TEE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

Southland Times, Issue 3446, 7 July 1879, Page 2

TEE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) Wellington, Saturday. To-day the Government received a telegram to the effect that the party of Maoris who commenced ploughing at Hawera this morning had been arrested, their two ploughs and six bullocks also being seized. A second telegram reports that "25 Maoris have started fencing some land near Opunake, and orders have been sent to arrest them, and if possible, in time for them to be put on board the liinemoa, which left New Plymouth at 9 o'clock, with i) 5 prisoners, and will call at Opunake to pick up the notorious ringleader Maigamia, in custody there. The total number of Maoris now under arrest is 93, exclusive of two boys who were released from custody. Although the criminalsessions Of tlie Supreme Court open on Monday it is doubtful whether the Maori prisoners who arrive to-morrow can be tried this time, as the depositions have not yet been received. Hawera, Saturday, Last evening, at o o'clock, a strappingyoung man, one of Tito Kawara's natives, was brought here, making 20 netted yesterday. At daybreak work again commenced by the Maoris ploughing at Trudlaepons. Nine were caught and were brought into town; thirty were ploughing, planting, and singing songs of joy, to the great annoyance of the sentries through the night. Tito Kawara has very few righting men left. The burden of the work now lies on the Norman by settlers who are deserving of unlimited praise. Some settlers think that more A.C.'s should be sent here, but for my own part, I think our men should be placed on pay immediately, and reinforcements be sent to Opunake and Okto, ready to take Parituku. No time should be lost, while Te Whiti is in his present mood. As I said before the affair can be settled without bloodshed during the present month. Tiie Maoris see our strength and know their own. But the Government must not talk until Te Whiti, Hiroki, and Parihaka, are taken. Then adieu to ambassadors and commissioners to native affairs. New Plymouth, Saturday. The Hinemoa arrived at daylight this morning, from Wellington, having on board a guard of A.G. force, for the purpose of taking charge of the native prisoners who were arrested at Waihi, and committed to take their trial at the next criminal sessions of the Supreme Court, at Wellington. At about nine o'clock, 34 prisoners were escorted to tlie beach. They showed unmistakable signs of feeling, and some of their women, who had followed them there, were overwhelmed with grief. The men, however, braced themselves up for the inevitable, and at tlie word of command took their place in the surf boat, to all appearances undaunted. Itiori (Lloyd), tlie spokesman in court yesterday, declared that they were ready for whatever might happen. He shook hands with Major Tuki and Captain Messenger, and said he did not blame them as they were only obeying Government orders, in the same way that he was obeying- Te Whiti's orders. The Hinemoa left for Wellington about nine o'clock. Te Whiti lias sent one of his chief men to New Plymouth, who has sought an interview with | these natives.* Information has been received that Maoris are still ploughing .at Kingdon's land. .Our informant was there yesterday, and was speak- j ing to the natives ; they say Mr Kingdon gave them permission to plough his land, and they were told if that were true then the police would not interfere with them, but if it wasn't true, or if they were to plough any other persons' land, they would be taken to gaol like the natives at Waihi and Okarau. This warning rather frightened them, and they did not evince a desire, to continue. Mr Kingdon has gone to disabuse the ; natives of ; the notion that they were ploughing with his consent. The" action taken by the Government in arresting; the native political ploughmen has materially lessened the 'desire ,pf natives to continue their lawless acts. -They are beginning to have a faint notion that Te Whiti is powerless to protect .them. Exporting these men to Wellington con- , siderably lessens danger to settlers in the out districts, who have now very little |to i'ear from, an uprising of the natives. The Survey Department at Taranaki is undergoing reduction. Some .of the surveyors who have been engaged' at Patea, and on the survey of the Plains, are under orders, we believe,, to proceed to Nelson and elsewhere, as it. is considered tlie present state of native affairs renders it unfavorable to keep the surveyors working' in- the district. The Herald thinks this not wise, as now would be the time to complete surveys of the confiscated lauds, which ' could be completed under the pro- > tection of the armed-force that 13 at present with, us in the place,

Napier, Sunday. The Waiaroa County Council have decided to petition the Government to strengthen the garrison at Frasertown, where there is a large quantity of warlike stores guarded by two or three constabulary onlyv Te Kooti has announced his intention of visiting the settlement. He says Ids visit will be friendly, and there appears no reason to be! ieve the contrary, but the settlers think it best to be prepared for any. emergency.. The natives of Hawkes Bay profess the greatest friend- 1 ship, for the Europeans, and say that those who represented otherwise have altogether belied thenr < They approve of the action of the Government in "arresting the Taranaki ploughmen. The Taupo correspondent of the H.B. Herald telegraphs that a party of Haul mis visited the telegraph working party at Tuapaj a place about 12 miles north, and warned them not to attempt to :■ stretch the wire across their land. The work was however pushed on and finished on Friday. The Hauhatis - were very indignant at their warning bjing disregarded, and requested an explanation, and upon being informed that the natives of Orakei Koralca had told thei party -to go on with tlie work and. take no notice of j anyone attempting to stop /thenv thay^ said .t hat if such was the case they could not blame them, but would go to Orakei Koraka and talk to people there. . :..-■.' :