The Waimate Difficulty.

Auckland Star, Volume x, Issue 2781, 2 April 1879, Page 3

The Waimate Difficulty.

TITOKOWAKU INTERVIEWED,

WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

The Hon. J. Sheehan's departure for Waimato Plains is postponed till after tbo arrival of the Premier.

OPUNAKI, Tuesday,

Mr. Mackay and Capt. Blake, left here for Pariuaka to-day with the object of talking over the dilliculty with To Whiti as they yesterday did with Titokownru with good effect. The question of reserves which has hitherto been neglected appears to be the very heart of ohe question at issue. This pliice is absolutely defenceless. There are vivo men n serjeant Optain and Mnjor here, but for all practical purporsCH it is felt there might as well be none. The reinforcements are still at Patca, All the Maoris I met ask me how many men the Government intend sending here. Tin Whitinore and Ngatiporu story lias travelled along the coast. A new camp is being formed at the bay, and the head quarters of the A.G. are to be shifted there from the position now occupied between the township nnd Pnrihaka. There is however, more alarm felt in the South, judgiilf; from the few strangling copies of southern papers that come hero than is felt here, where if an out-break occurred evil results would at once be felt, PATEA, Tuesday. There is fairfconudencefelt in the Government as a a whole. Captain Blake, a halfcaste and pake ha miiori, having a large land interest at l'arihaka, is in the district acting in the Government interest. It was rumored that Blako was to supersede Major Brown as Civil Commissioner at tho close of the session before last. Blake is an old schoolmate of the Native Minister. DEFENSIVE POHCE AVAILABLE. Two hundred good men could be at once raised to occupy the plains as military settlers. On lifty acre sections, on anything approaching to liberal conditions in conjunction with an armed force. FEELING OF SETTLERS. There is a strong feeling that there should be no hesitation about starting working parties to complete the railway and road communication at tho back of tho mountaiu, without which successful military movements during tho winter will bo next to impossible, and out settlers may bo easily sacrificed to marauding parties of natives. The settlors seem unanimous as to the necessity for it at once, and for ever putting an end to the bounce of the natives by a determined front, to be followed by vigorous action, if the natives force it by not assuming a more reasonable attitude. It is felt to be useless to sell the plains unless it be in conjunction with military occupation.