NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3176, 17 July 1879, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

DEPUTATION OF HAWERA SETTLERS

TO THE GOVERNMENT. [telegraphed by 01m correspondent.] Yesterday afternoon Messrs. Lysaght and McGuiro waited upon Sir G. Grey and Colonel Whit more as a deputation appointed by a recent mooting at Hawera, to urge upon the Government the necessity of taking soni" prompt and decisive action in reference to the native difficulty. The deputation urged thai the forces in the district at present were no' sufficient, and pointed out that numbers of men were leaving the district owing to want of employment. They asked that certain public works which had already boon sancionod, might be carried out at once, so as to <^ivci employment to these men. They also strongly urged upon tho Government the necessity of at once rcoccupying the Waimate Plains, and bringing Hiroki to justice. They stated that it would bo almost belter to have war in tho district than the present stare of uncertainty. Property was depreciating ; settlers were leaving the district ; there was a general feeling of insecurity ; an«t unless some decisive action was taken by the Government a groat crisis would ensue.

In reply the Ministers stated that Colonel Roberts had been instructed 10 report on the forces required in tho district, aud it was considered that with the reinforcements shortly to bo sent, there would be ample forces to meet any emergency. Colonel Wiiitmore added ihat if necessary 3,000 men could be placed upon the Plains within a week. Sir George Grey promised that the public works referred to should be proceeded with at once, and said that within a week there would be employment in the district for three or four hundred men. With reference to the inoccupation of the Plains and the arrest of Iliroki,the Ministers, although strongly pressed by the deputation, declined to say what thcirplans were. Sir George Grey added that it would be most improper to disclose them at the present moment.