NATIVE AFFAIRS

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 370, 6 February 1880, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS

[Bt Telegraph.]

Tfrom the lyttelton times.) 1 '"'' - Feb. 3.

It has been decided, to form the roads between Inaha and the Waingongoro, and consequeutly those men who on Saturday were sent to commence forming the road between Kaipipi and Kaupokonui were to-day sent south of the Inaha, and are making good progress. An uneasy feeling lias arisen among 1 the Maoris, owing, it is alleged, to improper behaviour onithe part of:two Europeans, civilians, who, on Sunday, visited Mangatoi, a kainga belonging to Kaikori, and which has been wrongly attributed to members of tkr Armed Constabulary force. The weather continues very hot. Feb. 4.

A cause for anxiety has arisen owing to the recent conduct of Titokowaru. Since the Constabulary came upon the Waimate Plains he has persistently held himself aloof from all personal intercourse with the Europeans, and within the last few clays has secluded himself in the bush—a well-known custom of. his when he is pouri (dark) r . Wheu'Te Wetere, the Rev. Whitely's reputed murderer, but who'has. lately pretended to be a Government man, was here the other day, he sent "a European, named Cockburn, to Titokowaru'.' \ The latter, although-at the, time close by, refused to see Cockburn, but Nuku, one of Titokowaru's chief men, told Cockburn to tell Te Wetere that he had better get on his horse and go. Nuku said they .looked upon Te Wetere as a Government man, and unless he had a pass from Parihaka he could not come into Titokowaru's pah, adding, " when you go to the redoubt at Kaippi you must have a pass from the Government, so that when you come here you must have a pass from. Te Whiti." There is reason to believe that Titokowaru has gone to Parihaka, which he has not visited for a long time. It is impossible to say what the precise object of the visit may be, but it is regarded here with grave suspicion. ■

To-day I rode throogli the Native pahs along the edge of the bush, and was everywhere well received, but two or three times was civilly turned back to tbe main track when deviating some distance from it. Mr Bryce did not visit the camp to-day, but will probably reach Hawera to-night, and come on tomorrow. Hawera, Feb, 3. Colonel Roberts has received advice that the Defence Minister will be here o-morrow, but the object of his visit is not known ;■ probably it is in connection with the Native gatheriug to take place at Geo in the course of a few days. The settlers are again becoming uneasy as to the intended action of the Government, more particularly with respect to the Commission, from which Tawhai has seceded. Yesterday, Mr Cheil, District Surveyor, leaving his staff at Normanby, sent to Colonel Roberts for a covering party before crossing the Waingongoro bridge. Colonel Roberts refused on the grounds of inexpediency of detaching small bodies of men from an .armed force. Mr Cheil then'sent to Normanby for his men and they came across withont an escort. Mr Cheil's work in surveying the road must not be confounded with the critical question of surveying the Plains, but I have private informa-' tion that several of the surveyors who were turned off months ago have instructions to be prepared to return on the receipt of'orders: Sixty recruits are' expected-at Opunake from Wellington on Saturday, thirty.of whom will be sent to reinforce the garrison at Waihi. Captain Baker. is in command there, and Captain Morrison at Opuuake. Two hundred men are here under Major Goring, about 120 of whom go. out every day on the roads. Their officers speak highly of the cheerful and energetic way in which they perform their hard day's labor,' under a broiling sun. At night the camp is guarded by 20 pickets and 15 camp guards. So far all lias been quiet, and no unpleasantness has taken place with the Natives with the exception that last night a Maori insisted on going into the canteen. As he would not leave quietly, a file of the guard was called out, and he was promptly ejected from the camp. As showing the extremely strained relations existing between Maori and Pakcha,itmay be mentioned that a few clays ago a European borrowed a horse irom a Maori at Opunake,;

arid on the road towards Hawera rise horse fell and broke a leg. Although the poor animal had been lying for days within a few miles of the camp in great agony, it has been inadvisable to shoot it as it is the property of Maoris, and the act might be interpreted amongst them as one of wanton aggression. The advice of Europeans in the confidence of Maoris and cognisant of their habits of thought, lias been taken, and they agree in this proceeding. In the meantime, the poor brute is dying by the roadside by inches, a victim to inexpediency. Kimball Bent's narrative, mentioned in my telegram of yesterday, has been shown to an officer of great experience in the last war, and he considers that it throws a most important and interesting light on events of that period that have hitherto been more or less obscure. The weather continues fine but very hot., ; < ■ ~ Later. Since writing the above I have learnt that strict orders have been issued not to allow any Maoris within the line of sentries. This will not debar them from selling their products to the men at a respectful distance from camp. To-duy there are very few Maoris about; An absurd rumor is afloat to the effect that Titokowaru has given the Constabulary three. days within which, to clear off the Plains. There is not the slightest in, fact for this, and it may be flatly contradicted should it appear elsewhere. " .