THE NORTH.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2185, 9 May 1870, Page 2

THE NORTH.

The figures used by Mr Fox in his speech at Dunedin seem to have been scarcely correct. He says L 193,000 had actually been expended up to the end of March. Granted that this is correct there remains a large sum due to the Maoris employed before the contract system came in vogue, who have received no pay since Nov. last. It is almost or quite impossible to tell how many Maoris were on pay, but at the lowest estimate this item will come to a good round sum. Then again, the Luna, LIO,OOO ; that steamer must evidently be accounted a defence expenditure, on no other footing could her purchase be warranted. Mr Fox said, that of the L.30,000 voted for roads, only LIO,OOO was spent. Of course, Mr Fox knows best, but it is an article of common belief that liabilities to a large amount have to be met besides, out of that fund which, when paid, will leave a very small balance. The money actually voted for the use of the Government was L 280,000, of which L7(),000 was for troops raised in England; and, if Mr Fox is correct in his calculations, and L87,00f) was actually in hand at the end of March, the Government have done much better than they get credit for. —Ecemiuj Post.

The minor offenders amongst Ropata's prisoners have been handed over to Ropata and his brother chiefs, who will be responsible for their future behaviour. This policy is like that lately pursued by the late Government after Ropata captured over 200 prisoners at Ngatapa, and during his later famous bash pursuit in chase of the fugitives who escaped through negligence from that celebrated stronghold. It has hitherto proved by far the least costly and the most effective method of securing prisoners against whom there was not sufficient evidence to convict them, though known to have been in arms against us. After Ngatapa, the Ngatiporou took over 100 such prisoners to their settlements at East Cape and Tuparoa. Disarmed, and watched closely, those prisoners are not otherwise ill-treated, and have liberty to pass their days just as they feel inclined provided they behave themselves and to not attempt to pass certain defined but extensive limits. The prisoners invariably speak well of their captors, who in no single instance have been known to use them harshly. The result has been that none of the prisoners as yet have attempted to escape.

Tnc Ngatiporou country is admirably adapted for safe detention ; even if prisoners attempted to get off", the geographical formation is such that certain spots cannot be avoided by fugitives trying to get away, and there are many intervening villages on the road to those passes, which are few in number and constantly looked after. Amongst several chiefs here an opinion holds that llopata’a late success has been a crushing blow to East Coast Hamhauism, but they fear the nature of the Uriwera is such that Te Kooti may escape capture for years to come. Where he now is the country is a wild chaos of broken forest ranges.