NATIVE AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 30, 19 August 1871, Page 4

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

The following letter from the correspondent of the " Lyttelton Times" we have reason to believe represents very faithfully the state of Native affairs to date.

"Judging from what I deem reliable information, I think there can be no doubt that the recent secession of Ngatiraukawa has done much towards thoroughly disorganising the King party. It is unquestionable that Maoii Kingism, is now split into sections, some of which advocate speedy abolition of the King farce, whilst all look upon that abolition as a mere question of time. At present, Tawhiao's position is one the most curious imaginable. Living on Ngatimaniopoto land on sufferance, and afraid of Rewi, who has repeatedly said he will be no party to attacks directed against Europeans; fearful also, of Ngatiraukawa combining with Maniopoto, and aware that a word from the Native Minister would suffice to bring the Northern and East Coast tribes upon his back, the Maori monarch may well tremble for his titular sovereignity. That he clearly realises the " situation" may be inferred from his lately issued " order," which announces that Pakehas, as well as Maoris, who desire unification of the two races may attend and speechify at pleasure at the great Native meeting which will bj held at Kuiti early in the ensuing spring. I am firmly of opinion that if some arrangement could be made to prevent encroachment of Europeans towards Upper Waikato, Tawhiao and his friends might be brought to submit and live in amidity with us henceforth. Submission achieved, it is not difficult to see how a very short time will suffice to show Kingites the manifold advantages to be derived from European neighbors. Hauhauism is fast dying out, and everywhere the Natives are abandoning that silliest of fanaticisms. Much had been said of the " singular fascination" Hauhauism exercised on the Native mind but I very much doubt if any sensible Maori ever believed in it as a religions The simple fact is, Hauhauism became.

popular with most Maoris because it offered a sensual race greater license between the sexes than even Mormonism permits. At least a score of times I have heard young Natives admit as much. I regret to add that, as far as I am aware, relapsed Hauhaus evidence not the slightest desire to re-embrace Christanity. The statement recently attributed to Kooti, which relates how he took tea with Mr Drummond's survey party does not appear to find much credence with those East Coast settlers who formerly knew Kooti only to remember him as a man on whose word no reliance can be placed, and whose irmmerable petty thefts were ever wont to be conceived and executed in the style of Mr Morris Bolter, otherwise Noah Claypole. On the whole, many others who, besides myself, retain a vivid recollection of his earlier achievements, prefer to believe that, unless he has become utterly false to his youthful instincts, Kooti could have only ventured alone into a camp when he felt positive that all its usual inmates were busily, engaged at a very long distance. - Generally speaking, Maori affairs in this part of the colony present few features just now of much interest. It were trite to restate how quiet our natives are, but there is really nothing more to be said abont them. August 2. Yesterday evening I received, a letter from a source which I believe is very reliable. The letter tells me that Tawhiao desiies to " come in," and the writer (who is personally acquainted with the Maori King) says that both the King and Manuhiri think that the time has nearly arrived when the past should be buried in oblivion.

(From the Auckland News, Bth August ) On Saturday evening last the General Government agent received despatches from Major Oumming, at Waikarfitnoana, reporting his arrival there, and saying that he had occupied Tiki Tiki and Onepoto, two settlements on opposite sides of the lake ; also, that Te x Kooti and his people were on the lake moving about from place to place, but principally established at the arm of the lake behind Putere, named Omarau. A good many of the people of the lake district had .either joined him or been taken over by him, and there is now not the shadow of a doubt about his being there. The force of Captains Mair and Preece, which, as we stated the other day, had received instructions to move on to Rautahuna, and act in concert with Major dimming, were delayed at Ahikereru, up to Saturday, from continual and heavy floods in all the rivers.

Accounts from Taupo have been received, stating that it had rained heavily and incessantly from the 20th inst. up to Sunday last. The information with reference to the whereabouts of Te Kooti has reached the last mentioned force, and they will join Major dimming as quickly as possible, when Te Kooti will have to seek some other hiding place. Almost immediately after the receipt of Inspector Cumming's despatches above referred to on Saturday night, it was reported from Tarawera by two Pakeh a -Maoris living there, that two considerable bodies of natives had been on the hills near that post, apparently coming from an old track which leads from Tarawera to W r aikaremoana. Inquiries were at once instituted, and it was ascertained that none of the road party natives had been in that part of the country. N~ext morning the locality and track were examined, and it was found that the information was entirely unreliable.

The inference, of course, on the first dissemination of the report, was that Te Kooti had slipped through towards West Taupo and Waikato, and preliminary steps had to be taken for the purpose of intercepting him, as there appeared to be some probability in the report. The effect of the story was to put a great number of people to much inconvenience, as the native working parties and several other persons, native and European, assembled at the post. We understand that a very vigilant look-out is being kept along the whole line to guard against the escape of Te Kooti by that road. THE SEVENTY-.MIIE BUSH. "We understand that a meeting is to be held on Tuesday next at Waipawa, to conclude the purchase of the Seventy-

mile Bush, and to band over the purchase money to the natives. The negotiations, which, we annonnced, some time ago, as virtually complete, are now absolutely and finally complete. They were commenced in September last, when the land was taken through the Land Court at Waipawa, by Mr Locke, with the view of purchasing it for the Government. It contsins, exclusive of reserves, between two hundred and forty, and two hundred and fifty thousand acres. It is bounded on the West by the Rangitikei-Mana-Block, bought by Dr Featherstone; on the >Jorth by the Manawatu River and the Puketoi Range ; on the South by the Niraumea River and the Manawatu River, at the Ahua-o-turanga Gorge.