WAIKATO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1079, 27 July 1871, Page 2

WAIKATO.

[PROM THE MORNING NEWS, JULY 22.] Three weeks ago a meeting was held at ttie rear of Maungatautari, attended by about sixty natives, -" to consider the state of the nation." About one-half were in favor of extreme measures towards Europeans who have leased land from tiie natives; the remainder were passive. One of the resolutions passed at the meeting was to the effect that any native who took money from Europeans for leased laud should be shot: subsequently this extreme measure was modified in true Maori fashion, and it wa9 resolved that the offence of receiving money might be condoned by handing it over to those who had passed the shooting resolution. The meaning of this could not be mistaken. Accordingly, about ten days ago a small hapu of the Ngatikoroka, numbering about twenty-five men, sixteen of whom were armed, touk measures to test the effieary of the resolutions, and their own title to a certain block of land. These natives reside at Wharepapa, on a western spur of the Aratita range, behind Mauugatautari. Sixteen of them came down to the leased portion of the run occupied by Price and Co., late Douglas and Walker, and drove a number of their sheep across the boundary into native territory. They left them there, and in two or three day 3 returned and drove another flock of sheep and a herd of cattle off the run. On this occasion, they did not. take the usual crossing, but drove the animals into an eel weir on the Maungatautari, behind Orakau, and drowned a number of sheep. The natives slaughtered and ate other sheep. Mr Walker, the manager, reported these circumstances to Colonel Lyon, commanding the Constabulary, and requested him to drive the remaining animals in. This he refused to do. Mr Walker then informed Colonel Lyon that iu case the Government declined to interfere he would invite his neighbors, and would take sufficient force with him to drive back his property, and that he would hold the Government responsible for the consequences. These facts were reported to the Government Agent, hut there is no Minister in Auckland, and of course the Agent could not aef. His experience in ivgard to Te Kooti and Mr Firth is enough to teach him caution, At latest dates it appeared that Mr Walker, accompanied by about thirty of his neighbors, had started in pursuit of the cattle, and we have no doubt they will succeed in bringing back a portiou of them. Now, in this we see a beginning to the end of the native difficulty. If disputes between natives and Europeans are to be settled without the intervention of the Government, by the parties to the dispute, we shall soon have no native difficulty to settle. But what should we then want with Colonel Lyon and his well paid but inefficient Constabulary ? It is plain these nea are of no use either as soldiers or police, and if their arms and ammunition were handed to the settlers, we should answer for the peace of the Waikato District. As it is, the Waikato Militia and Volunteers are not half i:rmed. A gentleman who attended a recent parade at Cambridge informs us that not half of the men who attended the muster are armed. But. the noneffective constabulary and friendly natives are fully armed. In this connexion, we may mention a circumstance which will ; fully illustrate the reckless neglect of the Government. It is this—that about . eighteen months ago, when the peace was menaced, the total rifle ammunition available was one barrel, and there was also some brown Bess ammunition left by the 65th Regiment. Since then the Government has done little to improve matters. We may mention that this outrage is not connected with the King movement. The natives claim to have some title to the laud, and last year, when a number of cattle and sheep were driven off, their value was deducted from the rent paid to the lessors by Messrs. Douglas and Walker. The land is held under Crown Grant. This affair, should there be a collision between the natives and settlers, may precipitate a struggle in Waikato, on the eve of the great native meeting. The want of energy and judgment displayed by the Government officials is deeply to be regretted.

He who reforms himself lias douo much towards reforming others,

FATAL PRANKS OF DRUNKEN GUNNERS, You are aware (writes the London Telegraph's Paris correspondent) that the batteries on Montmnrtre began to fire ou the night of the 12th May, and that they were stopped next day because their sola effect was to slaughter Federal troops and innocent people inside the Parisian lines at Ciicby. It appears that when thQ artillerymen went up to serve the guns, they vvere all - officers included —so utterly drunk that their one desire was to get more liquor • and the cannonading was regarded by them as an agreeable pastime—pretty much as shooting at the Yersaillais is by the officers of infantry, who, according to the Official Journal of the Commune, are now forbidden to have chassepots, because they fouud so much " pleasure" in potting the " rurals" that they entirely neglected to command their men. Well, when the gunners reached the batteries on the Butte, they wanted more wine, but nobody would pay for it« so one fellow hiccupped out, " Now, I'll tell you ; you see that white house there behind the poplar tree —I bet two litres that I knock it over in two shells." " Done ! " said another. Bang went the shell against the white house, cutting away its roof, and killing a child in bed by its mother's side. Then another fellow said, " I lay five litres that I floor that other white house, next the red one." But that "other white house' 1 was occupied by a Communal picket; so, when it was bombarded by their own guns, half a dozen unlucky guards were killed and wounded. So the diversion went on merrily. All white houses in sight had a turn, the artillery men getting more aud more wildly drunk on the produce of their bets. At last, at seven in the morning—this had gone on since early dawn —the detachments that were being pounded in the plain for the amusement of their comrades sent to complain, and orders were sent to Montmartre to stop the firing. As the story was kept entirely secret by the Commune, we do not know how many people were murdered in this fashion, or what sort uf punishment has fallen on the murderers. All that has come out officially with respect to it is a declaration from the commandant oi the Butte that he was; not there, and consequently repudiates all responsibility for the consequences of " the inexactness of the fire."