NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1696, 28 July 1879, Page 3

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

[By Telegraph ] NEW PLYMOUTH, July 26. The Bell Block ploughmen were sentenced to two months hard labor in Dunedin gaol, and to be bound ever to keep the peace, each in a sum of £6OO, and to find two sureties each in the sum of £3OO, or be imprisoned in Dunedin gaol for twelve months. Yesterday Tupoke, an Urenui chief, said in Court: —“ The reason why wo have ploughed the Bell Block is that the lordship of the land rests with To Whiti and Tohu, who make no dillerence between confiscated and purchased lands, and I am their representative.” Honi Puri also said :—“Ido not approve of land being taken by confiscation, nor of it being taken in the fashion of olden days. I intend to adhere to the customs of my ancestors.” These statements were made in answer to Mr Parris’ question why they had attempted to take possession of lands sold to Europeans by great chiefs, their ancestors. The Maoris have finished ploughing at Manganui, and commenced this morning at Bowe’s farm, Hnirangi. Eowe is resisting, and has been throwing the ploughs over the hedge. The Maoris are throwing them back again. A party of constables are marching to the scene of the conflict.

The prisoners show their contempt of the Court by cheering and singing a haka through the town to and from Court.

They are ploughing at Rowe’s and another farm near Waitara.

The town is filling fast with settlers for the no-confidence meeting. Eleven Natives wore captured at Rowe’s farm, Huirangi, to-day. They are the same number as ploughed at Kingdon’sfarm, Mangonui. When captured they stated that they thought the Armed Constabulary did not go so far as Mangonui to take them, so they started for town in order that they might bo captured. At the public meeting held this afternoon resolutions were passed alleging the necessity, in order to preserve the peace of the district, that Te Whiti, Tohu, and Hiroki should be captured, and roads made through the Native district from Stoney river to Hawera and through Parihaka to the Mountain road.

WELLINGTON, July 26

The application made by Dr. Buller for the liberation of Wiremu Eingi Matakatea on bail not being opposed by the Government, was at once granted by the B.M. A similar application was agreed to on behalf of Winiara, a son of Wi Parata. Yesterday Dr. Buller, accompanied by another Justice of the Peace, attended at tke prison barracks for the purpose of taking the recognisances of these two men. It was explained that Mr Sheehan had proposed a nolle prosequi in the case of young Parata, that his father had absolutely refused to accept his liberation on any terms, his offence being in ne respect different from that of his co-prisoners. He applied, however, to have him liberated on bau in the ordinary way. It was then further explained that the Government had offered no opposition to granting bail to Wiremu Eingi Matakatea, whose good services at the time of the wreck of the Lord Woreloy had not been forgotten, and that the Magistrate accepted Major Kemp and Wi Parata as sureties. Wi Eingi thereupon rose and said : —“ It is good of the pakeha to think of me ; but I will not leave prison if my children are to suffer. We will suffer together. It I may go let them go also. Our hands are not soiled with crime and we are therefore not pouri about being imprisoned. As to my care of the pakohaa who were wrecked that ia nothing, 1 remain here.” Winiara Parata then entered into his recognisance in £IOO. After these formalities were completed, Te Rangi Puahoa, made a temperate speech, in the course of which he said that ho and his co-prisoners were mere instruments of Te Whiti’s will in ploughing land, and that they had committed no act of violence. Ho said he had no hope of Maori wrongs being redressed by the Supreme Court, and it mattered very little now what happened to them. Wi Parata is petitioning both on behalf of the prisoners, protesting against their being tried before the Chief Justice, who, in his opinion, has prejudiced the whole case, and praying that they may bo tried for their alleged crimes before impartial and independent judges at a special sitting of the Supreme Court. WELLINGTON, July 27. The Hinemoa will leave for New Plymouth to-night or to-morrow to bring down the last batch of Maoris taken prisoners. The “ WakaMaori” recommend the Natives to arrest To Whiti and send him to Wellington.