WAIMATE PLAINS DIFFICULTY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3424, 1 April 1879, Page 4

WAIMATE PLAINS DIFFICULTY.

[By Tblbqbaph.]

LBPHOIAI.]

WELLINGTON, Maboh 81.

Mr E. J. Seddon, who has just returned from a visit to the Waimate Plains, informs the Chronicle that when he came down on Friday there was no particular excitement felt, either by the natives or the settlers. Mr tieddon states that when he went over the Plains to inspect tho land, the resident natives whom he met treated him courteously, and even showed him the pegs of some of the sections. Mr Seddon declares that the natives, .actually resident on the Plains had nothing to do with the removal of the surveyors ; that it was a party of natives from Parihaka, Bomo forty in number, who effected the removal. Mr Seddon inclines to the opinion that there will be no disturbance, and that should tho surveyors onco more bo placed upon tho Plains, the survey will bo allowed to proceed without further interruption.

The Special Commissioner of the Association at Httwem telegraphs as follows to-day, but latest news received by Government dons not bear out the information, and represents things as going on satisfactorily : — " Kakira and other Natives now very bold in their assertions against Government, say that Government are all bounce, and do not mean what they say. Mr Williams, who again visited thoni, was insulted and violent language used by tho Maoris to him. Katene offers to take the surveyors back. This looks very kind, but Under the circumstances would be impossible. Things look, darker than over. The Natives complain they hear so many different yarns as to the intention of Government, that they do not know which to believe. In any case they will not have the surveyors back at any price. Te Whiti's mana would be broken if Hiroki could be taken."

HAWERA, Maboh 31.

On Saturday, Mr H. Williamß, with definite instructions from Government, visited tho settlement of the Waimate Plains, accompanied by Messrs M'Guire and King. Mr Williams told the Nativeß positively that unless they consented to the return of the surveyors, the settlement of the questions would be placed in tho hands of Colonel Whitmore, with whom, as Mr Williams naively stud, they had a previous warm acquaintance. The first place visited was Te Xautau. Hero we met a staunch and intelligent follower of Te Whiti, named Te Bama, who listened to Mr Williams throughout. At times he seemed downcast, but soon up again. Mr Williams said he took up a Bprig of fern, and pointing to the ■ stalk said that waa Te Whiti, and the branches

■ Aver e the people of the various settlements. ' If you destroy a settlement you merely ■"destroy a branch. To settle" the~ matteiTyou must go to the stalk itself. Likewise the Government was the stalk of another twig. Major Brown, Mr Williams and others bJtfere but ■ branphes. Let them (tho two stalks) ' divide tho question. Mr ■Williams said the Government had

already tried to do this, but were insulted and abused, and although they now took it Quietly, tho consequences would follow. He '-' told them Te Whiti was only putting their "hands in the fire instead of his own. Te i ßttm'a / 'agreed to much of this, but would not give his consent to the return of the surveyors. Here the porty were joined by the friendly Native Katene. The next place visited was Okorina. The chief man hpro is who, in reply to Mr Williams' mes-

'sage, eaid very quietly, but without hesitation, 'that if the surveyors were sent they must be turned off again. If there was to be fighting — although Be did not wish it — there would be a 'great many men killed, but tho whole '•'-of the Europeans in New Zealand would be — swept off tbo fnce of the land, and then the remnant of 'the 'Maoris would ropopulate the Colony. This looks ominous. Taukei eaid : "Do not bring the trouble on us here, but go to Parihaka. We -will then defend To Whiti if necessary." Tho other Natives looked on ■^deeply interested, but Baid nothing. On '^leaving he had rt most cordial farewell, with .''no appearance of sulking. Wo passed one or i^two'other" settlements, until renohing Apipi- ■ 'apai," where wo met Titokowaru and hia ' brother Kakarei, the present chief of tho tribe, iMr Williams again rolated tho words of warning, and offered him an ultimatum. " Kakarei, whoso teeth are Bet apart, speaks with a continual hiss, and said, boldly and clearly,' he would not have tho surveyors back again/ no matter what the consequences might be. Be did not wish to light, but would follow the instructions givon by his great head Te Whiti. Ho defied tho Government. He got warm, but not excited. The men of r bis tribe appeared quietly to agree with him, ibut his word 8 had no uncertain sound. Titokowaru, like a snako in the grass, sat near Mr Williams and gave him covertly to understand that he sided with tho Government. However, things looked very dark hero, and yet the Maoris wore not sulking. They seem to have a settled and unflinching faith that Te Whiti will put matters right, and thoy are willing to abide by his dictum. Thoy have, apparently, no present intentions of fighting. Many of tho young inon were away from the first settlement we visited. Wo now pushed on to Kaupokoumu. Mr Willijinm hero again went through tho whole Plains' question with tho determination of 'Government. At the conclusion, Mania aroao and sang a Bong of welcome, 'ami then briefly said ho was pleased With Mr Williams' explanation, and was that Government should proceed with the surveyors and settle the affair at once. He had no sympathy with To Whiti, and never would attend any of hia meetings. He would support the Burvoyorß on their return, and protect them. Mania thus throwing himself boldly on tho Government side must havo a good effect. The question thus stands. Mania's tribe says tho surveyors may como, while Titokowaru's tribo, almost to a man, say orders came from To ; Whiti to stop them, and they intend to carry out their instructions ; and they say that if Government want a row, To Whiti is the

man to quarrel with, and they are prepared to Bupport him at Parihaka.

NEW PLYMOUTH, Maboh 31

Mr Anderson, one of fcho surveyors on the Waimate Plains, and the last one removed from them, has come to town. There were < five surveying parties on the Plains, and all have been removed. The survey parties were situated as follows : — Messrs Ifinnesty, CUrne, Cheal, Skoet, and Anderson, the latter being the farthosfc off. It was originally intended by the Natives to remove the surveyors the came day, but beginning too soon they only managed to get four parties off on the Monday. Anderson's party was in the bush, about a mile from Omuturangi. He heard on Monday night an unusual noise at the village, which waa caused by the arrival of the Natives. Next morning, about seven o'clock, a party of Natives came to tho camp, bringing with them a bottle of brandy, and askod the surveyors to have a drink. They then had breakfast at the camp, and afterwards said they had come from Te Whiti to remove them. The Natives commenced to strike tho camp, and the surveyors had nothing but to follow them out of the bush. The Natives were very anxious to secure load from the tea cheats and buy guns from our young men, but the survey party would part with nothing. Everything was done good humoredly. It is stated that about a fortnight ago an attempt was made to got possession of a redoubt near Oeo. It is understood that the surveyors have to send reports of what transpired on their removal by the Natives.