LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 494, 25 February 1880, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

(Special to Taranaki Herald .) HAWERA. February 23. The Wairnate Plains Commission has returned from Oeo, where the}' sat on Thursday and Friday. Over thirty natives were present, mostly braves in their day, many bearing traces of hardship and suffering in their wars against the Europeans, but no longer having any stomach for fighting. They were mostly HonePihama’s and Katone’s people ; the former is the most influential man on the coast. Manaia, who is a leading chief, and who was also present among them, is Te Whiti’s halfbrother, Pore, his father, having been killed in the early days in a stand-up fight with a European blacksmith at Ngahauranga.

Hone and Katene were heard at considerable length as to the land they claim, and promises were made them by authorised officers of Government.

Manaia, who is a Maori of the old school, was very guarded, saying, ; ‘One horse cannot haul three tons, neither can I speak for my people when they are not here.” Most of the other natives were also examined.

Tlie burden of their tale generally was that they and their ancestors had lighted their fires on the land for ages, and they therefore wanted it surveyed and Crown Grams given thorn. One of Te Whiti’s followers from Parihaka attended, apparently to report to the prophet, and did not seem at all pleased after he heard what, the Commission had to say. He jerked out in a somewhat bounceable tone, “ I am from Parihaka ; I understand what you say. You throw all the blame on ns, and say nothing of your own sins.” He then rushed out among those outside, where he became more grave, and remarked “ there is no mistaking what the Government mean now.” In less than an hour he was on bis way to Parihaka. The Commission, after patiently listening to all the natives had to say —some of it being very irrevclenl—made a formal statement, which was sentence by sentence carefully translated to the natives.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. February 24. It is stated that the counsel for the Native prisoners have determined to contest the validity of Governor’s action in assenting to the Maori Prisoners’ Trial Bill, on the grounds of Bill being repugnant to the law of England, and outside the Governor’s instructions. Writs will bo served on the Governor by some of prisoners, claiming damages for illelegal imprisonment.