THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 383, 14 June 1879, Page 17

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

(PKK PRESS AGENCY.) Gisborne, Thursday. No native meeting has yet been held by the Ngatiporou or other tribes here to consider the question of going to Waimate. Wi Pere convened a meeting of the Poverty Bay natives, but owing to the bad weather the meeting did not take place. The Europeans in this district state openly that the fighting strength of the Ngatiporou tribe, which has been put down at a thousand men, is altogether wrong, and that the Government are over-rating the assistance to be expected from this quarter. The Maoris here, while perfectly loyal to the Queen, show no desire to fight against their countrymen on the AVest Coast. Another thing ih that the Ngatiporou tribe dread a raid being made upon their settlements by Te Kooti in the event of their going to Waimate. It is well known here that Te Kooti's new religion has for the past twelve months gained a large number of converts hereabouts. There is no occasion for alarm here, but the Government need not expect over three hundred natives, unless on the met extravagant terms, such as a high rate of pay, a grant of laud, and the best needle guns. Patea, Thursday.

The number of Volunteers sworn-in at Cariyle up to yesterday was 134, which, with 70 cavalry men, make a total of ovor 200. The settlers at Kakarnmea and Manutabi, aud other places are also organising for mutual protection. The Volunteering spirit is now thoroughly aroused, and arming and drilling are being rapidly proceeded with. There is a stern determination among the settlers to defend themselves and their homes. It is felt that, as all this anxiety and expense have been occasioned through the aggressive «.cts instigated by Te Whiti, advantage should >. taken by the Government of the Volunteer 1 veraent to finally settle the native difficulty '"his coast, as if the Government give way tn e now trightened natives, and the V.dunteei„ spirit j s allowed to die out, there will I 1" -\t ditn/mlty in reviving it. The feeling is t ' Hindu * should be demanded and obtain m . f a jij„g fcmlt) that Te Whiti, who has bet*], e cauge 0 f the trouble, should be secured , l( j t i ie p lir jhaka den of murderers and disc. ents sca ttered. There is no necessity for r ,i,. ( | action, but the Government should let-be nuuiistakably known that it is prepared l\ rV y (Vi t its alleged intentions. If Volunteers, WiU; t sl | f„ r fci,j s purpose, numbers will be thcoming. as it is strongly felt that there ca, e QO Irm terial guarantee for the peace of this sfc nmil p ar jhaka J. routed out and the The principle that the land "houky the cost should be strictly enforced. 1 ne spension of farming operation-, consequev )U tue pre . sen t state of insecurity, has alrea-.j irown nnm b erg 0 f working men out of emplo„ nt( f , m j the loflg to se ttl e rs, with no cropi to i ftt harvest, w jU be very nrrsftti