OHINEMUTU.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5455, 20 September 1878, Page 2

OHINEMUTU.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)

I see in the Wcchly News this statement:— “ Mao lit Kow at MAketu (per Press Agency). —Maketu, August G.—Yesterday morning, on theopeningof the Lands Court, after two days’ adjournment to give the natives time to mill in their names -for certificates for the Paingaroa block, lately passed through the Court and awarded to several hapus, the Tapuika and Ngatipikiao hapus, headed by Te Pokiha, ail armed with spears and other weapons, took possession of the Court-house, and placed an armed guard at the door to prevent other hapus from entering aud'giviug the names for certificates.” In the same paper I see it stated that on August 7,the Hon. Mr. Sheehan announced, in reference to.the above, “ that all was now quiet, and the principal parties concerned were quite ashamed of themselves.” I should l(ke to see them ! There is a Maori jword, “ whakama,” but it does not belong to the vocabulary of the Arawa. Te Pokiha Taranni, the leader of the row, is a chief of the Ngatipikiao. He receives a salary from Government, which is already overdrawn two years in advance. He has lately come 1 lack from Wellington, where he interviewed Ministers, attended sitting of House of Assembly, and been impressed with the mana of the pakeha, at which he laughs now disdainfully. The result of the trip was satisfactory to Te Pokiha. He got his salary raised to £IOO per annum, made two new double-bar-reled gnus and a considerable amount of hard casli in pocket, and has actually paid off several old debts to the amount of £SO, and has still ’a good balance left. This is sugar-and-flour policy with a vengeance, and a very likely way, I do not think, of settling the native difficulty, and getting natives to behave themselves. I see a question asked in the House whether Government have taken steps to acquire the Hot springs. Prom the “ hear, hear” which followed the reply of Mr. Sheehan I fear that hon. members may be led astray. There is not the slightest chance of either Government or private individuals being able to acquire the springs or the land surrounding them. . . . . If, I am not very much out iu my calculations, something wilt soon turn np at the Waimate Plains. Possibly, by judicious humbugging the favorable telegrams may bo kept going until after the House adjourns ; if that can bo managed, it will be as much as can bo done. If Mr. Maoaudrow believes tliat nativos arc going to work on a railway for him, he may take the word of a very old hand that he miscalculates. It is much easier work to get up an obstruction, and be bought off. They will help him in that way. . . . .