NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1501, 21 August 1880, Page 14

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

(PROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, August 18th.

The Government have received no information as to the proceedings at the monthly Pari. haka meeting that has just been held. The report is that over 2000 Natives were present, that Te Whiti declared roadtnaking must be stopped, even if all She Natives were arrested j adding that all the Natives must come to Parihaka, including those across the sea. No confirmation of this rumour has, however, yet come to hand.

The arrest of the fencers still goes on daily. It was suspended for a day or two through the foUowing circumstances :— Several days ago the daily quartette of fencers included very old men and boys. As it might have been inconvenient to detain them, the experiment was tried of releasing all four next day. However, the same four came down, and then four more, and afterwards six. All fourteen were arrested and then let go, on which they at once returned towards the spot where they were arrested, with the intention of resuming fencing, but a strong guard of Oonstabulary had been posted there and effectually kept them off. They then became quite frantic and very violent, insisting on being re-arrested or else allowed to go on fencing. Te Whiti also sent a polite message that unless these men were arrested he should send down twice as many next day. Under these circumstances it was deemed advisable to take them into custody and send them into New Plymouth, which was done, and to-day only the usual four came down. It is thought that Te Whiti now intends to concentrate all his defensive measures on the Parihaka block, and to leave the Waimate Plains to their fate.

The Government have been endeavouring to ascertain the meaning of the singular demonstration with ferns the other day. Some of the best authorities on Maori customs here, however, can explain. A Maori expert says it used to be a declaration of, war when fernstalks were stuck into little pieces of flesh of a particular bird, but this has not been done in the present case. Another says it is a spocies of incantation, and a third regards it as a mere declaration of title to the whole of Parihaka land down to the seashore. The fern was gathered by fully 100 Maoris on a hill seaward of the road. The stalks were carefully stripped, and when quite bare of leaves, the stalks were laid on the road whioh points towards the Constabulary camp, The whole affair is a complete riddle, which only time can explain. The Hon. Mr Bryce will go to the front as soon as possible. This, indeed, is ope of the reasons why the Government desires a speedy close of the session. (Per Press Association Special Wire.) New Plymouth, August 18th. It is stated that the Government have issued instructions to the Armed Constabulary Force not to take Natives prisoners until after repeated admonition to desist from fencing. Thin has led to a new feature in the mode of arrest.