NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1937, 10 May 1880, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

WELLINGTON, May 8. Regarding West Coast Native affairs, the Government have received a telegram from Mr Parris, to the effect that a Native from Parihaka arrived at Kaipokonui yesterday, and informed Manaioi and his people that Te Whiti had positively ordered that there must be no interference with tho road parties. Much amusement has been caused both hero, in Wellington, and on the West Ooast by the absurd statements made by the “Lyttelton Times ” correspondent about the road making and the terrible unfathomable swamp through which ho alleged the road was being conducted, and which he declared would fulfil Te Whiti’s prophecy as to the roads never meeting. I have already mentioned that Te Whiti and Tohu both deny that this last was ever said, but as to tho swamp I am assured upon thoroughly trustworthy authority that this swamp is a very trifling affair. A short pauso was made to see if the road could not bo carried round it, but this proving inconvenient, it was decided to cross it. The crossing is merely a matter of a few days’ more labor. The road is already halfway over this imaginary stumbling block, which has elicited so much “ gush ” from the special referred to ; in fact, tho difficulty is merely a work ef imagination. Some statements published by the New Zealand “Times” this morning as to Manaioi acting in opposition having been assiduously favored by the Commissioners are equally unfounded. I make this statement not merely on the strength of tho Government telegrams, but also on private information from several independent sources, which, I have reason to know, are entirely reliable. Tho “ Post’s ” special at Hawera telegraphs to-day:— “ I have just returned from visiting the two constabulary camps. That under Major Tuke is situated at Tongokumukumn. It is surrounded by a large extent of old clearings, and, strategically, is not a desirable site, but it is probably the best to be found under the circumstances. The men have some hummucky rough country to push tho road through for a conplo of miles. That under Major Goring is at Opua, near a settlement of Wiromu Kingi Matakatea, The men here have received a fpreaent of food from the Natives. Those at tho other camp have not received the same polite attention from To Whiti. The beneficial effect of placing the road work under one head, and that head Colonel Roberts, jis very palpable The two camps are roughly made but are sufficient for the purpose. Between four and five miles of road have been completed this week. The oamos are less than 15 miles apart. There is about 11 miles more to do, when the two forces will meet. Tne men now work with a will which they could not feel when wasting their time previously on the road two chains wide with no prospect of the two ends meeting. Two or three days were very rough this week, but with moderate weather I expect to see the two camps meet by tho end of the month, and tho ending is anxiously looked forward to.”