NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5920, 16 February 1880, Page 5

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

[By Telegeabh.] [EEOM OUE SPECIAL COBEE3PONDENT.] NORMANBT, Feb. 15. I hare succeeded in obtaining an interview with a white man who, since 1865, has been living amongst the Maoris, and it is established beyond all doubt that he is Kimble Bent alias Samuel Smith, the notorious deserter from the 47th Regiment. Full particulars will be telegraphed to-morrow. During my absence from the Plains, I find that telegrams have been despatched to the Press, in which significance is attached to the cutting of the telegraph wire between Hawera and Inglewood. Upon enquiry I find the thing to have been purely accidental. A Maori'boy, driving a loaded dray, struck a telegraph pole, knocking off one of the insulators. He was so frightened at what he had done that he tried to obliterate the trace of the wheel. Considerable significance, however, is to be attached to the fact that the other day the Commissioners despatched Mr Williams, Native Interpreter, to interview the Natives up the Waingongoro River. When he got to Mawhite ho found that most of them were further up the river, where they are engaged building canoes, and those remaining at Mawhite would on no account allow him to proceed. He was told that anything he had to say must be said there. The road between the Waingongoro and Kaipipi has been formed, but instructions have been given that It is to be made some feet wider, so that it will have to be gone over again and the camp will not be moved for eoine time. As the work is not necessary this looks like wavering from the policy of pulling towards Parihaka as quickly as possible, and may be interpreted by the Natives as a sign of indecision, if not of weakness. The approaching meeting at Parihaka, to attend which I leave to-morrow is exciting great interest, and the attendance is likely to be large.