DEPUTATION TO THE NATIVE MINISTER AT MANAIA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3854, 3 October 1881, Page 2

DEPUTATION TO THE NATIVE MINISTER AT MANAIA.

[FROM THE " HAWERA STAR.]

A deputation of settlers waited upon the Native Minister at the Manaia Redoubt on Wednesday, the 28th September, at 2 p.m. Messrs. Martin, O'Brien, A. Langley, Alexander, J. J. Mitchell^ and Yorke formed the deputation. After some conversation respecting a grant in aid of a drill-shed, Mr. Rollestox said he thought that the newspapers had a great deal to answer for ; a number of utterly false reports had been Lately published by the Press, which damaged the credit of the Colony, and cost a great deal of money and trouble to refute. For instance, the report about Daniells was, he believed, absolutely untrue. Colonel Roberts knew nothing .of it. , Daniells certainly never came to him. He (Mr. Rolleston) was knocking about Rahotu the whole of that day, when the assault'tvas said to' have taken place, yet he uever saw or heard, anything of it. Again, the story about his being accompanied by a mounted t escprtt.of , eight or ten men was *a "* pure ' fabrication. An orderly went with hip;,/, and, one with Major Parris, to hold theit horses when they got off. The story I .about: the' : persdns being stripped and left -.naked,-) -was, altogether false. He held that the Press, which published such false reports — reports .which cost an infinite amount of trouble and large sums of money to refute — was worthy of condemnation and censure. An infinite amount ~of harm was done by them. People through oufr the, district were alarmed, and- as a representative of the Press was present, he hoped that .attention would be called to,theabuse ofj their liberty, which the newspapers lia'd been guilty of. Mr.Ypp.Kis (H'awem Star) stated that he thought' it was "scarcely fair to condemn the wtiole 0% 'the Press in such sleeping term 3. He appealed to the gentlciren present to support 'his statehiSnt, • that such wild and false" rumors had found no. place in the Star, which beirig I ' almost on the spot, might be reasonably expected to ascertain^the truth. He knew that the 'jouirial < had been 'blamed for po t tr giving morenatiyenews, when there was none. But' although' sensational reports might heir) to sell a newspaper, he believed it to be their duty to. publish . . facts, Jiot falsehoods. The welfare of the di'stfict was the main object in view, and as he knew that by publishing alarming and highly-colored rumors the -wives and. families of settlers would be alarmed, and wouldask to be removed into the townships, the paper he represented had declined to publish .such rumors. The story about D ( aniells came to -the Star through the Prjess -Association. He (Mr. Yorke) knew there was ,a settler of that name at Rahotu and, could^not question the truth of the story - NO MORE MAORI SCARES.

Mr. Marttn asked that the Government should give the settlers some assurance that i they- should see an end of these scares and disturbance's. Settlers came here and invested 'i their money, and undertook to work hard and ! spend a lot. of money to push on the district, ,aud they now found that- business was stagj nated, and the progress that was being made ; was brought to a standstill The settlers felt j that so long, as Parihaka existed in its present j state there was likely to be no end to it, and '. they 'would accept 1 some present sacrifice to i put an end to it once and for ever. Ho beilieved that several settlers had removed their wives, and.probably more would follow. j Mr. Yokk;h supported what Mr. Martyn ;had said as to the stagnation of business. Newspapers felt the pulse of the public, and he knew for a fact that the progress of the district had been stopped within the past ten days.

Mr. Rolleston replied that the Government had spared no pains to avert war, and believed that the peace of the district was pretty well assured. Even now he thought they were masters of the situation. He could scarcely bo expected to state what the Government were going to do. Settlers could see, and knew well what they had been and were doing, and he hoped that the measures taken by the Government were such as to infuse and restore confidence. As to the fencing, it was no new thing ; it had been goiug on for months ; but Te Whiti had seen that numerically his men were now sufficient almost to defy arrest, and was, he believed, trying it on to see what concessions he could gain by more vigorous obstruction. The large cultivations near Parihaka, which were certain to be destroyed in case of war, were evidence of peaceful intentions. He hoped that the leasing of the reserves under the West Coast Settlement Re-

serves Act, by giving the Maoris a monetary interest in the preservation o£ peace, would help to lessen the chance of future difficulty. Mr. Glenn thought that the Maoris should be required to cultivate a portion of their reserves like the deferred payment settlers. Mr. Rolleston thought that could hardly be done at present.

Mr. Alexander asked whether it was not true that large bodies of men were fencing in land ricar'PafihaT?a"sblil fo 'European's^ who were thereby. prevented from occupying their land.

Mr, llollestqx admitted that it_was»soon a few sections.

Mr. Martyx said that having stated the wishes of the settlers, he was sure the deputation was quite prepared to leave the matter in the, hand.s of the Government to deal with as they thought' besf., NATIVES PLOUGHING ON HUNTER'S LAND.

Mr. Rolleston said, in respect to the ploughing at Otakeho, he di-1 not thing there was any cause for alarm. ITe had seen the Maorics ; they were perfectly civil, and agreed to knock off as soon as they had done that bout. They were, at the tinie of speaking, in the township, a<.rl he did not think there was any cause for alarm.

PAYMENT TO VOLUNTEERS.

Mr. Ma.ktyn asked that the Volunteer Cavalry at Manaia and throughout the district might be placed on the same footing as the cavalry in the Waikato. In former days, the latter had been allowed 12s. a day when on active service, and he thought the Waimate settlers should receive" the same.

Mr. Rolleston believed the present allowauce was 7s. or 7s. Gd. per. day, and he had no doubt that the same rate would be allowed here. • Major Stapp had been asked to report . on. tliis and other matters in connection with the volunteers, and he (Mr. R.) must await 6hc' report before giving a definite reply. Captain .Martyn hoped that & full capitation would be granted, if the newly enrolled volunteers learnt their drill and became efficient. He was much in favor of six consecutive days' drill, as far more was learnt both by man and horse in this way than by occasional drills on Saturdays. Captain Gudgeon could endorse the' statement made by Mr. Martyn as to the value of several consecutive days'" drill.

After a few other matters of local interest had been referred to, the deputation thanked Mr. Rollestou for the careful consideration given to the several questions raised by the settlers, and withdrew.