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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2299, 30 July 1880, Page 2

What is the moaning of the new movement on the part of To Whiti’s disciples? From ploughing up disputed lands, the Waimate I’lains Maoris have taken to fencing oil: (he roads which are being made by the Wellington unemployed. It is becoming evident enough that the dusky warrior is not going to part with his native soil without a struggle. Hitherto the weapons he has employed have been of a mild millennial character. He has met the ride and cutlass of the Armed Constable with agricultural implements. This is a sorry kind of warfare, but it serves the purpose. It offers a reasonable excuse for the maintenance of a small standing army in the Taranaki district, and for the vole of £loß,oou‘whieh tlie House of Representatives passed the other day without scarcely a grumble. So long as the natives will only kicp fencing or ploughing occasionally, where the Government declares they must not I’cnco or plough, (he game will he kept alive and Major Atkinson's political pah will reap the benefit. Happy Taranaki ! It seems to bg the only spot in these dull times that the Colonial Treasury sheds its golden rays upon. The impression that the Taranaki settlers dislike the sportive Maori is a sadly mistaken one. The bond of friendship between white and brown was never stronger than at this moment. But for the Maori there would bo no military occupation of the plains, no gratuitous road making, and no money squandering. If Colonel Roberts and bis merry men—the amateur soldiers of the North —do not not pray devoutly for the preservation and pros perity of To Whiti, it is only because they arc negligent respecting their devotional duties. As long as To Whiti is alive and at large the standing army has nothing to fear, but To Whiti is essential to its existence, and for the sake of the armed constabulary, it is to be hoped he will have a long reign.