NATIVE NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3230, 27 June 1873, Page 3

NATIVE NEWS.

A correspondent writes to the Auckland Southern Cross in the following terms;— “There are no doubt times and occasions when a judicious gift of those vital necessaries to the Maoris—flour and sugar—may effect great good, and tend very beneficially to the preservation of peaceful relations; but it almost appears at the present moment that this is overdone. If my information is correct, a pujpber of Maoris—chiefs' be said—living it 'fawtiiad’s head-quarters, are in the Receipt qf yearly salaries from thq Government of this Cqlohy • but thpy were powerless to preybnt the murflep of Sullivan, and from al] appearances tpey flaye no influence oyer qr his Ministers to induce them to surrender furukutu, or any of Tqdd’s murderers. There is a chief named Takepei te Hau, one of the hulk prisoners now at Te Kuiti, who receives, it is said, 1400 a year from the Government. It is admitted that he is a rangatira of purest blood from both parents; that he is 'much bluer in blood indeed than Tawhiao himself. But this gentleman has lately become so independent that he would not, until the other day, visit Alexandra to receive his yearly salary—it was, he declared, to be forwarded to Te Kuiti for him, or he would not have it! But it was this last straw that broke the camel’s back. It was not considered safe to send a messenger with so much money to Te Kuiti, and having forwarded the money to Alexandra, there the Government made a stand. Under these circumstances Takerei te Hau ceased dictating, and quietly came down on Friday last. The chief Aibipene te Kaihu is generally supposed to hj? an assessor Resident ftt Waiukp. Since marking tho r ßrincess Sophia he bus resided pt Te Kuiti, and will no doqbt receive ipis salary regularly as of yore. Such Maoris as may not be of sufficient, rank to receive yearly salaries are allowed rations—if they are rebels—when visiting the frontier settlements ! Friendlies, unless Belonging to the fighting contingent, must provide for themselves ! The result of this system of treatment may be imagined. Only on Tuesday last, at Cambridge, the storekeepers and other settlers were loudly complaining of the ‘ bumptious ’ conduct of rebel Maoris from Purukutu’s settlement at Aratitaha, who were swarming over the town —many of them in a half intoxicated condition. Although a detachment of Armed C onstabulary may be stationed at the settlement, no step is allowed to be taken without reference to head-parteps, On the occasion of poor Todd's murder, the officer in charge of the detachment at Alexandra had timely warning given to him of the murder, and was urged to send a few constables to a spot mentioned where the three Maoris engaged in the murder would emerge from the Pirongia Ranges, But he could do nothing ; bis bauds were tied until he received in structions from ‘head-quarters.’ The last payment, or rather bribe, which it is said

has been offered, was to Pai Whenua, the Native who rescued Mr Mackay from Nuku’s clutches. A gift of Ll5O was forwarded, but the Kingifces refused their consent to the acceptance of the money. Hone te One had only his own sweet will to consult as to the acceptance of the gift of L 250 and the silver mounted meerschaum pipe. Very considerable annoyance is felt at the apathy of the Government in arresting Maoris who are pointed out by their companions whilst in our settlements as the murderers of One of the Maoris who shot Todd has since frequently visited Alexandra, and be was in attendance at a late Native Land Court sitting at Hamilton. Yet no steps were taken to apprehend him on the charge, as would have been probably done had the delinquent been a European.” Mr Mackay telegraphs to the Herald : "I am instructed by Alexander Thomson (half-caste) to contradict the statements which appear under the head ‘ Cross in Waikato,’ in the Weekly News of May 21, that * Thomson (half-caste), from Kopu, said that the Ngatimaniapoto are working a double game. He says he never made any such statement to any one, and that the Ngatimaniapoto and their chief, Rewi, are acting in a straightforward and honest manner ; also, that the report in question has caused him very great inconvenience, and might endanger bis personal safety. He requested me to ascertain the origin of the report, and prosecute for libel. I take exception to a.statement made in an Auckland paper (the Southern Cross) that the Editor could 'not comprehend how Mr Mackay issued rations to rebels.’ From the previous part of the article, it may be inferred that I allowed riotous conduct at Cambridge on the part of Purukufcus relations from ratitaua, which information is said to be derived from the ‘ accurate pen ’ of some person, the name of whom does not appear. The pen may be very accurate as far as writing is concerned, but the information is deliberately false. No Natives from A ratitaua to my knowledge, were at Cambridge on the day in question, and no rations are issued except to Natives whom I send on Government business, or who may be detained by me for suoh business. In conclusion, allow me to say that very great injury is done by sensational telegrams and articles, and that there is more talk of war and danger in this district in the Auckland Press than among the frontier settlers of Waikato.— James Mackay, Jun.”