WAIMATE PLAINS DIFFICULTY. (OWN CORRESPONDENT PRESS AGENCY.) Opunake, Ist April.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 384, 2 April 1879, Page 2

WAIMATE PLAINS DIFFICULTY. (OWN CORRESPONDENT PRESS AGENCY.) Opunake, Ist April.

Mr. Mackay and Captain Blake left here for Parihaka to-day, with the object of talking over the difficulty with Te Whiti, as they yesterday did with Titokowaru with good efiect, ,The question of reserves, which has hitherto been neglected, appears to be the very heart .of the question at issue. This placets absolutely defenceless. There are nine men, a sergeant, a captain, and a major, here, but for all practical purposes it is felt there might as well be none. The reinforcements are still at Patea. All the Maoris I met asked me how many men Government intend sending hero. The Whitmore and Ngatiporou story has travelled along the coast. , A new camp ia being formed at the Bay, and the head quarters, of the Armed Constabulary are to be shifted there from the position now occupied between the township and Parihaka. There is, however, more alarm felt South, judging from the few straggling copies of Southern papers that come here, than is felt here, where, If an outbreak occurred, evil results would at once be felt. Patba, Tuesday. A well-informed and trustworthy resident in tbe Patea District telegraphs the following as the prevalent opinions in that part of the country:— A storm is browing on this coast through the inaction and apparent indifference of the Government ia reference to turning the surveyors off the Waimate Plains. , Moderate confidence is felt in the Government as a whole, but not so much Id Sir George Grey, who is rather distrusted. An impression obtains that he is tying the Native Minister's hands. Captain Biako, a lialf-casto and pakeha Maori, who has a large land interest at Parihaka, is in the district acting in the Govern- ' ment interest. The rumor that Blake was to supersede Major Brown as Civil Commissioner at the close .of tho session created a feeling of alarm, and indlßnition'ftiia'TiFHHuence, it was believed, led to the Grey Government countermanding the order given by the Atkinson Government to start, the survey of the Plains. -Tbi evfl of_ that .injudicious, act is, still felt. Blake is an old schoolmate of the Native Minister's, and it is feared that Stteehan's strong sympathy and disposition td stick to a friend will lead to disatters to the district through Blake's advice being; followed and further temporising pursued, instead of preparations. being made for the occupation of the Plains by military ''iettiett and other armed forces. ' Two hundred good men could be at- once raised to occupy the Plains as military 'settlers, on fifty-acre sections, «n anything approaching to liberal conditions, in conjunction with an armed force. Delays, are dangerous, and reports from the Plains state that the flghtably disposed natives are firm and .confident, though- government may hesitate to strike a blow or move the natives to action.- It is generally thought that there should be no hesitation, about starting working parties to complete railway and road communication at tho back of the Mountainroad, without which: successful military movements during winter will be next to impossible, and outeettlew will be easily sacrificed to marauding parties of natives. The settlers seem unanimous as to the necessity for 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 should force it by not assuming a more rea«onablo attitude, it is thought to be uselessto sell tbe Plains unless it be in conjunction with military occupation. Blake in this disrict as a Government agent. Is considered tv an omen of evil. He and all such like pakeha Maoris should te made to stand aside in the present difficulty, and if Sbeehan and tun Government persist in temporising and acting on the advice bf men whose interests are wholly or iv most part Maori, disasters will follow, and Government, the district, and the whole colony will suffer.