THE WAIMATE PLAINS DIFFICULTY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5661, 18 April 1879, Page 5

THE WAIMATE PLAINS DIFFICULTY.

[Be Tblbosafh.] [TIMES' SPECIAL ;WIRE.] NEW PLYMOUTH; Apbil 17. Mr Mockay left Okaho at daylight this morning for Parihaka. The Herald this evening, referring toiMri Mookay’s.visit to Parihaka, eays “To Whitiaboused the Government of a breach of faith in nob giving effect! to promises made-to tbe Natives respecting the confiscated land ( which were that a block north of the Waingongoro river should he given back, and that in addition to other reserves, a money payment 1 for all; land taken by the Government should <be made. This statement brings the Hon Ji. Sheehan to New Plymouth. The olleged promises ora inquired into, aud it is found that there: hds been no breach of faith on the part of (ho Government. .That while it was true that a block ofi land i bad been offerbd to the Natives, on condition of : surrendering the rest, the offer , bad been absolutely refused by them. Therefore the 1 matter fell through. With respeet to the money payment the Government has already made such ..payments. It is satisfactory to know that there has been no breach of promise, .and" it only now remains :tosatisfy the Natives' that the Government has acted honestly by them. The next step will be a definiteproposal to the Natives offering a .payment: for land surrendered, and such,-resefyes .as: may be necessary for the Hapus who can establish, claims as residents or cultivators before the confiscation took place. We will not coll this offer an ultimatum, as the New. Zealand Times somewhat pompously terms it;- An ultimatum, in the European sense, is too serious for the situation. If. the Natives refuse the offer of the Government, no sensible man imagines that the next move would be a declaration of- war. It’kunply means "further negotiations. , What'Tlhe results'will fee it is impossible at present to say. There trill probably be delay and much talk, b^no bostalifies.”; , '