WAIMATE PLAINS.

Patea Mail, 24 August 1880, Page 3

WAIMATE PLAINS.

[l-’ROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.] Hawera, Monday. People here are struck with wonderment that a Maori named Rona should have dared to prefer his wife to beingscut to a Southern prison. Should not tho wonder be that so many intelligent Maoris arc fools enough to desert their wives and cultivations for the barren glory of being one of the “ political prisoners.” It seems that Rona was ordered by the Prophet to make one of a fencing party, but be refused, stating that Lis wife was at Hawera, and as ho had not seen her for some time the memory of her charms was haunting him. To Whiti wanted to know what Mrs Rona was doing at Hawera. “ Selling land,” was the reply. This brought down the indignation of Mr Tc Whiti upon the wrongdoing in selling land and taking money from that detestable pakeha Government, who were foolish enough to appoint a Commission that gave him back more land than he ever dreamed he would get. But Mr Rona proved himself a true Don Juan by preferring to bask in tho smiles of his wife than fly to the arms of that dismal spouse, the Lyttelton jail. During ono day last week Te Whiti sent eight men to fence. Colonel Roberts ordered that they be turned back and told to go to Parihaka. When, these disciples told Tc Whiti how they had been served, he sent them back with eight more. This time the constabulary arrested the lot. It is stated on good authority that had these also been sent back, he intended to send a hundred to one hundred and fifty on the fencing expedition. The Maori prisoners seem to be shown every indulgence in captivity. From the first start'the)’- are conveyed to town in a drag, and during their stay there are fed up like “ fighting cocks.” Now, surely these fellows could bo made to understand a little of their wrong-doing by being made to walk that 26 miles, instead of putting the country to the expense of conveyances. There should be no sympathy shown such law breakers.