THE NATIVE COMMISSION.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1898, 24 March 1880, Page 2

THE NATIVE COMMISSION.

fßv Texbgkaph.] HAWEEA, March 24. The Commission hare taken more evidence here, and from that it would appear that had not the surveyors out the road line they were laying out against the expressed wish of Titokowaru and his people at the Okaeawa kainga on the north side of the Insha, the surveyors would not have been stopped at all. The Natives did not like the idea of the read coming through their cultivation, and another route was pointed out, which they said would answer equally as well as a crossing for the Inaha. The surveyor, however, says that no such line was ever shown to him, and he defends himself on the ground that he tried to select the cheapest and most practicable route, and was anxious to avoid going too close to another public road which was running parallel to the one he was then laying out. It appears that when Titokowaru was spoken to about the action of his young men in obstructing the surveyors, he said he felt “ pouri ” or dark at what the surveyors were doing, and, though he would not interfere himself, he did not feel inclined to prevent his young men doing as they liked. It also transpired that Titokowaru has for some time back been rather afraid to show himself in the townships, being under tne impression that he ran a great risk of being apprehended. Until the difficulty with the surveyors, he had shown the utmost friendship to any Europeans who visited him, and every confidence in us. The Commission will go to Patea to-morrow, as a number of Natives are waiting there to give evidence, but it is not improbable the Commission will have to come back here again for a day or two. The chief cause of their going off to Patea to-morrow is that the Natives waiting there are becoming rather impatient.