THE WAIMATE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1600, 5 April 1879, Page 3

THE WAIMATE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

[Press Special Wire.] Wellington, April 4. Mr Sheehan received to night an exceedingly voluminous report of tho meeting at Parihaka between Mr James Mackay and Te Whiti, and to-morrow he will receive Mr Mackay’s recommendations and suggestions, he not being invested with power to decide anything finally. The gist of the report is that Te Whiti in his discussion with Mr Mackay entirely Lid aside his usual prophetical and ambiguous tone, and addressed r.imself to the matters in dispute in the most direct and intelliginle way, without the use of that figurative form of expression customary with the Native race. He stood out for at least a portion of the laud, and deprecated being left impoverished : but at the same time he scouted the idea of force being resorted to by himself or any section of bis people, and reiterated that there could be no war now or at any other time between themselves and their European neighbors. It is considered that the whole tenor of the report indicates a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the present difficulty. Pa ea, April 4.

A great meeting of Natives was held at Omnturangi on Tuesday and Wednesday, four miles from 000, to tangi over a chief of note just dead, and who fought against the Europeans during the war. He was an earnest disciple of Te Whiti, and on that account a large number of Parihaka Natives attended. There were also a number of 'iito Kowaru’s people and influential chiefs, some supporters and some opponents of the Government present. The tangi soon drifted into a political meeting, and spe-mhcs were made for an I against the Government.

Katene, who aided Major Brown to start the survey, s-oke most decisively against the action of Te Whiti in causing the removal of the surveyors and ridiculed Te Whiti, saying that instead of his doing the work of a God be was only doing the work cf a man. If Te Whiti had the great pover he assumed, why not n»e it that men might be convinced of it by sending all the Europeans to England and returning New Zealand to the Maoris. Katene said he would bring the surveyors back again on the pi ■ ins and protect them. The speech was received in silence, except by a few running comments at hie daring outspokenness. Te Boh tna aad Ngaturi also expressed themselves favorable to the return of the surveyors, saying he had troub e enough already. Hone Piharaa, who lately lost a child, and had not mixed much with the Natives, stated that though he had been other-vis ■ eng ged he had been informed of what was going on, and should suppoit the Government. Hone Piharna was interrupted and told that that the Government had taken care of him by giving him land at '.’ongahoi and Oeo, therefore he should not speak Tawhi then spake to Tito Kowaru, reminding him how he how he had become famous by fighting on the Native side at Te Ngutu-o-te-mauu. and that he could still further distinguish himself and get honor, if he would for the sake of the Government. A together Tito Kowaru seemed to lean towards the Government, and said ho had finished his work at To Ngutu-o-te-manu. Capt,in Blake is reported to be endeavoring to ingratiate himself with the Natives, by throwing discredit on men who so far have been actively engaged on the Government side. In connection with the survey at Kititu. when t ilking to the Natives, he received an unexpected rebuff, an uncomplimentary reference being made to bis part of a transaction with some of the Natives. Katene, at the meeting, spoke strongly against interference with the N ttives by Europeans, and said that there would be no trouble uni ss it was made by sending white men across the river to talk with the Natives, as some had been doing lately.