Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY JUNE 1879. NATIVE AFFIRS IN THE NORTH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5411, 18 June 1879, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY JUNE 1879. NATIVE AFFIRS IN THE NORTH.

1 The superior sensationalism of the news from Taranaki has of late diverted public attention almost entirely • from affairs in the North. Te Whiti has for the time being completely overshadowed Tawhiao. It may be that more immediate danger is to be apprehended from • the (fanaticism 'of ;the] Parihaka prophet than from the sullenness of the King, but we should not allow ourselves to be so engrossed by. threatened disturbances at one "point as to neglect and so foster danger ab another. The northern papers, which should certainly be best qualified to judge, | do not appear quite so easy at Tawhiao's apparent ' quietude. ' After his recent open defiance of Sir George Grey he is hardly likely to let matters rest in statu quo^^he other day a small paragraph appeared .in . our. telegraphic columns' to the effect that Tawhiao and his peeple are now engaged in building 'a permanent settlement afc Kawhia, a site formerly occupied by a European township.' /-■■: Now. -this . : intimation; > is ' not on the face of it very alarming, but, looked at more narrowly, it may possibly , give some indications ,of Tawhiao's future ; policy. !! Tne ! ' land which lie has chosen for his settlement is near the. boundaries qf r ,;fche King country, and would form an exceedingly convenient point at which to collect his forces in the event of hostilities. The communication with Auckland by land is by a goodVoad, and Kawhia is within a few miles of Alexandra and other townships. There is a good harbor there, and the settlement would therefore have an excellent water road open either for attack or retreat. Moreover, this land is not Tawhiao's.- It belongs to Eewi, and only so long as^ewi was an ally of the King jsould the latter claim • any - t sovereignty, over . ( it. , , The., secession, : of Ilewi.eo.ul^ li^ya no ,ofco£r> effect? than that, of creating i -.hostility ;■ his" 'people and the Kingites; < Rewi' hasr-4-af' least so '.it'^ Stated -in i , our .Auckland telegi^ms-^ma^e cerfcajn" proposals to.the.GovernirienVby, which, , for certain concessions,' the* 1 Europeans; will 'be permitted to ! take, roads, railways, and telegraph." lines across his land, " to j oiri " tne Waik'ato ' to New ■ mouth. The removal of Tawhiao from ICopua to Kawhia cuts off this proposed commiinication, as Kawhia, is directly on the line of road. Rewi was also to open -the harbor to Europeans, Tr fwith the King natives' it has always been a sacred spot, and Mr Sheehan's attempts to remove the \tapu 'have. 'lte.en o Vcomplete failure, even when Tawniao professed most friendship , for the whites. This latest move of Tawhiao appears $o be intended as a "check-mate '; to .'Kiwi's proposals. ' The King Has placed 'hini r self in. the road^ quietly, but with\ apparent determination 1 , > and his. action appears to indicate that he does riot 'ih Itend to ; give xyp his claim 'to rights over lie wi's territory without, a struggle. There does not appear to>bei any cause for immediate alarm, but; if ; Ministers are wise they will keep one i eye on the wily, Maori monarchy andj not give all their attention to , crushing j Te Whiti while the King is allowed to i gain fresh influence' and greater j strength. from .assertion of a'rightj to which,! even, according to Maori law, he cannot lav claim. >