NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2040, 7 September 1880, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

[feom ouh own coeeespondbnt.] WBLLINGTOIN, September 6. The Government received a telegram from the Native Minister to-day. I mentioned on Saturday that the Maoris had come down in a body, numbering eighty-three, to fence across the Constabulary road, opposite Parihaka, and •that the young, able-bodied men (fifty-nine in number) were arrested, the remainder, comprising twenty-three boys and an old man, being turned off. Mr Bryce telegraphed today that the twenty-three boys came again yesterday, together with six old men, and recommenced fencing across the road. They were cheeked by tho constabulary, and quietly turned off, no violence being used, and went away quite peaceably, without attempting any resistance or uttering any complaint at their non-arrest. The Hinemoa calls at Taranaki on her way down from Manukau, and embarks the twenty-eight prisoners arrested p-ior to the last haul of fifty-nine, taking them down to Lyttelton, where they will be temporarily lodged on tho _ quarantine island under a strong guard. Being arrested under the Maori Act they will simply be detained in custody, but will not be tried. The fifty-nine arrested on Saturday, and all subsequent prisoners, will, however, be dealt with under the West Coast Settlements Bill, which authorises their trial, and their sentence, if convicted, to two years’ imprisonment with hard labor. This has been carefully explained to tho Natives at Parihaka, so that they go to their fate with their eyes open. They will bo tried at New Plymouth in due course. The Hinemoa will return direct to Wellington after taking the last j batch of Maori prisoners to Lyttelton.