THE WAIMATE PLAINS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1177, 24 January 1880, Page 2

THE WAIMATE PLAINS.

Wellington, January 23.

The Post to-night in a semi-official manner says that after long and careful consideration the Government arrived at a final and definite deoision on Wednesday as to the course of action with reference to the native difficulty on the West Coast, including the Waimate Plains. The Hon. Mr. Bryce, Native Minister, and Major Brown, Civil Commissioner, left for the West Coast on Wednesday, Mr. Parris having gone there a day or two previously. The Stella was to have left for Opunake on the same day with about 90 Armed Constabulary, but her boiler being found out of order, her departure was deferred until this evening. This will increase the strength of the Armed Constabulary in the vicinity of the Waimate Plains to about 800 men. With this force it is intended to quietly, but at the same time steadily and certainly, push on the main road from Hawera to New Plymouth along the coast, crossing the Waingongoro, and passing Opunake, The Armed Constabulary, in the first instance will do no more than roughly form the road ; after this is completed, metalling will be let by contract. This road, although it necessarily would be of great strategic value in case of a difficulty, is intended merely to facilitate the peaceful settlement of country , and no opposition is anticipated from the Maoris. There is to be no taking possession of Waimate Plains in an aggressive sense, for general confiscation of the Plains has never been challenged, and no question .as to the validity of the confiscation has been or will be entertained. The Government assume that they have always been in legal possession of the land to be utilised when desirable, but instead of advertising it for sale, arid proceeding to survey it off-hand without making a road through it, have been laying off reserves and ascertaining what native rights had to be provided for. The Government have expressly instructed Major Brown to assure the natives that ample reserves will be made for them and their wishes consulted as to where these shall be situated; that the Royal Commissioners will investigate all alleged Government promises brought before them by Maoris, whq are to be urged to take advantage . of this, probably the last opportunity they will have of raising such questions, and that all such will be dealt with fairly and impartially, and every sound claim equitably redressed, Major Brown is also instructed to take every possible opportunity of personally explaining these "points to natives (including Te Whiti himself, who will be kept officially informed of all that is done), and to circulate Maori translations of the Act and proclamation. By the time the road is made, the Commissioners will have reported, and the Government will then be in a position to proceed with the survey and peaceful settlement of the Plains, after making due provision for all valid native claims. It will be remembered that it was the reckless intrusion on some private native holdings last year that mainly provoked the forcible Resistance. Anything of this kind is tq be studiously avoided, and indeed the utmost case will be used not to wound the feelings of the natives, or provoke their opposition. It is believed there will be no such opposition, but that Te Whiti, being convinced that the Government is the sponger of the two, will quietly aooept the position in any oase, though the Government, with §OO troops and 1500 volunteers on the spot is master of the situation.