NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1002, 5 July 1879, Page 2

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

[BY TELEGRAM!.] Wellington, July 4. The Government advices from the West Coast to-day are to the following effect : Seven natives resumed ploughing to-day at Mr. Finlayson's ground, near the Waihi Stockade. At 2 p.m. they were arrested by a body of Armed Constabulary. The men effecting the arrest were unarmed, but were protected by a covering party. The natives will be taken down to Patea to-night, brought before the R.M., and if committed for trial, will be sent on to Wellington. Tito Kowaru was not with this party, but will probably accompany another one. July 5. The Government have received a telegram stating that 24 more ploughmen have been arrested at New Plymouth. More arrests are probable. New Plymouth, July 4.

The native prisoners brought in from Waihi yesterday were charged before the R.M. to-day at 2 p.m., under the Malicious Injury to Property Act, with having committed certain damage to land belonging to Thomas Bailey, at Waihi. - Mr. Thomas Bailey was the first witness called, and proved that the land belonged to him, and that damage to over L 45 had been done. He stated that about 15 acres of land had been damaged to the extent of L 3 per acre. Mr. Humphrey Bailey corroborated the evidence of the aboye witness. He stated that he warned the natives off the land.

Captain Messenger deposed that he went to arrest the prisoners. He told the natives not to go on with the ploughing or they would bring trouble on themselves, They did not stop, and so he had them, arrested,

Constable Galkert proved arresting the prisoners. The prisoners being asked if they had anything.to say, Lloyd replied that he did not plough of "his own will, but by order of Te Whiti. Tatikai Pakeha said that what the natives had been doing was by order of Te Whiti, and he thought that Te Whiti ought to pay for the damage done. The Grown Prosecutor (Mr. Standjsh) prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, and asked that the natives might be committed for trial'at the Supreme Court, Wellington. This the Magistrate acceded to, and the prisoners were committed accordingly. The natives were told that the Government would pay the expenses of any witnesses they might wish to call in defence.

The natives have agreed to repair Mr. Elliott's fence at Waitara, Te Patu and the natives who committed the trespass having considered it advisable to do so rather than be put in gaol for the offence. July 5. TheHinemoa left for Wellington at 9 o'clock this morning with 49 prisoners. Haweea, July 3.

Uews has just come in that another set of ploughmen are at work at Mr. Kister's, near Normanby.