Gk—4
1885. NEW ZEALAND.
ALLEGED THREATENING ATTITUDE OF THE PARIHAKA NATIVES TOWARDS EUROPEANS (REPORTS ON THE).
Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Ballance, with leave of the House.
No. 1. Constable Cunningham to Lieut.-Colonel Robeets. Pungarehu Station, 14th April, 1885. Constable Cunningham (No. 419) respectfully reports for the information of Colonel Roberts, commanding district, that a settler named Thomas Wallace, occupying Section 24, Block XII., Cape Survey District, this morning lodged a complaint against the Natives for stealing from his premises, between 8 a.m. and evening, on the 13th instant. The articles stolen are of little intrinsic value, but he reports the matter with a view of stopping further pilfering, he last month having had stolen from him a revolver and other articles not yet recovered. The identifiable articles stolen on this occasion are two red window-blinds and one green window-blind, the top or lid of a small stove, and several other articles described as odds and ends. His house is on the ground, in sections, ready for erection, and the articles stolen were in a box with the building material; the box was carried away and concealed in a small bush about two hundred yards from the site of the house. He recovered the empty box; it was unlocked. A Native, supposed named Tatoro or Tautara, was seen loitering about the premises on the 13th instant. Description : About sixty years of age, grey hair, grey beard, pointed, walks lame ; supposed to reside on the Cape Road. Lieut.-Colonel Roberts, J. H. Cunningham, Commanding Taranaki District, Opunake. Constable A.C. Force.
No. 2. Constable Cunningham to Lieut.-Colonel Roberts. Pungarehu, 15th April, 1885. Constable Cunningham (No. 419) reports, with reference to the attached complaint of Mr. Wallace, that Mr. C. Messenger has seen the Native suspected, and searched his whare and premises, but could find none of the missing articles. Lieut.-Colonel Roberts, J. H. Cunningham, Commanding Taranaki District, Opunake. Constable A.C. Force.
Eeferred to Inspector Pardy.—J. M. Eobeets, Lieut.-Colonel, Commanding Provincial District of Taranaki, Opunake, 16th April, 1885.
No. 3. Constable Eyan to Inspector Paedy. New Plymouth Police Station, 26th April, 1885. Constable Ryan (No, 280) reports that he proceeded to Cape Eginont on the 23rd instant, and, accompanied by Mr. Thomas Wallace, he made careful inquiry and search for the stolen win-dow-blinds and the lid of the stove, mentioned and described in Constable Cunningham's attached report, but could find no trace of the missing articles. The constable and Mr. Wallace went first to the whare of the Native Tautara, and, with the consent of the Natives present, searched it thoroughly without result; the Natives said Tautara had gone to reside at Parihaka. The constable went to Parihaka, looking through the different villages en route. On arrival at Parihaka the constable spoke to Tohu, asking him if Tautara was there ; Tohu inquired amongst his people, and said Tautara did not reside at Parihaka, but lived at the village near the Cape, where the constable had come from.
l—a. 4.