THE NATIVE DIFFICULTIES AT TARANAKI AND WAIPA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5666, 28 May 1879, Page 2

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTIES AT TARANAKI AND WAIPA.

CAMBRIDGE LAND COURT.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.)

New Plymouth, Tuesday.

Two other farmers at Oakurn have received notice that their lands will be ploughed up ; in fact it appears that notice has hern given to all owners of confiscated land. There is treat difference of opinion as to what the natives really want or intend to do. Some who ought to know say that there will be no fighting, and that it is merely a question as to how far the natives can proceed without Government interference. The settlers have been advised not to interfere with the ploughmen. 8 p.m. Nothing further has transpired respecting the affair with the natives at Oakum. They are still ploughing up Courtney’s laud, going occasionally to the public house to get refreshment. Great uneasiness exists here, and the business of the place is stagnated. The natives at Waitara intimate that they will come in and plough to-morrow or the next day. The Herald, in an article to-night, says that the po ition is undoubtedly serious. It says : —“ If the men were not so utterly fanatic it would be possible to deal with them by force of reas n ; but reasouable argument is lost on men who talk, as they do, of being lords of the pakeha ami the pakeha must come under the soles of their feet. What, then, is to be done ? Is it to be a protracted negotiation through Government officers, and after mouths of delay a reluctant withdrawal ? or is the Government to exercise its power and deal summarily with the matter, and save a repetition of such scenes all over the district ?. We think prompt action necessary. Nothing hut the consciousness that the Government has the power to suppress such lawless acta with a strong hand will ,have the least effect on the natives. Without, however, desiring to chalk out a course of action for the Government in this matter, we hope they will rise to the occasion, and act with fairness and judgment at such a crisis in our affairs.” Cambridge, Tuesday. It is reported that the natives at Waipa, 25 miles from here, have seized the Constabulary cottages lately erected on a road to the Eotorua Hot Lakes and removed them, reerecting the huts on some land belonging to Messrs. McLean and Company. The natives refuse to leave, and say that the laud is theirs, although McLean and Company hold a Crown grant. It is to he hoped that the rumor is incorrect, but the native mind is disturbed at the present time. The Government is disliked, and suspected of anything but good intentions. 8 p.m. The Native Minister has left Cambridge. The attention of the natives is now entirely concentrated on the Court, aud business is going on satisfactorily. The positive stand taken yesterday by the Court reflects credit upon Judge Munro. . He refused to accede to Manga’s request for a further adjournment. This has met with the approval of all the natives, and inspired them with renewed confidence in the impartiality of the Court when free from Ministerial interference, however important bn political grounds the latter might bo. Previously to this stage of the proceedings rebellious sentiments' were expressed by the natives against the Court and all Government institutions, stimulated,perhaps by prejudiced auti-Minis-terial Europeans. One section of the natives even threatened to stop the Court by violence, and another to leave Cambridge in a body. The bad feeling was caused by the political element being introduced.’" Now a change pervades the aboriginal mind, thanks to Mr. Hammond, secretary of the district, who is credited with having rendered good .though unostentatious- advice in pacifying the irate natives by patiently listening to their grievances, and. by giving conciliatory explanations has soothed the claimants, and everything appears to progress well. Several large blocks will probably pass, namely, Okaria, Wairere, Rangitaunuki, Tuaraparaharahara, Nos. 1 and 2, and perhaps other blocks. Auckland and Southern capitalists interested in the purchase of these blocks will he glad to hear that they are going through the Laud Court, and the distribution of £50,000 or £OO,OOO will cause some ready cash to be circulated through the district, which storekeepers say ’was wanted, as , they have been giving heavy credit to the Maoris. Rewi's ancient mode of life appears to be becoming distasteful to him, thanks to the education he has been receiving from the Native Minister. Now that he is being converted from the error of his barbarous ways, he is about to rush into the pomps and vanities of civilised life. He was driven to Kihikihi by William Carter, the juvenile sou of the celebrated Waikato coach proprietor. On the way he was so delighted with the boy's excellent driving that he asked -William if he (Rewi) bought a buggy, would • William go and live with him and drive him about the Waikato. It is reported that the arrangement is nearly completed. A pair of buggy horses are to be got from Auckland; and an American buggy from Tonks’s, and harness from Wiseman's. ,