(FROM THE PRESS ASSOCIATION'S SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Hawera, 31st March.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 383, 1 April 1879, Page 2

(FROM THE PRESS ASSOCIATION'S SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Hawera, 31st March.

On Saturday Mr. H. Williams, with definite | instructions from the Government, visited the settlement on the Waimate Plains, accompanied by M'Guire and King. Williams told the natives positively that unless they consented to the return of the surveyors a cross-settle-ment of the question would be placed immediately in the hands of Colonel Whitmore, with whom, as Williams naively said, they had a previous warm arquaintauce. The first place visited was Te Kautau. Here we met & staunch and intelligent follower of Te Wfliti, named Te Rama, who listened to Williams throughout. At times he seemed downcast, but soon brightened up again. Wiltisms said he took up a sprig of fern, and, pointing to the stalk, said that was Te Whiti, and the branches were the people of the various settlements. If you destroy a settlement you merely destroy a branch. To settle tbe matter you must go to the stalk itself. Likewise th» Government was the stalk of another twig. Browa, Williams, and others we're but branches ; let them, the two stalks, decide this question. Williams ¦aid the Government had already tried to do this, but were insulted and abused, and although they now took it quietly, the consequences would follow. He told them Te Whiti was only putting their hands in the fire instead of his own. Te Rama agreed to much of this, but would not give cousent to return of surveyors. Here the native party were joined by the friendly native Katene. The next place visited was Okorina. The chief man here is Taukei, who, in Teply to Williams' message, said very quietly, but without hesitation, if surveyors are sent they must be turnod off again. If there was to be fighting, although he did not wish it, thero would be a great many Maoris killed, but the whole of the Europeans in New Zealand would be swept ©ff tho face of the land, and then the remnant of the Maoris would repopulate the Colony. This looks ominous. Taukei said — Do not bring the trouble on us here, but go to Parihaka. We will there defend Te Whiti if necessary. Other natives looked on deeply interested, but said nothing. On leaving he had a most cordial farewell, with no appearance of sulk. We passed one or two other settlements, until reaching Ahipaipai, where we mot Titokowaru and his brother Kokiri, the present chief of the tribe. Williams again related words of warning, and offered them an ultimatum. Kokiri, whose teeth are set apart, speaks with a continual hiss, and he said, boldly and clearly, he would not have the surveyors back again, no matter what the consequences might be. He did not wish to fight, but would follow instructions given by hb great head Te Whiti. He defied the Government. He got warm, but not excited. The men of his tribe appeared to quietly agree with him, but his words had no uncertain sound. Titokowaru, like a snake in the grass, sat near Mr: Williams, and gave him covertly to understand that he sided with the Government. However, things looked very dark here, and yet the Maoris were not sulky. They seem to have a settled and unflinching faith that Te Whiti will settle matters right, and they are willing to abide by his dictum. They have apparently n& present intentions of fighting. Many of the young men were away from most of the first settlements we visited. We now pushed on to Kaupokonui. Mr. Williams here again went through tbe whole Plains question, with th« determination of the Government. At the conclusion, Mania arose and sung a song of welcome, and then briefly said he was pleased with the way Williams had explained the matter, and was anxious tbe Government should proceed with the surveys and settle the affair at once. He had no sympathy with Te Whiti, and never would attend any of his meetings. He would support the surveyors on their return," and protect them. Mania thus throwing himself boldly on the Government side must have a good effect. The question tbus stands :— Mania's tribe say the surveyors may come ; while Titokowaru's tribe, almost to a man, say the orders came from Te Whiti to stop them, and they intend to carry out these instructions, and they say that if the Government want a row Te Whiti was the man to quarrel with, and they are prepared to support him at Parihaka.