THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5682, 16 June 1879, Page 2

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

IMPORTANT NATIVE MEETING AT PAKIKIKI. (PEB PRESS AGENCY.) Gisborne, Saturday. An important native meeting, convened by Wi Pene, was held last night at Pakiriki. Every tribe in the district was fully represented. The meeting resolved to give unqualified support to the Government in regard to Taranaki matters. The natives strongly deprecate war, but are ready to abide the orders of the Government. The opinion of the meeting was that the most judicious course would be for a Native Commission of chiefs from this district to inquire into the difference between Te Whiti and the Government, the Commission includes such Europeans as the native chiefs would approve. The native mind has been wired to this effect. Unanimous support was pledged for the return of Henare Matua for Parliament, vice Karaitiana, deceased. Patea, Saturday. A long letter from Katene, a staunch supporter of the Government on the Waimate Plains, has been sent to Major Brown and Commissioner Williams for publication. Speaking for the Ngatiraura chiefs, he says there will be no fighting by them, and that the fighting will be at Parihaka. He ridicules Te Whiti's pretensions to supernatural powers, and in conclusion advises Mr. Sheehan to make good his claim of erecting a block-house on the Plains, and demand that both Hiroki and Te Whiti be fetched from Parihaka. (FROM THE "FVgXIXa POST."} Patea, Saturday. Te Whiti has informed his followers that In a vision on Thursday he saw Christ, who informed him that the bullets fired by a pakeha at a Maori would return and kill the white man, and that in the event of war He will come down from Heaven and drive all the whites into the sea. Te Whiti has made a call upon all the Maoris outside Parihaka to join his ranks, and says those who refuse will be killed by supernatural means. The position of affairs continues to excite much interest among the settlers, and the only topics of conversation among them are “ gnus,” “ powder,” and “ drill.” Hawbka, Saturday. The Voluuteers at Normanby have almost completed a strong block house erected at their own expense for the protection of the women and children in the event of an attack being made by the Maoris. It is to ho hoped that the Volunteers will man it every night, as should the Maoris obtain possession of it, it would 'prove a valuable stronghold for the enemy Many mechanics and other working men are leaving the district in consequence of all buildings and other works being at a standstill. It is a pity Government cannot find employment for them, and so retain them in the district, as otherwise the ranks of the volunteers will be considerably reduced. Numbers of the settlers drill every night. It is quite amusing to see the attempts of some to handle the rifle. One man, last night, confessed that he did not know his left foot from his right. The drill-master thereupon tied a piece of rope round his left foot, and told him to remember that that was his left foot. The Maoris say that in the event of an accident happening to Te Whiti, his brother Tohi, is an equally good prophet, and is ready to take his place. Nothing more is known about the mysterious dray seen a few days ago, and supposed to contain arms for the Maoris. The 18th instant, the date fixed for the Maori meeting at Parihaka, is anxiously looked for, to see if war is then declared.

Many more settlers’ families are coming into town.