NATIVE NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 152, 28 September 1881, Page 3

NATIVE NEWS.

(per united press association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, Last Night.

Several settlers who were living near Pungarehu, on the newly acquired, laud are coming into town.

The Native Minister, Colonel Roberts, and Mr. Parris, with a guard of eight men, went on Monday to inspect the fence and ascertain the present disposition of the natives, and the numbers that may be expexted to resist the Constabulary.

On the way to Puugarehu, the Native Minister saw Mr. Messenger, a good Maori scholar, and who was at Parihaka and asked him respecting the spe eh published in the papers by the Association. Mr. Messenger said it was a fair translation, and in no way exaggerated.

The settlers, who have recently commenced the work of making homesteads for themselves at Nga Kurnikumi have determined to bring their families to New Plymouth for the present until Native affairs are established on a more satisfactory footing.

On Thursday last, a settler named Darnells, who has purchased land, at Rahotu at the recent land sale, was engaged dealing a road on his land, when a Native came upon him with an axe and told him to desist. He immediately sprang upon the Native and took the axe from him, and in the scuffle that ensued, he gave the Maori a blow on the head, which caused the latter to cry out. A number of Natives had been hiding in ambush, and they rushed out on Daniells, but did not succeed in catching him, as he is young, active, and fleet-footed. He outstripped his pursuers, who iollowed him close to the camp. On arrival at the camp, he informed Colonel Boberts of the affair, but no action was taken by the Constabulary. Daniells has returned to New Plymouth, as he does not' consider it cafe to settle on his land.