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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 706, 30 May 1879, Page 2

Our telegrams received to-day, if not actually of an alarming nature, are calculated to cause very great anxiety. The fact cau 110 lunger be concealed that the Native disaffection is not only spreading, but is assuming an attitude which threatens the lives and property of a large number of settlers. The Maori invaders still continue ploughing the laud on Mr. Courtney's. farm at New Plymouth. They commence work at 3 o'clock in the morning, and leave with their ploughs iu the evening. One family residing at Omata, have in their alarm at the aspect of affairs, left the district for Canterbury, and it is j not unlikely others will be found doing likewise. The natives sny they have no : desire to fight, but having thrown down the gauntlet, it is for the Government to settle the matter. This can only l«e looked upon as a defiance by the Maories against the Government, and we should ! imagine must not be pooh-poohed down by the Government referring the matter to one of the Supreme Courts of the Colony for adjustment. We learn further that the Natives are congregating at Parihaka from various northern settlements. The settlers express a strong desire to be armed, a request we should .think the Government would not hesitate to grant without an hour's delay. At Waitotara an armed native, nunuul Kerbopo is perigrinating the district, tlueatening the European settlers. A Vigilance Committee has been formed, and Sir W. Fox has telegraphed to the Defence Minister, suggesting the arming of settlers, and the arrest of Kereopa. Altogether Native affairs at the present juncture look ugly. Parliament, we learn, is announced to meet on the Uth Jnly, for the despatch of busine*s, but in the present unsettled and most unsatisfactory state of affairs, we should think that Ministers would be most desirous of relieving themselves of a very great responsibility, V>y calling Parliament together and taking the opinion of the country as the line of action it is necessary to pursue. This is clearly the duty of Ministers, and if they fail in it n very serious charge will be preferred against them which they will have great difficulty in finding an excuse in defence