LATEST.

Evening Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 5, 5 July 1879, Page 2

LATEST.

Tbe Hon. tbe Native Minister has received several telegrams to-day, the contents of which he has courteously placed at our service. One is to the effect that tbe party of Maoris, nine in number, who commenced ploughing at Hawera this moruing, have been arrested, their two ploughs and six bullocks also being seized. A second telegram reports that fifteen Maoris have started fencing some land near Opunake, and orders have betn sent to arrest them immediately, and, if possible, m time for thorn to be put on board the Hinemoa, which left New Plymouth at 9 o'clock this morning with 49 prisoners, and will call at Opunake to pick up fie notorious ringleader, Ngamari, who is in custody there. The total number of Maoris now under arrest is 03, exclusive of the two boys who were released from custody. Ah considerable alarm has been expressed by probable jurymen at the appalling prospect of having some 100 prisoners or so to try at the ensuing session of the Supreme Court, we may explain that although tbe precise mode of procedure has not yet been decided, it is most likely that the Maoris will be tried in batches according to the particular illegal nets in which they were associated. Thus the 33 who were arrested on account of one specific ploughing enterprise would all be tried in one lot for that offence, and evidence given against the whole number touching that one affair. The course would be similar with the other parties of nine, fifteen, &c, who committed distinct acts of trespass and damage to property. In this way the actual number of cases would be reduced to perhaps only half a dozen or so, and tbe evidence for the prosecution would be confined to tbat of two or three witnesses. That for the defence may be somewhat voluminous if, as is rumored to be 1 in contemplation, the natives, instead of pleading guilty, raise by counsel the whole question of title. It is understood, however, that the trials will be postponed until September next, as the depositions have not yet been received by the Registrar of tbe Supreme Court.