THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY AT WAIMATE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1597, 2 April 1879, Page 3

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY AT WAIMATE.

[Press Special Wire.] Wellington, April 1. A telegram from Patea says : —A storm is brewing on this coast through the inaction and apparent indifference of the Government in reference to turning the surveyors off the Waimate P ains. There is fair confidence felt in the Government as a whole, but not so much in Sir Geo. Grey, who is rather distrusted. Captain Blake, a half-caste and Pakeha-Maori, having a largo land interest at Parihaka, is in the district, acting in the Government interest. Tho rnmor will be remembered that Blake was to supersede Major Brown as Civil Commissioner, at the close of tho session before last, which created such feehngs of alarm and indignation, and wtoso influence, it was believed, led to the Grey Governmentcouutermandingthe order given by the Atkinson Government to start tho survey of the Plains. The effect of that injudicious act is still felt. Blake is an old schoolmaster of the Native Minister, and it is feared that Mr Sheehan’s strong sympathy and disposition to stick to a friend will end in disasters to the district through

Blake’s advice being followed, and further temporising indulged in, instead of preparations being made for the occupation of the Plains by military settlors and other armed forces. Two hundred good men could be at once raised to occupy the Plains as military settlers on fifty acre sections, on anything approach ng to liberal conditions, in conjunction with an armed force. Delays are dangerous, and reports from the Plains state that the hoatilely disposed Natives are firm and confident, though many hesitate to strike a blow or move the Natives to action. There is a strong feeling that there should be no hesitation about starting working parties to complete the railway and road communication at the back of the mountain, without which successful military movements daring the winter will be next to impossible, and out settlers may be easily sacrificed to marauding parties of Natives. The settlors seem unanimous as to the necessity for at once and for ever putting an end to the bounce of the Natives by a determined front and vigorous action. It is felt to be useless to sell the plains, unless it be in conjunction with military occupation. Blake in tnis district as a Government agent, is considered as an omen of evil. He and all such | like Pakeha-Maoris should be made to stand aside in the present crisis, and if Mr hbeohan and the Government persist in temporising and acting on the advice of men whose interests are wholly, or for the moat part, Maori, disastrous consequences will follow, and the Government, the district, and the whole colony will suffer. OptJnaKe, April 1, Mr Mackay and Captain Blake left here for Parihaka to-day, with the abject of talking over the difficulty with Te Whiti, as thoy yesterday did with Tito Kowarn with good effect. The question of reserves, which has hitherto been a negative one, appears to be the very heart of the question at issue. This place is absolutely defenceless. There arc nin > men, a sergeant, captain, and major here, but for all practical purposes it is felt there might as well be none. The reinforcements are still at Patea. All the Maoris I meet ask me how many Government intend sending here. A new camp is being formed at the Bay, and the head quarters of the A. C. are to bo shifted there from the position now occupied between the township and Parihaka. There seems to be more alarm felt South, judging from the few straggling copies of Southern papers that come here, than is felt here, where, if an outbreak occurred, the evil results would at once be felt.