WAIMATE PLAINS.

Patea Mail, 24 July 1880, Page 2

WAIMATE PLAINS.

[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT. 1 Hawera, Friday. There is very little to report about the native fencing beyond the Plains. It was rumoured this morning that more arrests had been made, and that the natives were still persisting in their obstructive work. I believe there are now some 12 or 14 in custody. It is hard to get information from the natives who have been travelling down the coast during the last few days. Some say a large body arc going to fence, whilst others state they will go one by one, and thus continually harass the Government. Te Whiti is reported to have said that the Government could not afford to keep up the large army now on the Plains, nor could they afford to keep the Maori prisoners ; and that after a time the Government would have to concede what be wanted. The telegraph offices along the coast were kept open until two o’clock on Tuesday morning. It is rumored that Mr Bryce is on his way up to the camps. Since the slight disturbance of fencing, the roads have been going on. Several persons have expressed willingness to augment the Cavalry by joining, and making a good strong corps. The Infantry movement, with the exception of Norraanby, never seemed to thrive, and it is greatly to the Cavalry’s credit that they have so long kept together, considering the scanty support they have received at the hands of the Government. There is a petition at present being signed by the members of the troop asking Parliament that they may be put on the same footing as the Waikato Cavalry, i.e., 15s for every day they are called out for drill or duty.