THE POSITION IN PATEA.

Evening Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 4, 4 July 1879, Page 2

THE POSITION IN PATEA.

OBSTINACY OF TE WHITI. DEFECTION OF FRIENDLY NATIVES. (from otjb owir correspondent.) Patea, 30th June. Nothing of real importance has happened since the ejectment of the Maoris from Livingstone's land, but though nothing has actually taken place, a good deal has been done to anticipate anything that might possibly happen. Rumours have for the past week been circulated in various quarters as to the intentions of both the Government and that basotted fanatic Te Wbiti ; but no reliance whatever could be placed on the authority given. Great things were expected to happen this day, but as usual the natives are in no particular hurry to resume their ploughing operations. lam able to substantiato the report that they will do to, and in fact, can give the reason of their delay in not making a start this morning a chief named Kokiri, was to have arrived from Paribaka to conduct the ploughing He has supreme power given to him over the natives by Te Whiti. He will arrive to-morrow (Tuesday), when the natives will resume , ploughing in force, some eighty men participating in the proceedings. The arrangements made by the Government in anticipation thereof, appears to be admirable, and will prevent any disorder occuring. The natives will be taken prisoners for trespass, by a bo-ly of Armed Constabulary, and if deemed advisable, some volunteers who will be present, will assist in achieving this object, but whether there will be any resistance is open to a great dea! of speculation. Te Whiti is as obstinate as ever, and determined to carry out his ploughing policy to tho extreme point. He says that be will not be satisfied with the plains, but must have the whole confi-cated land back, and asserts that though ;they are taken prisoners (meaning the ploughmen), others will follow and continue the work until his words have been fulfilled and the land everywhere ploughed by the Maoris. The men told off for ploughing this side of tbe Waingongofo belong to the Ngatunanui tribe, and at a meeting to-night it will be decided when they will again plough which, undoubtedly, will be to-morrow. It has been asserted that the bulk of the Plains natives are holding aloof from Te Whiti, but the truth of this is doubtful. At the present moment the friendly chiefs have only some ten or twenty men to adhere to them, the others having all gone to Parihaka, and it is a known fact that in the course of a week there will scarcely be a native in the whole district who is not strongly in favor of Te Whiti's policy. It is simply ridiculous to base any reliance on any of the natives Those who are our staunch supporters to-day are stroDg believers in Te Whiti to-morrow, and would carry out his instructions to the letter, no matter what they may bo. And who is to say what will be Te Whiti's next visions ? probably that it is necessary to massacre a number of Europeans, or something equally as bad. It is important that a great number of men be sent at once, as it will be imperative to have at least 2000 men under arm* in this district alone. I am able to certify that a great number of natives have during the last three days gone over to Te Whiti. Titokowaru is very sulky, and 1m been out of the way for some time, but he has been anything but friendly to the Government of late, and is entirely under the control of Te Wbiti. This is a positive fact, and to be relied upon. At present settlers are apt to take things as they should not be taken, and they must be prepared for the worst. The Maoris in conceit of their own power, and ignorance of ours, are determined to put to the test which has supreme power in New Zealand, the Government or Te Whiti. Tho Hawera correspoodent of the Waogaoui Herald has been pleased to class the settlers as the " Hawera Republic under President Livingstone versus the Government," but whoever he may be he is acting on his own responsibility in making such grave assertions Settlers are annoyed at the presumption in using their names "in such an absurd manner, and are unanimous in expressing their contempt for such unauthorised statements, which no doubt originated from the writer's own imagination. Drilling instruction is being pushed on, and a marked improvement is disceroible in all the volunteer corps. It is not improbable that a scuffle will take place, and that in a shorter period than some anticipate, and we may then see to what advantage the volunteers will show themselves.