NATIVE DISTURBANCE IN THE NORTH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1467, 4 June 1879, Page 2

NATIVE DISTURBANCE IN THE NORTH.

[By,Tblkgbafh.j Wellington, June 3. Advices received by the Government from Tai-Hnaki represent matters there as being more threatening than was at first believed. It is now admitted that the ploughing was begun, and is being continued, by Te Wliiti's express orders, given m his assumed capacity of an inspired prophet, and represented as being both dictated and supported by supernatural and irresistible authority. The whole u flair thus takes the shapo of an outbreak of fanaticism directed towards the attainment of a well defined and practical object, viz., the recovery of confiscated land. Te Whiti at any time may suddenly deem himself inspired to pronounce the sentenos of death on some unhappy settler or htß family. The Government, recognwiDg' the urgency of the situation, are making energetic preparations for bringing to bear a force sufficient to crush all resis- ance. The Armed Constabulary are being largely itrengtheued bj enlistment, and men are being trained assiduously for active service m the field. Reinforcements will be sent to the disturbed districts as fact as they can be got ready. Ample supplies of arms and ammunition are being forwarded. Meanwhile the settlers ore enrolling themselves as volunteers, and are being armed and drilled for service. Redoubts are being repaired, and put m a thorough state of readiness for occupation. Very strong garrisons, and some new redoubts and earthworks are about to be thrown up at various-suitable points, under the direction of Cfllonel Th« whole of the dis>

turned dijtiiet, m short, is being placed m a state of thorough defence. Airangementsare beinp made for bringing fully a thousand Ngatiporoos and other friendly na'iveßOn the spot, as active allies against Te Whiti am! his follower!. The European Bettlers have been warned not to precipitate a crisis by any individual action on their part, but to act entirely m concert . with the Government, and m the case of tho more outlying districts, the women and children are being tent into town. Hopes even yet are entertained that by these demonstrations of the firm and resolute determination on the part of the Government to maintain and enforce the author, ty of the law, the dieaffected natives tray be induced to submit, but as everything depends on the personal caprice of the chief fanatics, there is no security for a single day. It is deemed absolutely necessary to take every precaution to guard against surprise. In addition to the 70,000 cases of cartridges now on the way from England, large further supplies have been ordered. Hawbba, June 3. The rumors about Bayley's family having been murdered are entirely without foundation. Tho Maoris are peaceful and quiet all around here, and are making no warlike professions, although it is known they are preparing to resist any act of aggression on our part. '"'"■ • A large meeting of Maoris took place at Pokapa on Sunday und yesterday, when Tauroa, one of the leading chiefs, who was transported to Dunedin a few years since, spoke eloquently to the natives. He pointed out the folly of going to war. He reminded them of their incarceration m the Dunedin gaol, and warned them that they could not dare to hope for euch kind treatment from their eouthern friends ngain. He was m a great measure Buccesesful. The fanatical influence of Te Wbitiis, howevtr, still spreading throughout the district like an after-damp. Every reasonable means, I think, are being tried to stay it. The settlers here are not frightened, although they wisely intend to prepare for the evil day, as the balance must be struck eoine day between Hiroki, Te Whiti, and the Government. New Plymouth, June 3. The Hinemoa left for Wellington this afternoon about four o'clock, taking the Governor, the Premier, Colonel Whitmore and party. The Governor does not visit Auckland until the 12th June, as be will be detained m Wellington, owing to a full Cabinet meeting to be helH there to consider the native difficulty, and to decide what action should be taken m tho matter. A Cabinet meeting-was held here this morning, and a deputation to the Governor is talked of. New Plymouth (Later). A deputation wailed upon Ministers before leaving, and had a final interview, when the Premier stated that a force of 200 men would be sent here immediately for the protection of the place. The general opinion is that the arrangements made by tho Government are SBtisfactory, and confidence is beginning to be restored. Several families have come into town, and will remain until theaffairis settled. Volunteer t.roopß are being formed m the principal parts of the district. The excitement is now subsiding, and when the arrangement for the protection of the sottlers it curried into force, confidence, it is to be hoped, will be restored, "and business, which has been entirely suspended, will again be renewed, although it is feared it will take time to recover from the severo shock it has received through the aggressive aotisn taken by tho natives. The Herald to-night, referring to what has been done, cays : — "At a crisis such as this, calm deliberation is of the utmost importance. Declamation or passionate orations would be strangely out of place, being calculated to lead to falte conclusions. We want on bucli occasions, but cool calculations cf all the odds, and then resolve on v definite course of action. We think the resolution passed by the Committee expresses the general opinion, and wo hope we shall not hear more of such feeble proposals as a civil action to , check an evil of such severe magnitude, and one that requires a strong band and a determined will lo denl with on the moment of it s occurrence. Though Te Whiti is a fanatic he is not utterly deranged. Even an exhibition of power will not be lost on him, for we think the most deluded of his h llowrrx would then prefer rather to hold their ploughing matches on a secluded spot fur from busy haunts, than m the immediate vicinity of the Armed Constabulary. We think and believe that an ample armed force will prevent anything arising which will lead to a collision, and it is evidently on all accounts better, by bold and energetio aclion, to p-event disaster, thun to have it incited by a show of weakness and m a vain struggle afterwards to recover lost ground." [The following telegrams are from the Prest of yesterday. 3 Hew PiiYHOUTH, June 2. A Urge pub'io meeting was held this morning m the Oddfellow*' Hall. The Mayor presided, and the members of the Assembly for the district were present. Major Atkinson explained that a deputation of Justices nnd other [influential settlers had laid before the Premier on Saturday, the fact that the district is surrounded and interspersed with fanatics, under the control of Te Whiti; that Te Whiti had on tnoie than one occasion resisted bloodshed, especially m the case of the surveyors being turnod off the plains, but there was no dependence to be placed on his continuing to pursue that, couree ; that m the present instance, before the Government assert the majesty of the l'iw, it w uld be prudent to take steps for the protection of the sel tiers; that after hesitation the Government had undertaken to do this, and had stated, after many inquiries, that they would be prepared to inform the settlers of their intentions. He advised that matters should be left for the present. Mr H. Richmond, while acknowledging tho gravity of the situation, did not think that any immediate danger was to be apprehended from Te Whiti. He thought a large force might be looked upon as a challenge, and should only be resorted toasalastresource,atid that it would bo wise to avert bloodshed as long as possible. He moved — " That the resolution of the. meeting of Justices and others on Saturday last bo adopted, as expressing the feeling of tho community, and that this meeting trusts that the Government, while firmly asserting the law, may succeed m averting war, and will put the threatened districts m a state of defence." Mr Stundish seconded the resolution, and stated that the best way to avert war was to bo prepared to meet it, and that a force of at least 500 men was needed. ■■■ - Colonel Trimble supported the resolution. He advised coolness on the part of the settlers and the placing of their services at tho disposil of the Government. He feared on Saturday that the steps proposed te be taken by Government were inadequate to the occasion, but he trusted that the eyes of the Government were being opened to the real stute of the case. He ridiculed the idea of Ihe present difficulty being settled by reference to a law court. ,Mr Courtney asked leave to publicly state the person who telegraphed through the Press A Bsocia'.ioii tbat> fcHe .A.l<Kzn9On party were making political capital out of the present nutive difficulty is a liar and a traitor. This was endorsed by the meeting. Mr T. Kelly supported tlie resolution. He believed the Government had to deal with a fanatic, who«e movements are uncertain, and who is backed up by a large force. He did not think the Government knew the gravity of the case till they oame here. Mr John Elliott, of Waitara, looked upon the present emergency as the gravest which had yet arisen m the history of the province. They had not only the four or. five men ploughing at Oakura to oppose them, but nearly the whole of the native* on the West Coast. Ihe first seep towards this difficulty was the meeting at Waitara, when Bewi demanded the return of Waitara, which meant the confiscated land. The next step was the permitting Hiroki, the murderer, lo escape justice. Ho believed that if speedy measure! were not taken, a great catastrophe would occur. They knew what the natives were capnble of doing, under the power of fanaticism. After the meeting had been addressed by several other speakers, the Chairman put the resolution, which was carried. At 3 p.m. a deputation from .this meeting, headed by the Mayor, waited on the

Hir George Grey complained thft 1 t!ii« res • itttioD, as well as the resolution of Saturday, did not point out to the Government the ac'uttl source of danger. He expressed bis pleasure at finding thit the settler* were prepared to defend their hom?B, and tha' was all the Government wouH require of them. He was cauticms and reticent as to a force being sent for the defence of the distri^. The result of to-day's proceedings is not ea isftictory. ■-_» The natircß rrsumed ploughing on Courtney's farm yesterday. The Hineraoa is still at anchor here. Volunteer companies are rapidly forming. - The Government will accept short service* without uniform. Haweba, June 2. The satller* all up (he Coast are much excited at the uspect of nilive affaire. Meetings have been held at all the townships. The settlers are clamoring fo." arms, and offering their services as volunteers. The utmost excitement appears to exist at the townships remote from the frontier, whilst at Normanby, the nearest to the Waimate Plains, and consequently the most exposed to attack m the event of an outbreak,|Lhe people go on the even tenor of their way without the slightest apprehension of danger. The natives, including Tito Konaru, laugh at the idea of war, and all say that even if we commenced, they will not be forced into fighting, but remain passive, and that then our forces will retire thoroughly ashamed of tbemselveß. Pari, Tito Kowaru's sUter, tays she does not think theie will be fighting, but if theie is the last war would be mere chil .'s piny to the one that would ensue, and that the fearful slaughter which befel our forces at Te-Ngutu ote-Manu would be totally eclipaed this time. The last war only ended with the consumption of every charge of powder the nativeß had, but now again they have larger supplies than ever, thanks to the mistaken polioy of Borne of our officials. The Governor, Premier, nnd Coloninl Secretary are expected back m Wellington on Wednesday next.