THE LATEST PHASE OF TE WHITISM.

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 75, 29 September 1880, Page 4

THE LATEST PHASE OF TE WHITISM.

PcyoAß-itu, Sepfember 19. Since the numerous arrests on Saturday last no more natives h tve been taken to B well the list of inhabitants of colonial prison*!. The boys then returned to Pari. haka, returning with extreme regularity each morning between 8 and 9 o'clock. Two adult natives have been added every day they appear, but no lavish expenditure o* men has been indulged m such as characterised the proceedings of. Te Whiti during the previous week. It is noticed that the men of these fencing parties keep behind the boys when thoy march down to the fence, and continue m the background during the subsequent proceedings. Te Whiti Drobably wishes to intimate that it is our duty to take the youths who hitherto hav-\b.en despised by the Constabulary as baing ' too young to suffer imprisonment, before any more adults are sent to suffer imprisonment for their master's sake. Notwithstanding the large increase m the number sent to fence on the day subsequent to the distribution of the West Coast Settlement Bill at Pavihaka, it cannot be doubted fcjiat the penal clause has had its effect upon come natives who previously were conspicuous among tbe fencing parties, cutting branches and acting ns a kind of auxilliary force, as these have latterly becoi*_e conepicuous by their absence. One stalwart native, especially noticed by all during last week, has, since "the distribution of the Bill, passed along the road to his potatoe patch without casting a glance at the fence m fact, totally ignoring the obstructive fencing party, and confining himself to the planting of potatoes. It is thought that many of those who were arrested among the fifty-nine on Saturday had a lurking idea m their minds tliat they would escape m consequence of our evident reluctance to make arrests during the previous day. Those then arrested numbered some good stalwart men among them. Nuku, for instance, is a man well known as foremost amongst the Jlauhaus m all times of disturbance. He is half brother of Tifokowaiu, and a "toa" (or warrior) of the tribe. At Turuhirumokai he is said to have been most active, and smashed one of our poor fellow's heads with the blow of a tomahawk. He was noticed, too, at the Te Ngutu-o-temanu. During times of peace Nuku makes friends •with the agents of the Native Office, and the Gbmmissioner and officials of the Groyernm»nt, a. being a very plausible man, no doubt makes a good thing of it. He was until lately employed as a constable m the native police, but was discharged m consequence of some irregularitie-. Te Kaliui is another of the hangers-on of the Native Offiee,-w.ho,- having joined Te Whiti, came to the fence, and was duly arretted at the same time. This man is of good standing m the Taranxki tribe, and was mule an assessor by Sir Dondd AlcLem, but lost his appointment for some such reason as Nuku, an excessive fondness for married women, the property .of other members of his tribe, who complu ned of his conduct. Ther are more native policemen previously arrested— Rueroa, serye ait «it Opunake, and Napoleon $ephew of Jioui Piliama. Caleb, a wellknown native policeman, until lately stationed at Waiara, is among tlie natives who daily come to seek -a Crown of martyrdom m penal servitude. A man of quite another Btamp is Te Pakaru. Those who were m the colony at the time of the murder of the BjeviV'MH Voikher will remember that a half'cast vvas frequently mentioned as taking. ,'a leading part m the atrocity, and a compauion of iverejp-i m the numerous outrages committed at that period. His name was then Dparaima, but he took his present cognomen when he.. .fled from the East Coast and took up his residence among the ia-fftßaki natives at Te Pnnihu. Since he haß been m the neighborhood he has earned for himself an inevitable notoriety as a thief, and it is believed there are a few warrants against him m the hands of the police at the present moment. He has not confined Jiimself to 'depredations on the property of his European neighbors, but, with a questionable impartiality, has also preyed upon the goods of hi- aboriginal friends. No Yorkshire copey can etjel him m his skill m metamorphosing a stolen horse, as another among the prisoners — a native named Tini can testify. Pukaru had Tini's horse for many months, and when he eventually reflOTeted liinv the brand was obliterated, and the tail ciirl ailed m its fair proportions. It is thought that sufficient evidence wiU be forthcoming to inplioate this man m Volknep's murder, and that on exertions will be ppared, the well-known energy of the Native Minister is a guarantee. The daily fencing is becoming inonotopious, and a farce- The natives each morning march down to the fence; those m front carrying a stake a piece, and those behind having a branch of a tree over the shoulders of each. . On arriving at the fencing ground the stake is driver, into the grond, and then the men with boughs advance and tie the branches diagonally across the stokes with a bit of flax. As a fence it is a failure, as to height insignificant., and density a hallow pipckery. There is no living animal, quadruped or biped, no reptile or insect, no inhabitant of the earth of whatever description, which would hive its intentions frustrated, should it fe*el inclined to trespass by the struct ure of leaf v boughs and slender uprights which are daily setup m the presence .of the Constabulary, ostensibly to protect the wheat from being trampled on notwithstanding its frailty and inutility as Its a fence, it is admirably adapted to the purpose for which it is intended, vi^, a assertion of ownership int-he land, a proteset against the road, and a defiant move m the yr&t charcterised by Tohu a war of persistence which bp js carrying on against the <3-overn-npi-|t. Your correspondent, wisliing to render his mito. of assistance m the suppression of the obstructive fencing, presented the natives with the fifteen gem puzzle, but it proved utterly inopperatire ps ft counter attraction, .all-absorbing as it lias hitherto, proved m its insiduous fascination, "The banck road from near Pungarehu to Cape Egmont is being rapidly cleared, a large party of men been daily engaged on itThe main road is rapidly drying up, and a further continuance or fine weather will enable the days to proceed winh the metaljing. Much has yet to be done m the formation, and many bridges and culverts have %o be constructed. Summer weather will greatly facilitate operations, and there is no reason why the retur'ri of winter should not witness the completion of a first-class road, from Hawera to. -'{ew .Plymouth, " It is thought by many that a permanent ftfttion will be kept up at this place, it being m a central position, and near b.oth to Parihalsa and the Cape Egmont lighthouse, - ■'.'■■ It ia anticipated that tender-- will shortly he issued foi? the supply of rations for. tha fo-jme of this district, the present conlector's term of Bupnly expiring on the 12th wOqWjw*,' ' ' " \