NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2909, 26 May 1873, Page 3

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

ALEXANDRA. [FROM OUR OWN COURBSPONDENT.] May 23. Nothing of importanco has taken place in this district since my last, beyond the facts recorded per telegraph. Tawhiao and party have not moved a point from their first deoision, neither has the Government altered its demands ; yet, somehow, the fire of the latter has lost its brightness—such, at least, seems to be tho feeling of a good many settlers, tho sensitiveness of whom is not to be wondered at when we take into account that they are the most deeply interested. While some storekeepers and publicans may wish the present state of things to continue ad infinitum, —tho former because tho reward to good and loyal subjects for endeavoring to bring over their unloyal brethren, and such other valuable aerrices as may be worthy of reward, is dispensed by them to the order of the defence departmeut j tie latter because " the pub" ii the general resort for news and dispensing nobblers. With the settler it is altogether different. One told me that he would have just put ill £50 worth of seed this season, but would now defer it till spring, and see how this matter is going to end. Another, who nearly lost his wife in the last pauic, has cleared out with his family to Auckland, and left his farm in charge of his man, rather than have them huddled again iuto tho redoubt. Many others near tho boundary line are living in feur, and dread going to bed. Another told me that his wife had not recovered from the effects uf the last puuic, and had not elopt, a wink at night for mora than a fortnight, and he should havo to seud her and the children away. There is a littlo clamour against tho Governmeut, a sort of feeling that " tho flour and sugar" have been too much in tho ascendant, softening down Mr. Maekay's fiery zeal, because that after the 20tU the Government did not go in pell mell. I think myself that the Government is doing the right thing. I have reason to know that there is a split, not tho growth of a duy, between Rewi and the King. Werewc, in opposition to Rewi's entreaties, to commence hostilities, it would be likely to produce « re-union, and cement them more closely than ever. Rewi is wearying of tho Waikatos, and the chances are that through this affuir of Sullivan's, a final separation may bo effected. The latter are almost powerless without the other, in either offensive or defonsive war, hence the policy of widening the breuch rather than tightening it. Tho Government is acting wisely in the erection of redoubts along tho confiscated boundary line, within signal Bight; of each other. This will tend to allay the fears of many living near the boundary line ; it will also give tho Constabulary a better chance of looking after the prowling beasts of prey. After all, the everlasting " taihoa," which is eating like a canker-worm iuto the heart of tho community, must be brought to an end. Natives are being cursed by it, and its effects are Been iu a greater or less degree on every European settlement where the native element is strong. Wiso planning aud prompt acling must be the policy of any Government thut will be respected by both races.

OHINEMURI. [ittOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Mr. Puckey returned from Ohinemuri on Saturday morning, and reports that everything there is very quiet, and that no ill-feeling is exhibited towards the Europeans. With regard to the supposed korero, held a few days ago, when tho subject of attacking tho goldfields wai said to have been discussed, it is now proved beyond doubt that no such discussion took place, and can only be attributed to the heated brain of an alarmist. The whole of these natives will meet in Shortland, with those of the Piako, Taupo, and other localities, in the early part of the ensuing week, when tho whole subject of the Waikato disturbance will be brought under notice, and it will then be decided as to what course will be adopted if hostilities should break out.

[I'ROII THE " THAMES ADVBETISEE."] MIGRATION OP KQATIMAEtr TO TK ABOIIA. On Friday about thirty or forty of the Ngatimaru—the tribe resident here, and the chief owners of the goldfield—left Shortland for Te Aroha. As our readers are aware, the Te Aroha land iB in dispute between the Ngatimaru and the Ngatihaua. The Ngutiuiaru, it appears, have determined to keep their interest alive by forming a settlement at Te Aroha, and those deputed to take possession Btarted yesterday. Their first duty will be to assert their right to Waiharakeke by driving off Mr. Alley's cattle, and it is to be hoped that Purukutu will not tuke it into his head to be beforehand and send down for them. Part of the expedition went up on horseback and part in wlmleboats, and we may remark that the whaleboatß were beuvily laden with all kinds of stores—except warlike stores, -which, if there, were not visible. PIAKO. The proceedings of the natives of Piako are involved in some mystery. Tarapipipi went over to Wharekawa, on the opposite shore of the frith, and after his departure several natives from tho Piako came here to fetch him back to his settlement, where he was wanted. They left, for Wharekawa to take Tarapipipi up the Piako. SUBVEY PARTY ORDERED BACK. The Thames Evening Star learns that Mr. D. Simpson's survey party have been interfered with, and ordered to return from the upper country. This is not to be wondered at in the present excited stato of the natives, as opponition was offered to the same party before the late murder in Waikato, and since that time a great change has taken place. Great care is now needed in dealing with the r.atives to prevent a rupture.

TATJRANGA. THE AHMED PBIE»DLrE3. —SUSPICIONS AGAINST THEM. —DEMAND TO BE PIiACED IN THE MILITIA. [FBOM OtTE OWN CORRESPONDENT.] A great number of natives, from all parts of the harbour, came over to Te Papa on Monday, for an interview with Mr. Commissioner CJarke. Ngaeterangi was entirely represented and Te Pirirakau. While denouncing the murderers of Sullivan, they expressed their willingness to proceed to the Waikalo and fight for the Queen, if furnished with arms and ammunition aud enrolled as Militia, which means being placed on pay. They, however, stipulated that the arms should be the improved Snider, with suitable ammunition. Their application was not granted at once, but they were iuformed that two Arawa

messengers had been despatched on Saturday to Tokangamutu with letters, and answers to these mußt be awaited. This arming of the friendly natives right and left will open a rather curious questioa. la some people's opinion, it will be an iudirect way of supplying our foes with arms of precision, and will also prove a very expensive process, natives being very prodigal in the use of ammunition,

and careloes in the preservation of weapons, as they are of everything else. The Snider ammunition is said to cost 265. per hundred cartridges, while Knfleld cartridges are sold out of Government stores to Volunteers for Bs. 4d. The striking loyalty on the part of Ngaeterangi, and particularly of the Pirirakau, is remarkable at Buch a juncture as the present, and only explicable by presuming tha existence of a strong desire on their part to possess arms of a superior clats,—the destination of some of which no person, after honest reflection, can doubt. It is unreasonable to suppose that they have acquired such an overpowering love for the pakeha, as to thirst for the blood of their own race and country, who are, with them, jointly interested in the recovery of confiscated lands. In such a sense, it would be foolish to deny that "blood is thicker than water." As to the Pirirakau, they are avowed Hauliaus; in constant communication with the King party, and can have no reason to love us, fjr wa have stripped them of part of their territory, and driven them to reside inland. Besides, nearly all tho natives near are well armed, some of them possessing, not one, but two or three Runs, with powder and lead. There is no other way of accounting for the Hauhaus beinj; so well armed as they are, than by supposing they receive supplies from our " friendly" people ; nor can it have escaped recollection that in Te Kooti'a time, when Rakarnka's people received an issue of 40 stand of arms, the forty individuals were shortly afterwards taken prisoners (?) by Te Kooti, and liberated without their arms, on which Rakaraka applied for 40 stand of arms more, which he obtained, and with which he afterwards went over to the enemy! So that, arming the friendlies means arming the Hauh&ui, and handing over to the foe the means of destruction for ourselves. In connection with this, it should be known that the Native Contingent under Captains Mair and Preece ara supplied with Snider rifles superior to tho?e possessed by tho Armed Constabulary, who, being our standing army of defence, should surely be provided with the very best weapons obtainable, —as good, if not better than ttioso given to doubtful allies.