NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 970, 29 May 1879, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Wellington, May 28. With reference to the native difficulty in Taranaki, the Government received today an important telegram from the lnspector of Police at New Plymouth. The Inspector states that he has received a communication from one of Te Whiti's principal chiefs, one of high standing and responsibility, to the effect that the late trespass upon settlers' land in the naki district was directly contrary to the J orders of Te Wliiti, who apologised for the conduct of his fellow-countrymen, expressly repudiating all responsibility for.

their misdeeds, and declaring that he had given most positive orders that none of the settlers on the confiscated lands should be interfered ivith or molested in any way. _ • . v Mr. Parris has been instructed tbjgp at ■once to see Te Whiti'on the subject,-and .•meantime'the settlers who -have been.intruded oil will be directed to take-legal proceedings against the natives for trespass, in. which proceedings: they will receive the of the Government: New Plymouth, May 28. The natives are still at work ploughing up Mr. Courtney's land at Tapua, but notwithstanding rumors of their going to commence at other places, no other movement in that .direction has taken place.. Mr; W.'lieiinell, pf the Native Office; went to Waitara yesterday afternoon, and .instituted enquiries as to the alleged.-.dis-affection of the Maoris iii that locality. He found no foundation for the rumor, but on the contrary was led to believe* that tlie'natives are on the most amicable terms with the Europeans. The gentlemen who formed themselves into a Committee on Monday to enquire into the state of affairs, have been in constant communication with the Government, and we learn that a telegram has been received to the effect that it was probable the Governor would, if he was well enough, visit New Plymouth. The Ministry are considering the situation, and Sir George Grey or some other member of the Ministry will come here and consult with the leading gentlemen of the place, as to what is to be done in the present state of affairs. Mr. Parris left town this morning for Parihaka, to see Te Whiti, and to ascertain from him if it was witli his orders that the men had been set to work to plough Mr. Courtney's land. It is very curious, but notwithstanding all the rumours of persons being warned to leave their lands, we cannot hear of a single instance where a settler has been in any way threatened. Mr. W. Bayley, of Stony River, was in town this morning, and states that liis native neighbors and himself are on very friendly terms. Te Whiti, it appears, sent word to Motutu (the head of the natives living in that part of the district), ordering him to plough up Mr. Bayley's land, but Motutu was equal to the occasion, it seems, and sent word back to the fanatical prophet that if he wanted the land ploughed, he had better come there and do it himself. Auckland, May 28. The. "Waikatos have gathered at Hikurangi. They are much disappointed at Ministers leaving them, and having withdrawn the proposals made last year. Evidence of the break-up of the King party is afforded in the fact that the Waikatos are about to leave Te Kuiti, which, on account of its fine military position, was chosen as the" principal place of residence for the Kingites after the war. Although in the Ngatimaiiiapoto territ-oi'y, Kawliia will be the head quarters of the Waikatos. The Ngatiahakiroa and Ngatipuhiawe sections of the Waikatos own the north and middle portions of Kawhia, some tens of thousands of acres, so that the Government need not fret about the Waikatos having 110 land. The conduct of the Natives at the Cambridge Land Court was markedly improved. The investigation of the Turaparaharaha block is over, and it is awarded to Waika's family. Judge Munro's strictures on the conduct of the Wellington natives in claiming lands which their forefathers had deserted ages ago meet with great approval from both Natives and Europeans. Te Ngakau has arrived from Kopua, and is going into the Court as claimant in the Okarua block, together with six other Ngatihaua Kingites. Te Ngakau, in the Native Lands Court, opposed the Okarua block. Ngakau was obstinate, and, threatening the Judge, refused to -allow the Court to proceed. There was great excitement. The friendly natives ask the Court who is to blame for the adjournment—the Government, the Court, or the natives. Mr. Sheehan and party return to the Waikato to-morrow morning, and may be expected back on Friday night or Saturday with Rewi. Great discontent is being shown at Shortland in consequence of the high prices demanded by property owners for land for the Waikato-Thames Railway. May 29. The Okaina block, which caused the scene in the Cambridge Native Lands Court yesterday, is the Arolia land, in the Thames district. All this country was in dispute between the Ngatihaua and the .Thames tribes. Te Ngakau was in Court as one of the Ngatihauas. He does not assume to forbid the court to proceed on account of Tawhiao's authority, but stands on his ancestral right. The Judge de clined to obey Te Ngakau, and that person liad to become an ordinary suitor. A meeting is to be held at Ngarauwahia to urge the Government to open the suburban lands released by. Tawhaio's refusal of terms. : Napiep., May 28. The Maori scare turns out to have been based on wrong grounds. The police at Takapu found that the native chief, Hiroki Tuhia, who is also a native assessor, had caused a barricade of sleepers and wire fence to be placed along the line. He did it openly, and called attention to the barricade, so that no accident should happen. He was arrested quietly, and brought to town this morning. but was liberated on one of the interpreters undertaking- to look after him. He will be brought up at the Police Court to-morrow: The account he gives of Ins action appears to be perfectly correct. It is to the effect that he was smoking in one: of the carriages in the morning train when Watkins, the guard, came to him and commenced to abuse him, finally pitching him head foremost.Jrom the train on to the platform at Kopua. He went away quietly, ind announced liis intention of barricading the line, as the Government had never purchased his land for the line. The latter statement .-is . true, although negotiations for the purchase are in progress. Hiroki's action was solely directed at Watkins, whom he swears he will murder. The affair had-in it no political significance whatever, being merely the result of a private feud.' '