that four or five months ago he made a legal agreement with the two leallihg : Chiefs of this district for all the timber that he would require. for. the two .bridges,. ancl these Chiefs were to protect him from all', other claimants whatsoever, ;On his,paying;them a certain royalty per 100 ft. -Mr Thompson has paid these said Chiefs about £6B llOs already, leaving only some £6 or; £6 ;inore to be paid, when -a host of 'minor claimants conie forward and seize the timber on the Queen's highway, 1 allowing to tho principal' Chiefs hot prdtecthig him according to their agreement. If the Maories are to be allowed to!'do 'this l to him, without punishment,' they will ; soon be .doing it also to others.' Mr Thompson also informed me, that , recently lie went .up the road as far as tiio toll-gate at .the Maori pah, .went a few yards through it to speak to a Maori upon some little business matter or other, and when he went to return the gate was shut in his face, and a demand made for 3s 6d as toll for a trap and one horse, He; had to pay,, or:lie might have been remaining there to this day. • . •;