NATIVE AFFAIRS IN TARANAKI.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 975, 4 June 1879, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS IN TARANAKI.

Wellington, June 3. Advices received by the Government from Taranaki represent matters as more threatening than at first believed. It is now admitted that the ploughing was begun and is being continued by Te Whiti's express orders, given in his assumed capacity of an inspired prophet, and represented as being both dictated and supported by supernatural and irresistible authority. The whole affair thus takes the shape of an outbreak of fanaticism, directed towards the attainment of a well-defined and practical object, viz., the recovery of the confiscated land, and Te Whiti at any time may suddenly deem himself inspired to pronounce sentence of death on some unhappy settler and his family. The Government, recognising the urgency of the situation, are making energetic preparations for bringing to bear a force sufficient to crush all resistance. The Armed Constabulary is being largely strengthened by enlistment, and men are trained assiduously for active service in the field. Reinforcements will be sent to the disturbed districts as fast as they can be got ready, with ample supplies, arms, and ammunition. Meanwhile the settlers are enrolling themselves as volunteers, and are being armed and drilled for service; redoubts are being put in a thorough state of readiness for occupation by very strong garrisons, and some new redoubts and earthworks are about to be thrown up at various suitable points, under the direction of Colonel Whitmore. The whole of the disturbed district, in short, is being placed in a state of thorough defence, and arrangements are being made for bringing fully ft thousand Ngatipouru and other friendly natives on the spot, who are aotive allies against Te Whiti and his followers. The European settlers have been warned not to precipitate a crisis by any individual action on their part, but to act entirely in concert with the Government, and in the case of the more outlying settlements, the women and children are being sent into town. Hopes even yet are entertained that these demonstrations of firm and resolute determination oil the part of the Government to maintain and enforce the authority of the law, may induce the disaffected natives to submit, but as everything depends on the personal caprice of a fanatic, there is no security for a single day. It is deemed absolutely necessary to take every precaution to guard against surprise. In addition to 70,000 cases of cartridges now on the way from England, further supplies have been ordered. Hawera, June 3.

The rumors about Mr. Bayley's family being murdered are entirely without foundation. The Maoris are peaceful and quiet all round here, and are making 110 warlike professions, although we know they are preparing to resist any act of aggression 011 our part. A large meeting of Maoris took place at Mokapa on Sunday, and yesterday Tauroa, one of the leading chiefs, who was transported to Dunedin last May, spoke eloquently to the natives, and pointed out the folly of going to Parihaka, He reminded them of their incarceration in Dunedin Gaol,and warned them that they could not dare hope for such kind treatment from their Southern friends again. He was in a great measure successful. The fanatical influence of Te Wliiti is, however, still spreading throughout the district like an afterdamp. Every reasonable means, I think, are being tried to stay it. The settlers here are not frisrlitfene'd, although tijey wisely intend to prepare for the evil day, as the balance must be struck some day between Hiroki, Te Wliiti, and the Government. New Plymouth, June 3.

The Hinemoa, with the Governor, the Premier, and Colonel Whitmore, left at 4 p.m. to-day for Wellington. A deputation of .Justices waited upon Ministers boforp ijjavipg, r-ud bail a final interview, when the Premier staged 'that 'a force of 300 men would be sent here immediately' for the profeptlqii of the placq. The general opinion is that the arrangements made by the Government are satisfactory, and confidence is beginning to be restored. Several families have come into town, and will remain until the affair is settled. Volunteer corps are being formed in the principal parts ot the .4fStr{ot. 'flio oycitament is now subsiding, and with the'arrangemem for the protection of settlers carried into force, confidence, it is to bo hoped, will be restored. Business, which has been entirely suspended, will again be resumed, although it is fpatpfj. it wjll tijttg to recover from the gevere shocj? ij; "Kaa" received through the aggressive action taken by the natives;. The Herald to-night, referring to whqi haa beep ' a crisis such as this, ca}in deliberation is qf the utmost importance. Reclamation, or passionate orations, would be strangely out of place, being calculated to lead to false conclusions. We want, on such occasions, but cool calculation of all odds, and then to resolve on a definite course of action. We think the resolution passed by the Justices expiregsgg the general hope we shatf'not'iieai; any'nidre of such feeble proposals as a civil action to check an evil of such severe magnitude, and one that requippg a stffjng h%n(i and--a determined will to" dieal..wffh \pfl. l .ihp"foment of: its occurrence. 'Though Te Whiti is a fanatic, he is not utterly deranged. Even on him the exhibition of power-will not be. lost, and the most deluded of his followers would prefer tq liql4 their ploughing matches on a secluded spot far from busy haunts, than in the immediate vicinity of, armed constablary. We ; think and: believe that an ample armed, force will present any. agitation arising which will lead to collision, arid it is evidently on all accounts, better by bold find- energetic action to a disaster than having incited it by- a -show of weakness and a vain struggle-afterwards to recover lost ground." - - ' ' ;