THE PARIKAKA NATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1545, 20 May 1885, Page 2

THE PARIKAKA NATIVES.

Opunake, Yesterday.

Mr Ballance paid a visit to Parihaka yesterday, and saw all the principal people residing there, including Te Whiti and Tohu. Te Whiti, who was in his house, was reticent and mysterious at first, and complained that ihe Native Minister had not visited him when passing through on a previous occasion. He, however, soon became friendly. Tohu received the Ministerial party and welcomed them with great cordiality, and afterwards presided at a dinner to which the Native Minister was invited. The attitude of all the natives of the village was most friendly, and the Native Minister left convinced of the gross exaggeration of the reports regarding them. Inspector Pardy, accompanied by a mounted constable, arrived at Pungarohu this morning to enquire into some oases of petty theft. It is intended to give Inspector Pardy charge of the Taranaki Provincial District, Inspector James retaining Wanganui. The natives complain of the excessive charges made ny the Public Trust office, and mauy of them decline to take their rents in consequence. Mr Ballance has premised to bring the matter under the notice of the Government on his return to Wellington.

[By Tblegrsph.] New Plymouth, To-day. Several settlers from Pungarohu, mostly Canterbury men who bought laud there, took occasion at Mr Samuel's meeting last night to deny the correctness of telegrams sent from Wellington re the deputation to the Bon Mr Ballance. They repudiate the assertion that the Europeans are com mitting the robberies, and say the settlers hare lost sixty head of cattle, the bulk of which have been traced to the Maoris. One settler says that the Hon Mr Ballance acknowledged to the deputation he had received a letter from an influential chief warning the Government of the native feeling in the district, saying that the Maoris intended taking possession of the land, and they were now marching overland to secure their mana (rights) to it. The settlers contemptuously repudiate the assertion that they want Armed Constabulary for their expenditure. They say the Armed Constabulary have all their stores, etc , from Opunake and spend nothing in the district. They want at least twelve men stationed in the district to check the lawlessness of the Maoris, and one speaker said if Mr Ballance adhered to the “ one policeman policy ’’ if anything happened blbo.l Vgoipld. be on his head. The settlers are very incensed at the telegrams recent y 'sent from Wellington respecting them, and intend holding a meeting for forming an Vigilance OooupiUee*