THE WEST COAST NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1848, 24 January 1880, Page 3

THE WEST COAST NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

WELLINGTON, January 23. Tho " Poßt " to-night says : —After long and careful consideration the Government arrived at a final and definite decision on Wednesday as to their course of action in -reference to tho Native difficulty on the West Coast, including the Waimate Plains. The Son. Mr Bryce, Native Minister, and Major Brown, civil commissioner, left for the West Coast on Wednesday, Mr Parris having gone "there a day or two previously. The Stella was to have left for Opunake on the 6ame day ■with about ninety armed constables, but her boilers being found out of order her departure was deferred until this evening. This will increase the strength of the armed constabulary in the vicinity of Waimate Plains to about 800 men. With this force it is intended quietly, but at tho same time steadily and certainly, to push on the main road from 'Hawera to New Plymouth along tho coast, crossing the Waingougoro and passing Opunake. The armed constabulary ia the first -instance will do no more than roughly form the road, and after this is completed the metalling will be lot by contract. This road, although it necessarily would be of great strategic value in caso of difficulty, is intended merely to facilitate the peaceful settlement of the country, and no opposition is anticipatid from the Maoris. There is to be no " taking possession " of Waimate •plains in an aggressive sense, for the general confiscation of the plains has never been challenged, and no question as to the validity of the confiscation has been, or will be, en"tertained. The Government assume that they have always been in legal possession of the land, to be utilised when desirable, but instead of advertising it for sale, and proceeding to survey it off hand without making a road through it, laying off reserves, or ascertaining what Native rights had to be provided for, the Government have expressly instructed Major Brown to assure the Natives that ample reserves will be made for them, and their wishes consulted as to where these •shall be situated j that the Royal Commission will investigate all alleged Government promises brought before them by Maoris, who are to be urged to take advantage of "this, probably the last opportunity they will have of raising such questions, which "will be dealt with fairly and impartially and every sound claim equitably redressed. Majcr Brown is also instructed to take every possible opportunity of personally explaining these points to the Natives (including Te 'Whiti himself, who will be kept officially informed of all that is done), and to circulate "Maori translations of the Act and proclamation, of which we published an abstract on Wednesday. By the time the road is made the Commission will have reported, and the Government will then be in a position to proceed with tho survey and peaceful settlement of the plains, after making due provision for all valid Native claims. It will bo remembered that it was tho reckless intrusion on some private Native holdings last year that mainly provoked forcible resistance. This is to be studiously avoided, and, indeed, the the utmost care will be used not to wound the feelings of the Natives, or provoke their opposition. It is believed there will be no -such opposition, but that Te Whiti, being < convinced that the Government is the stronger of the two, will quietly accept the position. In any case, however, the Government, with 800 troops aisd 1500 Volunteers on the spot, is master of the situation.