THE NATIVE AGGRESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5498, 1 July 1879, Page 5

THE NATIVE AGGRESSION.

ARREST OP A CHIEF.' " TELE6RAPII, PRISS ASSOCIATION.] \ Wellington, Monday. The Government has received the following telegrame :— Opunake, Sunday, 10 a.m. Unarmed nativesbaverecomtnenccd ploughing to- day, on Government laud at Te Kamn, near Opunake. They were turned off three times by the Armed Constabulary under Major Goring, and told if they came again they would be arrested. They did so, and the Chief Ngamare was taken in custody and is now lodged in the guard tent at Opunake. Hawera, Sunday. A number of natives, about 100, arrived at Waingongoro to-day, ostensibly to taiigi over a dead chief. It is reported that they intend ploughing at Livingstone's and Normanby tomorrow (Monday). They have ten pairs of bullocks with them. The natives who were turned off at Opunako, made no resistance to the arrest of Ngamare. He is the chief who on several occasions ordered settlers off at Opunake, aud who has been in many other respects troublesome.

MORE ARRESTS. : New Plymouth, Monday, 11.20 a.m. The natives commenced ploughing at Oakura thin morning, when some of them were arrested. They are now being brought into town. THE PROSECUTION. Wellington", Monday. Of the seventeen natives arrested at Oakura, two were boys. The .Native i Minister has ordered their release. Full instructions as to prosecution of the others have been sent by the law officers here to the Crown Prosecutor, New Plymouth, and they are expected to be committed for trial to-morrow, and will immediately be removed to Wellington. An application from the gaol authorities in New Plymouth for increased accommodation has been declined, as the prisoners are not So remain there. WAITARA, HAWERA, AND MOKAU. Major Tuke and Mr. Parris have left with sufficient force to arrest the natives ploughing north of the Waitar3, where ten teams are at work. It is expected that to-morrow ploughing operations will be resumed on Livingstone's land, Hawera, but every preparation has been made to board and lodge the ploughmen at Her Majesty's expense for some time. A friendly chief of note has been sent to Mokau to report on the state of affairs, there. __ AFFAIRS AT NORMANBY. Norman by, Monday. The Maoris aro holding a tangi over an old chief. They are making political capital of it, talking over all the absorbing questions. Te Iki had just returned from Parihaka, strongly advocating ploughing near Normanby. The Maoris say their work is ended at Hawera. Titokowaru and Kokiri also advocate ploughing to-morrow, but some few others are speaking against it. They will talk and drink rum over the question all day. They sny they want to assert a claim to the land on the Normanby side, and then Te Whiti will settle the whole land qnestion with the Government in person. Oar Norraanby friends are quite ready for them, and will treat them firmly if they do come. It having been reported that they were coming this morning, the Normanby P.ifles and Cavalry, and also the Hawera forces, have been on the alert since morning. The men must be put on pay. The Maoris can play the game of humbug for years. Opinions are divided as to whether the Maoris will plough to-morrow. If a bold chief like Te Iki ordere them they will. Titokowaru will not come here himself. Matters do not look any worse. The Maoris will come unarmed iE at all. They are only trying to revive a bouncing spirit. Wiremu" Manaia has just come here. He says he cannot make head or tail of this ploughing nonsense. His young fellows have got the bit in their mouth. He does not anticipate any war troubles. He laughed at Tamati being caught. He thinke Te Whiti intends to bring the Government to the scratch, and, finally, settle matters peaceably and in order.