NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 416, 12 April 1879, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

The special correspondent to the Press Agency telegraphs from Opunake, under date 7th April, as follows :—“ The &25 a-year, or whatever it was that was taken off the Estimates for the services of a harbor-master here had better be replaced. There is a signal-staff, but no man to signal or give instructions or indications as to landing. With a force here of eighty men such niggardliness should not be tolerated. There is nothing new or strange in the political aspect of affairs, but as I see the Southern papers are all astray about this Waiinate comedy, from the good specimens Which reach here, I will relate one or two incidents in the rehearsal of the farce which may have political significance. When Titokowaru heard that Hiroki had been shot, his rejoinder was, ‘‘There is only one dog the less.” When the proposition to fight the pakeha was resumed, Hone Piharaa reiterated his caution to Waru, “You know I told you years ago that if I could not beat the pakeha you could not, and you found out the truth of

the saying to your own and ray cost Don’t be a fool, Warn.” When the evildesigned and evilly-promulgated story about Whitmore and the Ngatiporou went to Parihaka, the response was, “ Let them all come ; we can give them all something to eat ; we shall he very glad to see them. We have no intention of lighting or spilling blond ; no more war for us until the pakelia commences to kill our women and children to obtain possession of our lands, and then why we will light in self defence.”

Mackay has obtained, golden opinions from all the native people in the district; They halt and pause over his name to do him honor. (?) The Native Minister must have foreseen this when he sent him on his mediatory mission. They say Sheehan wanted to kill the Maoris because he wanted to kill their land ; they use the same word —“ patu ” —for both things. Mackay, on the other hand, wants, they assert, to conserve the people, and preserve to them their inheritance. Thus are the actions of men viewed in a duplex light. I observe a good deal in some telegrams about Mr Assistant-Commissioner Williams, and the influence he has over the Ngntiruanui, This day week, when Mackay was having a conversation with Tito Kowaru about the surveyors, the name of Williams cropped up, when the following caustic remark was made by Waru : “ I like the blacksmith very well [Williams, to his honor be it said * is a blacksmith] very much indeed ; he is a very good man indeed. Mackay, you look at me, Mackay, and you do not believe me, but I can assure you the blacksmith commissioner is an excellent man : be made me a plough or two, and then a buggy, and he did his work very well, and he would in my opinion bo a good man still if the Government had kept him ploughing and buggy making.” I would not have related this anecdote had I not seen southern telegrams full of Williams’ influence and Williams’ ability. These are positive statements, capable of proof or of refutation. Private advices from the Plains inform me that he is trying to frustrate Mackay’s mediation. The ad vices I send you by post, being absolutely almost shut out from all correspondence here. All that we can learn of Maori thought and intention is from .Maori mind alone. Meantime Tnke and his men are building a redoubt at the Bay, and to-morrow ho will have some eighty men under his centre'. That there is no serious fear of any ou.break in Wellington, can bo gathered from this source. There are forty-four men at Waihi, eighty here, and five between P iriliaka and New Pljnnouth. The settled district you will thus see has been left defenceless. As I told you before, no act of sanctioned outrage will be committed, unless we first break the peace, but some tntua, or some white larrikin may in a drunken or wrathful moment commit a breach of the peace, which the people may deplore and their leaders condemn. I met a Maori here to-day who asked me what all the men wanted to be sent here for ? I told him to make a white Parihaka of Opunake. I said “You have plenty of men and guns and ammunition at Parihaka; have you not, to defend yourselves ?” “Yes,” he replied. “Then why should we not have the same ?” Of course there was no response. Parihaka at any time, without a call or waiting for one, could send aown 400 well armed and well trained fighting men on the Plains. The Ngatiruanni could a similar amount, but they ail insist on peace—their leaders 1 I mean. Their turning off the surveyors was a protest against the breach of faith of the present Government. McLean’s promises they maintain must be carried out if they appeal to the highest court in the realm on the subject, and test the whole question of the legality of confiscation in the Pi ivy Council. Meanwhile idackay’s presence is like oil on the troubled waters. The Native Minister comes here when Mackay returns. [The above speaks for itself, and clearly shows the state of affairs one man working against another, and instead of any good being done, the very reverse will be the result. We are prepared to stand by Mr Williams, and feel assured that his influence amongst the Maoris has not been lessened, notwithstanding what the Opunake correspondent may say to the contrary.— Ed. Maid.]