NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5423, 7 July 1879, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

(Pin Pbess Association Special Wibe.)

New Pltmodih, July sth.

The Hinemoa arrived at daylight this morning from Wellington, having on board a guard of the Armed Constabulary Force for the purpose of taking charge of the Native prisoners who were taken at Waihi and committed to take their trial at the next Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court at Wellington. At about 9 o'clock 34 prisoners were eßcorted to the beach. They showed unmistakable signs of feeling, and some of their women, who had followed them there, were overnhelinod with gtief. The men, however," braced tbemselves up for the inevitable, and at the word of com mand took their places in tha surf-beat, to- all appearances undaunted. Biori (Lloyoj, ■ their spokesman in Court yesterday, declared they were leadyfor whatever might happen. They shook hands with 'Major Take* and Captain Messenger, and said they did not' bl&rne them, they;wece only obeying the Government order: in the same way that'they-were obeying Te< Whiti'u order*. The* Hinemoa bft for-Wei linffton about 9 o'clock. . : : Te Whiti baa sent one of his chief men to New Plymouth, who bas sought an interview with these Natives. Information has been received that the Maoris are still ploughing at Kyngdon's land. Our informant wa3 there yesterday, and was epeaking to the Natives. They say Mr Kyogdon gave them permission to plough his land. They wera told if that were true the"h tha pjlica would not interfere with them; but if it wera not true, or if they were to plough any other person'^ land, they woald be taken off to gapl like the Natives at Waihi audOakura. This warning rather frightened them, and they did not evince the same desire to continue there. Mr Kyngdon has gone to dispel the notion that they were ploughing with his consent. '

The : action taken by the Government in arresting the Native political ploughmen has materially lessened the desire of the Natives to continue their Uwlesa acta. They are beginning to have a faint notion that Te Whiti is powerless to protect tbem. The deporting of these men to Wellington considerably lessens the danger to Bottlers in outdistricts, who have now very little to /ear from an uprising of the Natives. The Survey Department at Taranaki is undergoing a reduotion. Some of the surveyors who have been engaged at Patea and on the survey on the plains ate under orders, it ia said, to proceed to Nelson and elsewhere, aa it ia considered the present state of Native affaire readers it inadvisable to. keep the surveyors working ia the district. The Herald thinks this is not wibo, as now would be the time to complete tbe surveys of confiscated lands, which could be done under the protection of the armed force tint is at present with us in the place

Hawera, July stb. Lsßt evecing, at 5 o'clock, 14 strapping young men of Titokowaru's were brought in, making 20 netted yesterday. This morning at daybreak work was again commenced by the Maoris ploughing Finlaysoa's, and a party went out and caught nine. Thoy are now being brought in to town. They were ploughing, planting, and singing songs of joy, to the great anuoyauca of the sentries, throughout the night. Titokowaru haa very few figktiujr moa left. We expect some more to : day. Tho burden of the woik now lies on the Normanby Bottlers, who are de3erving cf unlimited praise. Some Bottlers are anxious that more of the Armed Con Btabubry should be Bent here. For my own part I think our men Bhould be placed on pay immediately, and reinforcements sent to Opuuake and Okuti, ready to take Patihaka. No time should bo lost.

, , Weluhgton, July 5Ui. The Government have received a telegram Btating that 24 icora ploughmen have been arrested at New Plymouth, and more arrosta ara probable

July6thi Forty-nine Maori prisoners arrived from New Plymouth by the Hinemoa this morning, and are lodged id the barracks) under guards. More are expeoted to-night from Patea by tha steamer Patea. . • The Government to-day teceiTed a telegram to the effect that the party of Maoris (nine in number) who commenced ploughing at Hawera this morning hare been arrested, their tiro ploughs and six bullocks also being aeicsd. A second telegram reports that 15 Maoris have started fencing some land near Opuoake, and orders have been sent to arrest them immediately, and, if possible, in time for them to be put on board the Hinatnoa, which left New Plymouth at 9 o'clock this morning with 49 prisoner*, and will call at Opanake to pick up the notorious ringleader Ngamari, who U in custody there. The total Dumber of Maoris now under arrest is 93, exclusive of the two bojß, who were released from custody. Although the Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court open on Monday, it is doubtful whether the Maori prisoners, to arrive ta-morrsw, can be tried this time, as the depositions hare not ye been received.

Napikb, July Cth. The Wniroft County Council bare decided to po tit ion the Government to rtrangthtn the garrison at Fra«tr:own, where there ia a large

quantity of warlike iitores guarded by two or three Constabulary men only. Te Eooti bas announced his intention of visiting the settlement. He says his visit will be friendly, and there appears no reason to bslieve the contrary; but the setters think it best to be prepared tor emergencies. The Natives of Hawke's Bay prof«f« the greatest friendship to Europeans, and say that those who represented otherwise altogether belied them. They approve of the action of the Government in arresting the Taranaki ploughmen. . , The Tuapo correspondent of tie Hawke s Bay Herald telegraphs that some of the Hauhaus visited the telegraph working party at Tuapo, a place about 12 miles north, and warned them not to attempt to stretch the wire across their land. The work wai, however, pushed on, and finished on Friday. _ The Hanhaus were very indignant at their warning being disregarded, and requested ah explanation. Upon being inf armed that the Natives of Orakei had told the party to go on with the work, and take no notice of anyone attempting to stop them, they said that if such was the case they could not blame them, but would go to Orakei Koraka and talk with the people there.