THE NATIVE AGGRESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5494, 26 June 1879, Page 5

THE NATIVE AGGRESSION.

PLOUGHING OAKURA : THE INACTION OP THK GOVERNMENT. [by telegraph, from our correspondent.] New Plymouth, Wednesday. The natives commenced ploughing Mr. Courtney's land to-diy. The Herald, commenting on the inaction of the Government, says :—" The new phase of the difficulty is this : The Government appears to have abdicated its proper function, in a time of difficulty and danger of preserving the public peace, and leaving it to a public meeting of settlers. If anything is calculated to add to tho danger and difficulty of the situation it is this lamentable proceeding on the part of the Government. It is a confession of weakness and irresolution, such aa wo wore scarcely prepared for from any Government of New Zealand. If the Government of the colony is hesitating and doubtful as to what is its duty under the oircumstauces, it is gratifying to find that the settlera are, at anyrate equal to the emergency. Their act is no doubt lynch law, but, under the circumstances, it is a species of lynch law of which they have no reason to be ashamed. The Government having failed in the hour of need to put forward the power of the law, which it feebly controls, the settlers, under an inherent sense of their duty as citizens, and in the interests of the public safety, organise themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner." Four natives are ploughing at Tapuae. The natives say that Te Whiti has told them to plough away till the place is full of soldiers, then his power will appear. Mr. Courtney telegraphed to the Government asking if they intended to remove the natives from his la;id. Onless au affirmative roply be received to-night, he intends to take the matter into his own h.m>ls tomorrow, and award prizes to the native political ploughmen by giving them more than they care to receive. The s.s. Stella, arrived to-day, at about 3 o'clock with a detachment of tho Armed Constabulary.