A LAND COURT SQUABBLE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5883, 20 April 1886, Page 2

A LAND COURT SQUABBLE.

THREE MBH AND ONE WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH; (PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION)* Gisborne, April 20. Reports are to hand from Wairapu of a - most horrible affair having occurred at Wai* piro. The Waipiro Block was adjudicated upon some six months ago by the Land Court, and the chief Nihoniho declared to have no interest in it. Tuta was strongly opposed to the deoiaion, and applied for -a new trial, which was just about to take place ; also at once erected a pah containing many whares, in whioh 100 natives are living, - An intensely strong feeling consequently existed between the trespassers and the natives deolared by the Court to be the owners, and several con.fliots have taken place. On Wednesday or Thursday last the whole pah is reported to have been burned, . and three men and one woman burned to death. It is believed that the hostile natives fired the pah. The Ho a. Mr Ballanoe and Ropafca were expected to arrive at Waipiro yesterday, and would make enquiry into the matter. The foregoing is only based on Maori reports. Latrk, Further reports from the Waiapu disttiot show tbat the previous report was exaggerated. The pah has been burnt by the opposing natives, but no lives were loßt in the fire, and the report that four lives were lost there oame from the faot; that two natives were burnt to death in an accidental fire near there a few days previous. Some are said to have been injured in the burning of the pah, and there have been several narrow escapes* The feeling between the opposing natives is said to be most bitter. The sergeant of <the police has gone up. It is about 100 miies from here, near the East Capei