PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2661, 28 August 1871, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS.

No 3.—NATIVE. Continued. Much has been said by the press and by public speakers about the sugar and blanket system of dealing with the Maories, with the intention of damaging the present ministry. The truth will be gathered from the following memoranda forwarded to Earl Kimberly by His Excellency the Governor, under date May 20th. In the despatch accompanying the memorandum, he says ; THE HAST COAST. The various expeditions on which the loyal Ngatiporea, who inhabit the country abont the Hast Cape and south of it, have boon engaged, with the happy result of breaking up the land of To Keoti, hare prevented the execution of the work destined for them, —the formation of a horse track from the East Cape to Poverty Bay. To the southward of the latter the Ngatikahunguna have beom employed on the construction of a coast road over a most difficult and broken set of ranges. It has alto hoed decided to open up by Native labour two more roads from Poverty Bay ; one leading direct to Opotiki, to connect the Bay of Plenty with the East Coast; the other reaching Wairoa by a circuit, to give easy communication between the two settlements.

The establishment of a military post at Taupo, in the very heart of the Island, was mooted long ago, but the idea was not carried into effect until 18G9. To keep up the post it was of course necessary te op.,n up a road from the coast to the lake ; and, —as the Tanranga line was not at that time prac-

ticable,—the shortcit and host was found to bo by Napier. On this, accordingly, working parties were put, of Natives as well as Europeans. In this case tho Natives were friendly sections of tribes, but when it was deemed expedient to extend the road beyond Taupo so as to join the Tauranga-Rotoraa line, hostile and semi-hostile tribes were met. All difficulties were, however, overcome ; and not only have the disaffected Ngatiwaisettled down to their now occupation, bat there is reason to believe that before long another ro-id will be in progress which will connect the Waikato settlements with the Tauranga-Tanpo line, and thus give free communication between Auckland and Napier. The Ngatirankawa, a powerful section of tho King inhabiting the country on the right bank of the Waikato IRivt-r above Cambridge, have renounced all allegiance to the king and expressed their desire to see road and telegraph works carried through their territories; and an exploration will shortly bo made with a view to determine ths best line for adoption. The same ac'ion has been taken within tho list few days bv another Inbe dwelling on tho {western shores of Lake Taupo, and occupying a district heretofore considered as one of the strongholds of the king. WKST COAST. The Natives on this side of the country, lately the scene of so many conflicts, have not been behind their brethren of the East Coast in welcoming the introduction of road works. At present the only main lino in rctual uoe is that which, keeping near the coast, inns from Wellington to New Plymouth. From Patca upwards it has been achieved by Native labour, and coaches now travel peaceably through country two years and a half ago in the possession of Titoko warn. A horse track through a rough and broken series of ranges, separating tho coast plains from those of the interior, has been taken in hand by tho Ngatiruani, and will eventually afford direct .communication letwesn Wanganui and Lake Taupo, aid so on to Auckland.