NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1976, 24 June 1880, Page 3

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

[PBOM OUB OWN COBBESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, June 23. An important telegram was received by the Government this afternoon from Mr Bryco, it having been despatched from the travelling office at the New Pungarehu Camp at 11.20 a.m. Mr Bryce drove to and fro in a buggy between the two oamps at Pungarehu and the Waitaka respectively, and experienced no difficulty in making the journey, the country being very favorable for travelling and road making, and no swamp of any consequence bsing even seen at all. Some of the Natives persisted id asserting that the reason for repairing the old f once through a gap in which theroud vas6od was lent horaas and cattle should be tempted to invade thoir cultivations and damage thoir cropa and potato pits, both of which are stated to exist at a little distance from the road. To-day, however, the affair assumed u somewhat novel phase. Most of the Constabulary were at work about the new camp, but he sunt forward sixty men oarly this morning to open through communication with the southern (Waitaka) camp as soon as possible. Shortly afterwards it was reported to Mr Bryce that the Natives had abandoned tho old fence, which thoy have hitherto bcon repairing, and had erected a new fence across the road line about three-quarters of a mile further on. On proceeding to the spot indicated, Mr Bryco found that the constabulary had made an opening through the fonce for the road to pass. Directly they desisted two old Maoris, who wore standicg near, at onco began to reereot the fence, and soon closed up the road. By Mr Bryce's orders the constabulary again pulled down tho fence, tho two Maoris retiring to a little distance and looking on with the utmost meekness from a corner of tho fence. So soon as ever the fonco was pulled down the Natives advanced, and once more began to put it up again. At this stage Mr Bryco directed the constabulary to remove the Natives without using any violence. The two Maoris were accordingly quietly " moved on " to thoir old corner of observation, and loft there at liberty. They then said—" That is enough. We will now desist. Let the road now go on." They refused to say by whoso orders they were acting, treating all questions with stolid disregard. It is believed that having made this harmless demonstration against the road making the Natives will offer no further attempt to impede operations. Thoy appear to be in a very good humor, and quite willing to abide the result of Te Whiti's predictions.