NATIVE AFFAIRS

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1890, 15 March 1880, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS

fßv Telkobaph.] [PBOM OTJK OWN COBBESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, March 13. The Royal Commission still continues its sittings. A good deal of work was got through yesterday, when Mr Wbiteombe, Commissioner of Crown Lands, was examined at great length on the matter of the Waimate Plains survey. The sale was authorised only a day or so before the surveyors were turned off, and this was immediately followed by the withdrawal of the notice of sale. It appears that the people along the coast fully expected then that the Government had considered the step it was taking, and had made up its mind to back it up. Some of the evidence given would go to show that the Government either did not know its own mind, or that very responsible action was taken without the concurrence of all the Cabinet. Farther evidence is to bo taken on Monday, and probably on Tuesday also. It is expected that the Commission will leave here some day in the middle of next week, but where the next sitting will be hold is uncertain. Besides the open public sittings, a good deal of business in connection with the work of the Commission is done by Sir Wm. Fox and Sir Dillon Bell.

A large number of Europeans are now here, contemplating starting on Monday for Parihaka to attend Wednesday’s meeting, being anxious to see such an unusual gathering of Natives, and to hear what the prophet has to say for himself. This time the attendance will be unusually large, and some of the Natives who are not unquestioning believers in Te Whiti’s powers, are desirous of hearing something more definite from him than he has yet vouchsafed. The dominant idea with the Natives is the hope of receiving all their land in some mysterious way. The cultivations around Parihaka are something immense for a Maori village, but the mystery and seclusion of Parihaka and its prophet must soon pass away. The constabulary are now engaged upon a road which will go within half a mile of the village, and as soon as that is done the bagmen will make their appearance, and the trade in rum and colored calicos will finish Te Whiti off hand.

One batch of the Wellington men will commence in a day or two to make a road from Stratford to Opunake, the greater part of which will run through the bush.