Native News.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 142, 21 May 1885, Page 3

Native News.

THE PABIHAKA DIFFICULTY. THE SETTLEES INDIGNANT. (united pbkss association.) New Plymouth, Wednesday.

Several settlors from Pungarohu, mostly Canterbury men, who bought land there, took occasion at Mr Samuel's meeting last night, to deny the correctness of the telegrams sent from Wellington re the deputation to the Hon. Mr Ballance. They repudiate the statement that Europeans are committing the robberies, and say the Bottlers have lost sity head of cattle, the bulk of which have been traced to the Maoris. One settler says Mr Ballance acknowledged the depredation. He had received a letter from an influential chief, warning the Government of the native feeling m the distriot, saying that the Maoris intended taking possession of the land, and that they are now marching overland to secure their mana (right) to it. The settlers contemptuously repudiute the assertion that they want the A.C.'s for their expenditure. They say the A.C.'s have all stores, &c, from Opunake, and spend nothing 1 m fhe district. They want, at least, twelve men stationed m the district to check the lawlessness of the Maoris, and one speaker says that if Mr Ballance adheres to a one policeman " policy," and if anything happened, the blood would be on his own head. The settlers are very incensed at tho telegrams recently sent from Wellington respecting them, and intond holding a meeting and forming an armed vigilance committee.