NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3524, 28 July 1879, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

» [Bi T-liß-BAPH.J [SPECIAL.] NEW PLYMOUTH, JtriT 26. At a publio meeting to-day the following resolutions were carried :— " That the behaviour of the present fanatical adherents of Te Whiti is keeping the inhabitants in a state of extreme anxiety, and that both agricultural aud commercial business is paralysed ; " " That tho fanaticism of Natives may at any timo assume a moro dangerous form, and that members of Parliament from the whole Colony Bhould endeavour to realise tho gravity of the situation, and unite in providing an effectual remedy for the present disastrous condition of « fairs ; " " That the present attitude of the dU.i ffected Natives is entirely due to their having beon allowed since the last war to occupy a large district untraveraod by roads, and for many years to defy tho authority of tho Government within that district by protecting malefactors and forbidding the construction of publio ; works ; " " That the timo has now arrived whon this state of thinga should end ;" " That this meeting most Btrongly urges upon tho Government and General Assembly the neoessity for the immediate commencement o£ good open roods in the district between the Waingongoro and Hangatahua rivers, and that the service of tho Constabulary now in tho district be made use of to , proteot the workers, and aid in the work j ? f "That tho Government be requested to capture Hiroki and To Whiti, and bring them to justice." At the conclusion of the meeting a subscription was raised to telegraph tho resolutions to Wellington. A political gathering was subsequently held at which.' the action of Messrs Atkinson and Kelly was approved, ancl Mr Carrington's action condemned. Fifteen Maoris were arrested at Tikorangi to-day. Thdy had made every arrangement for being taken prisoners, and actually had flax in their pookets to enable the constables to tie their hands with. One Native prooured an old hat and shirt and boots, as he slid the Govornment would givo him new^ clothes. The Natives are determined to show" their faith in To Whiti by going ;tp prison^, because he taunted them at the last .meeting with boing only lukewarm in their faith. The -27 prisoners arrested at Bell Block have , 'been dealt with summarily; and sentenced' to two months' hard laboiir ; in Dunedin 1 Gaol, and also to find sureties to keep the peace for twelve months, eachof thorn in £600y and two sureties of £3CO each. . News., haa just reached tow-,'. that the Natives! are entering Mr Rowe r s __rm. at! Huirangi. Mr, 'Rowe waa opposing jtheii* entrance when the messenger left. They arty the aattio :lot that were jjlonghing Mr Kingdon'a land. ' The Natives are destroying the land by throwing over it the seeds of weeds and bad wheat, and putting in potatoes here andthere.'. Tho Constabulary have gone to arrest the trespassers. Tho Natives in town openly say that they are going to plough the land, and go to Port Nicholson.