NATIVE AND DEFENCE INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1655, 10 June 1879, Page 2

NATIVE AND DEFENCE INTELLIGENCE.

NEW PLYMOUTH, June 9. Twenty-eight constables arrived from Waikato yesterday. Sixty are encamped at Oakura, and eighty are stationed at Opunake. Our Volunteer force now numbers five hundred and eighty. Breach, the Opunake miller, has twenty tons of flour, the produce of Maori grown wheat, ready to be despatched to Parihaka. The Maoris cannot reconcile our arming with Te Whiti's prophesies of peace. WELLINGTON, June 9. Recruiting and drilling goes on steadily at Mount Cook barracks, and a number of applicants were rejected to-day as not being up to the required standard. The Government have ample supplies of arms and ammunition, the former including 3000 Snider rilles, and some of those cohorn mortars, which proved so effeotive in the sieges o£ pahs in former Native ware.

The anticipation previously indulged in *jf getting at least a thousand of the Ngaliporous as allies is not now likely to be realised. A difference of opinion exists amongst tho tribe as to whether they should fight at all if hostilities break out. In any case not more than fire hundred men will be expected from that tribe now. It is understood, however, that the Government have come to a fixed determination that in the event of any murderous outrage being committed by Natives, or any blood being shed by them, prompt and severe measures shall be adopted. In the event of such contingency arising tho whole armed constabulary force at Taranaki would make an immediate advanco on tho Native?, while the volunteers would garrison tho various outposts and depots. In that case care wdl bo taken that it is put out of the power of the Natives there again to be troublesome. Major Noakes is in command of the volunteers, Major Tuko of tho armed constabulary at Taranaki, and Inspector Goring at Opunake and YVaihi.