NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2024, 19 August 1880, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

[By Teisobaph.]

v oub own oobbespondhht.]

WELLINGTON, August 18. QflTißmment has received no information as'to the proceedings at the monthly Parihaka meeting which has now been held. It Is reported that over 2000 Natives were present, and that Te Whiti had declared that the road must be stopped, even if all the Natives were arrested, adding that all Natives must came to Parihaka, including those across the sea. No confirmation of this rumor has, however, yet come to hand. The arrest of the fencers still goes on daily. It was suspended for a day or two through the following circumstances : Several days ago the daily quartette of fencers included a very old man and a boy, and as it might have been inconvenient to detain them the experiment was tried of releasing all four. Next day, however, the same four came down again, and then four more, and afterwards six. All fourteen were arrested and then let go, on which they at once returned towards the spot where they were arrested with the intention of resuming fencing, but a strong guard of Constabulary had been posted there, and effectually kept them off. They then became quite frantic and very violent, insisting on being either arrested or else allowed to go on fencing. Te Whiti also sent down a polite message that, unless these were arrested, he should send down twice aa many next day. Under these circumstances it was deemed advisable to take them into custody and send them in to New Plymouth, which was done. To-day only the usual four came down. It is thought that Te Whiti now intends to concentrate all his defensive measures on the Parihaka block, and to leave the Waimate Plains to their fate. The Government have been endeavoring to ascertain the meaning of the singular demonstration with ferns the other day. None of the best authorities on Maori traditions here, however, can explain it. One Maori export says that it used to be a declaration of_ war, when fern stalks so disposed were stuck into little pieces of ilesh of a particular bird, but this was not done in the present case. Another says that it is a species of incantation, and a third regards it as a mere declaration of title to the whole of the Parihaka land down to the sea shore. The fern was gathered by fully one \ hundred Maoris, on a hill seaward of the road ; the stalks were carefully stripped, and when quite bare of leaves were laid on the road with the points towards the constabulary camp. The whole affair is a complete i riddle, which only time can solve. Mr Bryce will go to the front as soon as possible; this j indeed is one of the causes why the Government desire the speedy close of the session. |