THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5685, 19 June 1879, Page 2

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Gisborne, Wednesday.

The Press Association agent at Napier telegraphed to the Standard yesterday that: — “ Eopata, the greatest chief of Ngatiporou, said he was much incensed at the attention paid by Ministers to Rewi, and it is feared that in the event of war, he and a section of his tribe would join the rebels.” The Standard, in commenting upon the matter, says :—“ We only published the vile slander against one who so ably fought for Queen and country in order the more effectually to knock the lie on the head”’ The Gisborne correspondent was speaking to Eopata to-day on the subject. He is much incensed at ihe falsehoods published against him, and thinks it a poor requital after almost a lifetime of faithful service to the country. Me is very pouri; and says that Sir Donald McLean, who took him over to Australia a few years ago, never doubted his loyalty. Eopata is now prosecuting enquiries with a view of instituting proceedings against the person who has called his loyalty into question.

(SPECIAL TO THE “ WANGANUI HERALD.”) New Plymouth, Monday.

The Maoris are still making their way to Parihaka, about one hundred of them on horseback. They were without arms of any description. Mr. S. Breach, of Opunake, who has been in town for the last fewTdays, intends returning to his homestead this afternoon. He is watching the progress of native affairs, and has made arrangements for driving his cattle away should matters begin to look serious at Parihaka. He will not return to drive them overland to New Plymouth, as he would require to pass near to Te Whiti’s settlement, and he is afraid Te Whiti might give orders to stop the cattle and “confiscate ” them. Mr. Breach has already driven » number of his cattle away, but he will allow the remainder to stay until he is compelled to drive them off. With regard to the natives road-making on the other side of Stoney river, the JleralcCs Okato correspondent telegraphs “ The culvert near the old telegraph office, a mile from Stoney River bridge, fell in, and the Puniho chief sent his people last Sunday to repair it for his own convenience. It is not a county road, but a continuation of the Great South Bead, which was partially formed and bridged by the General Government.” The natives have begun to gather at Parihaka some days earlier than .usual this month, and the meeting on Tuesday is expected to be one of the largest ever held, as the natives are assembling from all directions. It is expected that Te Whiti will make out .that the “ ruru ” (uprising) he prophecied has come true through the Volunteers forming and arming themselves. Anyhow, in naming the 13th as a day on which a “ ruru ” would occur, he was not far out, for one of the moat violent storms that has for some time visited Taranaki washed over the place last night. The lightning was extremely vivid, and the rain fearfully heavy. " -