Report on Native Affairs.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 536, 22 June 1880, Page 3

Report on Native Affairs.

TE WIIITI’S POSITION. Major Brown, in his annual report to the Government on native affairs in Taranaki district, says ; The influence of: Tc Wliiti over the Natives in the interests of peace, and, as he conceives, in their own interests, has continued to increase, and lie has brought many natives within his influence who were only half hearted twelve months back. It appears to me that he is at the pinnacle of his power over the mind of the Natives from the White Cliffs to the Patea itiver inclusive ; and that any day, or monthly meeting - , may sec the collapse of To Whiti ami his influence.

The course of action he still counsels, to bo opposed to the carrying-out of the confiscation, is one of obslructivcness, unaccompanied by violence, and that may avoid any serious results to the Natives, so far as he can see. lie is, I believe, guided to some extent by information and advice from his leading countrymen and advisers in Wellington. But, as he will not submit to bo entirely guided by it, it is not at all unlikely that ho may direct steps to he taken that may land him and his people in breaches of the law, for which they will be held responsible. He still exercises his inflcnce to prevent any recourse to arms ; but it is of course possible now, as it always is, that some Native may, on personal grounds, take vengeance on a European ; the peculiar difficult}' at the present time being that Te Wliiti, as in the case of Iliroki, would feel obliged to afford protection to the murderer, to secure his own position and influence with the Natives, At the same time, there is an atmosphere of stagnation pervadingTe Whiti’a people, no doubt vciy much influenced by the removal of so many able-bodied men as prisoners to the Middle Island, and whose .absence is visibly obvious in many ways, and at the present time is a great guarantee of inaction as regards any violent course being adopted. There lias been a heavy mortality in the past twelve months, and (including the previous twelve months)! estimate the decrease in the number of Natives in my district since the census of 1878 will reduce the number of men, women, and children from 3,410 to 3,000.