THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 47, 7 June 1879, Page 3

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

We unjie^tand that \he following may be said to be the ppsition of Native afinirs ur to the time of our going t»; Press. The <-fpveisnme.nt hope, h,y showing a hold front at Taranalcij tobo able to ni*ifitain their position without an open -outbreak.; 'It is admitted that $hV present aspect of affairs is very threatening, and ip consequence ©very possible measure bf precautfon, yhll be at< once taken. T/he Maoris hava commenced ploughing on Mit^ Bayley's land at Stonay ltiver, as wpll 9? at Mr-, Co.qrse.n.ey*B, land haye l afa6 asserted $heir. right, to some land at Opunake, within a mile of the re: doubt occupied by the defence force. An old Chief at .the latter place, wbphsp long beer* m tba£ district/ desires fco.disput'eithe right of the Europeans r fo ocI cupy .* piece , of territory clain&d by Win, [ and while asserting his title, says;, that jift I hopes to confine any dispute to., the strijf e of tonguts, and to avoid an appeal to arms. In the face of lueh.a hostile altitude it would be idle to 'ignore the danger of. an I outbreak, and we understand- thftt^ all the outposts will b« strengthened at once, and a detachment of .fifty of the Armed Constabulary was toleave port m. the stella early this morning: ', . . :. If p deflnits. decision as 'to the,- course to be followed has hitherto been arrived at by tha'Miaißtry, but the line of .policy to be pursued wiU probably* be decided upon m the • course of; to-day, It is exceedingly likel^that the Maoris who have, invaded the lands of ' the^ settlers m the T^mnflfci districfc-will.be. turned off m a few days. Nothing \nll h,e i done hastily, and it is to be hoped that when the Maoris recognise that the. Europeans intend to assert their right* at all lasjcs, they may abstain from forcing: a collision. It is well known that Te can baring an apried force of some 5.0Q iaen or mqpa i^ibp the fieldat amoment's notice, and it is supposed that h* has much difficulty m controlling and restraining ihe younger, members of his gang, which includes «U i;ha4^«ffec*adN.a|;irefl from .all parts of ;the islands, as well i as: n^urderers, outlaws, and other bad characters., Thel&oyerhment are i«pidlj increasing, the, forces -at their disposal m the district ; Vplunteers ar« ofEering themsehres and heigg enrolled m largp numhers. It has also, bsen decided to enlist, m Wellington a coypja of hundred more. /picked men m, the, Awned Constabulary. O^ng ;to the slackness. ' pf: trade there, is: no jdifflculty m obtaining good, recruits, and the detatchment which left here last night, all of whom ha^e been picked up m Wellington, within the l»t(f tyro or three weeks, were a rem^rkajjjy smart, soldier-like lot of youog men. 'li^ajor. Te Eopata's trib.e, -l|he Ngatiporous, have offered; to provide a Native oont^ngent of 1000 men, and the servioes.of/ %\xyk fees, would certainly, be. accepjed m the eyenfec-jt war breaking out. Thpy could be !; placed -upon, the. ground within a month fvom this date' ;' they ariaa.. fierce, and warlike hap^ -fond' of fighting, and as they are aaid to bpar a grudge; against Te V^hiti's NgatiM^anuii, ,1 hey would enter; into a contest- con, atnore. The, Government ars understood to 4he.;extreniely lanjioiis to ayoid a cpriftiqt, but ; itteverthelefls tihey will no* allow settlers tio } be . tUrn^dioff theuf. lands. Tlie Maorii, m the district who. have undertaken to act as ploughmen, are. not open to reason. T^hey . BtateJthß.t the\y|arejjtbeise m obedie^catb their .Ch ief i 1 and? thaib they' will carry out the instructionsgiven, to It must .be]evident to anj ptte who has the course of^ recejoit eventsthat ;.;-il» ii impossible at the presenb moment to predict the. Jesuit of the

Opinions among those best qualified to judge are about evenly divided m favor of peace and war. The decision appears mainly to rest upon the impulse of the fanatic Te Whiti, who claims the gift of prophecy, and whose control, over his followers depends chiefly upon his power of sustaining his reputation as a divinely-inspired prophet.^ We are not hopeful of a pacific solution m the present difficulty, but sincerely trust that our forebodings of evil may yet be averted. . . ISbw Plymouth, Thursday. The Maoris have commenced ploughing a paddock, the property of Mr. W ' Bayley, near the old flax mill at Opunake, aud have given Mrs, Bartlefct -notice, that they intend to plough her land, which is immediately under the constabulary redoubt at Opunake. A small vessel was seen of the Harriett Beach on Tuesday evening, where the Maoris were fishing. Yesterday morning a Maori cart, containing arms were seen coming from that direction. This is supposed to be the- same vessel which was seen by a surveyor off the coast of Taranaki proper oome two or tln*ee months ago. The volunteers are being armed. At Marsland Hill Barracks more than 100 men were sworn m last night. ' The ploughing at Courtney's farm has ceased. Auckland, Thursday. . .A correspondent of the Star writes that at the late Eopua meeting he was led to beliere that Te Whiti ig acting with the complete cognisance and approval of Tawhiao and bis followers.' When the Kopua meeting began the Kingites appeared anxious to know whether hostilities and began at Taranaki, and when asusred that no, disturbance had taken place the confidently ' asserted that trouble, had arisen.^ ' ' .' . ■'' -' ' - : "'-' ■•'■■; Being informed that news of any disturbance must first come to Auckland by telegraph, the Kingites asserted that the newspaper were suppressing the real "state of affairs, and when this was penned the Natives said that if a disturbaace had not already broken out it wovrtd. shortfy-occnr,