WAIMATE PLAINS.

Patea Mail, 31 July 1880, Page 3

WAIMATE PLAINS.

[FROM our correspondent.] Hawera, Friday. All sorts of rumours are afloat as to the intentions of Tc Whiti re his obstruction policy. Some say that he is going still only to send 4 or 5 daily ; others that in a day or two 300 or 400 will be marched down, and a trial of strength will be made in arresting them. Should the latter bo the case, no doubt the A.C.’s will have their hands full. But a gentleman who left the camp yeterday (Thursday) heard no such rumour until he reached Opunaki, and was much surprised to hear people talk of it as a fact. A good thing is told of Te Whiti by a half-caste. He says that in the creek at Parihaka there is a stone which is called the “ thinking stone,” and that he has often seen the Prophet go down and knock his head against it several times. What a pity he does not knock harder ; or is his head too dense ? Tc Whiti has invited the Waimate natives to abandon their cultivation, and go and live at Parihaka. They have not decided to go. PRISONERS at CHRISTCHURCH (Telegram from our Correspondent.) Christchurch, Friday. The first batch of Maori prisoners taken for fencing, have been landed he r c from the Hinemoa. There are 26, and that violent celebrity, Te Whetn, is among them. They are to be kept here under guard. They seem in good spirits and are rather enjoying the novelty of the thing.