NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1005, 9 July 1879, Page 2

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

I [by telegraph.] Wellington; July 8. Fifty thousand rounds of ammunition were shipped in the Patea, which left yesterday evening for Patea. The Native Minister received a telegram to-day to the effect that a meeting of the followers of Te Mutu (a rival prophet of Te Whiti) had been held, 150 being present, when all emphatically declared themselves on the side of the Government. The Maori prisoners are confined in the Constabularly Barracks , and seem pretty comfortable. In the daytime they are allowed to assemble together. They avail themselves of the liberty. They seem to take- things in a philosophic manner, reclining or squatting around the department wrapped in blankets. Many of the prisoners are in possession of a supply of tobacco, which they are permitted to smoke. One or two of them are rather downcast. Some countrymen and women of the prisoners, who visited them yesterday, seemed much affected. The prisoners at first only spoke in whispers, but now they converse freely. They still adhere firmly to the statement that they are only contesting for their rights, and state they petitioned Parliament repeatedly without avail, and at length they were driven to take extreme measures. They also state that they are acting under the orders of Te Whiti, obeying him as soldiers would obey a general, trusting that he will only give them such orders as will be justified by expediency. " Suppose," said one of them "to a visitor yesterday :—" Suppose a dog is worrying a number of sheep in a field, who is responsible for the damage done—the dog or his master?" The reply was of course that the master was •liable. " Then we are like the dog. Te Whiti is the master. Why is not he held responsible ?"■ The visitor answered : " But you forget that you have reasoning powers, while the dog has not. If Te Whiti told you to hang yourself would

you doit?" The prisoner laughed, and replied that he would not. The men seemed very contented -with the food served out to them. Little luxuries in addition are supplied to them by sympathisers in town. Some of them yesterday expressed a wish to taste some of the Wellington mussels, and to-day some of the natives went out in a boat to procure some. Tobacco has been brought to them by various visitors, including the Native Minister, who sent up a quantity for their use.

A large number of the prisoners appear to be friendly natives ; at least some of them acted as guides to us in the last war. Amongst them is Wi Kangi Matakatea, of Opunake. He will be remembered for the gallant manner in which he assisted in saving the survivors from the wreck of the Lord Worsley at Opunake in 1864, and afterwards conveyed them through the rebel country, at the risk of his own life, landing them safely in New Plymouth. New Plyjiocth, July 8.

A report that ploughing was going, on at Wanganui led to a visit to ■ it. About three-quarters of an acre were found ploughed, but no men at work. When the natives at the adjoining settlement were questioned they evaded a direct reply. Te Wliiti's influence is fast on the wane, and his power such that it will be necessary for him to clear out of the district. Those natives formerly loud in the praise of Te Whiti now say nothing in his favor. Their downcast and dejected women whose husbands have been taken to Wellington are dreadfully enraged at what they consider Te Whiti's humbug, and I should not be surprised if at the next meeting at Parihaka they are ready to tear the prophet to pieces for misleading their husbands.

It is reported that several natives interviewed Te Whiti to ascertain why his words did not come true, and the men who were taken prisoners released in three days. He has told them to get rams' horns and blow them before the prisons where the men are confined, and the walls will fall down. The natives are said to be now busy collecting rams' horns. Han a says the natives are so enraged at Te Whiti's doings that they talk of bringing him in, so that he may suffer the same punishment as those he has misled have suffered. GiSBOKSfE, July 8. Turiheniho, the witness in Cooper s case, has returned to the bush armed with a Snider, and Captain Porter goes up to-night to try and bring him down.