NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 56, 23 October 1880, Page 4

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

<from ottr own correspondent.) Armed Constabulary Camp, Pungareuu, October 16.

Copies of Mr. Bryce's letter to Wiremu Kingi have been distributed at Parihaka and in the neighborhood,

in order that the natives may know ' that they are required to submit to the law in time, if they wish to be

•dealt as generously with as is in- < tended, should the Soya 2 Commission

report be carried out in its integrity. It does not appear that the perusal of this letter has had any good effect upon the natives generally. It is called a pakeha document, which may have had its influence had it been

addressed to a European community ; but it is altogether denied that the Maori people are called upon to take cognisance of European letters, even though addressed to a Maori, and it is asserted that European laws are inoperative in respect to the Maori people. Not only is this the idea at Parihaka, but itis reported that the returned Maori prisoners, in reply to a native interpreter at New Plymouth, said that they would obey no laws but Te Whiti's, and that no number of

jears' imprisonment would make them awerve from their allegiance to him, or acknowledge their amenability to British law. It remains to be seen what effect the advocacy of Wi Kingi will have, if he should try to persuade them to submit. It is asserted by

some "who know the section of the Tara-

naki tribe to whicji this chief belongs, that Ma influence is ml ; and judging from recent events, it is very doubtful if any chief on this part of the coast could influence the natives in any way against Te Whiti and Tohu, whose authority is indisputable. Neither Hone Pihama nor Manaia, with. large reserves for a guerdon, could prevent their people from joining Te Whiti's fencing parties, always supposing that they tried. Wi Kingi is not likely to be more successful with the Taranaki tribe. With regard to the returned prisoners generally, it is reported at Parihaka that they will not return to that place until the whole are sent back from Otago and Bokitika, but that they will live in close proximity to the town of New Plymouth, and not return to their homes. Te Whiti considers them still prisoners, whom he does not wish to return until all is settled, aud a, permanent dwellingplace with dominion over the land and the people on it, assured to them — until the chieftainship has returned unto Israel, and a Maori kingdom established, over which the European Government' shall have no control. It would appear that no others of Wi Kingi's tribe have been sent back, the remainder of the returned prisonera being of. thePnketapu,Pukerangiora, Ngatimutunga, and Ngatirahiri kapus, of the Ngatiawa tribe, and also some of the Ngatimaru tribe. It is just as -well that the Taranaki men are still retained, because whatever may be said of Wi Kingi himself, there con foe little doubt that the people of hia tribe are among the most turbulent on the coast. It is hoped that Wi Kingi's mission will be favorably received, but it is greatly to be feared that it will be useless. Meanwhile the fencing goes on much as usual. The natives have discontinued erecting the fence close to the A.C. camp, because they have determined not to be arrested, but they appear in sight each morning, carrying boughs, which are paraded on the road, and then taken away again. The fence at the Parapara, some 60 chains distant, is however kept up, but the work is always done in the absence of the constabulary. Some natives from Parihaka, headed by a man called Wi Waikato, daily visit the vicinity of the camp in search of European horses to take to Parihaka. They have three or four there at present, and it is said that =81 per head is demanded for their release.

These are not Government horses, but are the property of men in camp. It is a bad precedent to pay money for their return, but the question arises, how are they to be obtained other.wise ?

With the return of spring, renewed energy is apparent among the road parties. The road is to be immediately formed, and tenders to be called for metalling. The lighthouse has not yet arrived at Cape Egmont, and the men are busily employed clearing the branch road to the Cape, and a stockade is also being erected at that place. Mr. J. Stevenson takes over the canteen buildings, stores, Ac., from the late contractor to-day. The difference between the present price of the rations and that paid to the late butler, will do something towards reconciling the men to the 10

per cent, reduction, whilst the addition of Is. per day to the men, when actually engaged on the road, will be a further step in the same direction.