NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2350, 14 October 1881, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

WELLINGTON, October 13. I am in a position to state, on authority, that during the recent visit of the Native Minister (who returned to Wellington last night), several communications pasted between Mr Rolleston and Te Whiti, through a European gentleman, who is a very old friend of the latter. The result of those communications was that Te Whiti sent an express invitation to •Mr Rolleston to visit, him at Parihaka for a personal conference. Mr Rolleston acoop!ed the invitation, and wont to Parihaka, where ho had a long interview vr:th Te Whiti, the result of which was unsatisfactory. Te Whiti stubbornly adhered to tho position he had previously taken up, and refused to agree to the slightest concession. This much I have on authority ; but I may add that X hear further from private sources that Mr Rolleston gave Te Whiti o very distinct and solemn warning of the absolute determination of the Government ti carry out their policy and enforce the law at ail costs, and of the serious consequences that might ensue to himself and followers if they persisted in setting the laws at defiance. Te Whiti, however, is said to have treated the warning with the loftiest disdain. It is clearly ascertained that not the slightest warlike preparations are being made by the Natives, who are hard at work on tbeir cultivations, which are mere extensive than reported. Tho demeanor of the Maoris is entirely pacific, and they seem to rely implicitly on Te Whiti’s supernatural powers; but it is not easy to determine on what he is really depending for being able to maintain his threatened resistance to the Government. It seems very probable that there will be no serious opposition, but that the system of continual harrass which has been so effective hitherto will be persisted in by the Natives. In that case it is understood that they will probably be made to pay the resulting expense by the forfeiture and sale of a sufficient portion of the reserves to meet the cost of continual military occupation. This however, muet not be taken as authoritative, although I believe it will be found a tolerably correct forecast.