THE LATEST. Hawera, Last Night.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1443, 1 October 1881, Page 2

THE LATEST. Hawera, Last Night.

The ploughing difficulty near Otakekoe has been satisfactorily settled. Adam Hunter, the owner of the land, yesterday interviewed thp Native Minister, and asked what he should do. He was informed that if desired the natives should be lemovcd or arrested, but if he preferred to make arrangements with them the Government would not interfere. It was entirely in his (Hunter's) hands. —Hunter thought that under the circumstances he could hardly be expected to take his wife and family to live on deferred payment land. —The Native Minister declined to mix up the question of residence with that of Maori trespass. If Hunter wanted the Maoris removed he had only to say so and it would be done. Of course it was possible that the Maoris might make further tiouble. —lt was pointed out by Capt. Wilson that the Maoris were willing to give a share of the crops, and said they had no other ground to cultivate.—After some delay Hunter agreed to accept one-third of the ciop as rent of the land.—Captain vVilson and Hunter thon proceeded to Otakeho, and saw tlio Maoris who had nob ploughed since the previous day. Tairua Kena, a returned prisoner, objected, but ultimately gave way and consented with the rest of the Maoris, about half-a-dozen, to pay the rent in this kind. Hunter still declines to take hi 3 wife and family on die land, and consented to the arrangement partly to avoid the responsibility of being the fust to bring possible trouble on the Plains, and partly so as not to lucur personal odium from the natives. Wellin'otux, Last Night. The great ministerial mystery is still unsolved. Mes&rs Hall and Atkinson left by the Stella last night for Opunake, but their arrival is not yet reported, and no explanation is obtainable as to their ptoceedmg. Theie is no fresh news about native affaiis. All sorts of stories are being constructed to account for the ministerial flight, but so far nothing seems to tlnow light on the matter. The whole affair is involved in the profouudest mystery, but it appeals that the Premier tried hard to cet Mr Rolleston to come down to Wellington before he made up his mind to go up. Mr Rolle&ton, however, declared his inability to leave, and so Messrs Hall and Atkinson at last went up.