NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 154, 14 June 1879, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Nifw Plymouth, June 11th. Te Whiti, at the last montnly sitting of his Parliament, adjourned the meeting for 12 months, but since the arrival of the Constabulary and the general arming of the Volunteers, he has called his followers to meet again on the 17th, to discuss the situation. tf-f^--The ploughman have left Court?feyfs - [ land by order of Te-Whiti, and removed ] the plough Si \ Wellington, June 11th. j It is reported to-day, on apparently j good authority, that the Maoris have determined to suspend their operations until after the coming meeting at Parihaka, when they expect some further supernatural enlightenment from Te Whifci as to the course they should pursue. Christ-church, June llnh. The services of three detachments of the Christchurch battery of Artillery were offend to the Government by Lieutenant fcitniage, through Colonel Packe. 'J'lii'' Government replied, receiving with great pleasure this pa-

triotic and important offer, and that should any outbreak unfortunately take place, tlic sejfcices of the detachments would be thankfully accepted. At last night's drill of the battery, the telegram from.the Government was read, and 30 signed for active service. The strength of the battery is 64. Napier, June 11. The Maoris about Hawkes' Bay

appear restless. It is thought that if <* there is a rising in Taranaki some of the Hawkes' Bay Natives willjoin the rebels. They have nearly all been friendly to Europeans in the past, but they have been so duped and swindled in several transactions about their lands that they have become changed and sullen. Every preparation has been made against an outbreak. There are about 150 Volunteers well armed and ready to take the field at an hour's notice, and there are 300 stand of arms ready to be given out, while 60,000 rounds extra of ammunition are coming vp from Wellington. So far fear is confined to a few individuals, but some of them arc supposed io be well acquainted with the Native mind. It is also said that To Kooti's emissaries are in the Province. Wiremu, an important chief of roverty Bay, received a letter from Te Whiti, asking him to join in destroying the Europeans in Taranaki, but Wimeru and his tribe, with the exception of a few young warriors who want excitement, remain friends to the whites. Five hundred volunteers could be raised in the district in twenty-four hours. Havvera, June 11. A correspondent telegraphs:— A great change has taken place in the attitude of the Natives in the locality where the surveyors were turned off the plains, and Commissioner Williams plainly warned them of the consequences. They were told by the pakeha Maoris interested that Government could not and dare not fight. Now, seeing the spontaneous rising to arms of the settlers and the preparation of the regulars throughout the Island they are getting cowed. Some say if we were to march on Parihaka they will lie down and not resist, and Te Whiti would give up Hiroki for execution. They see plainly that John Bull is awake, and that the game of bounce is played out. I fancy the whole thing will now be settled without shedding of blood. Still, Hiroki must be brought in, Parihaka destroyed, the lighthouse with redoubt erected at Cap" Egmcnt, and the Natives made to accept or forfeit the reserves chosen by Government. Nothing, but the prompt action of Government, and the ad display of yatriotism by the of Taranaki and here, could have prevented the Natives gaining in audacity until the murders would have been committed. Even now we must not relax in our work, for we have a crafty statesman and experienced warrior to deal, with, and consequently must

likewise be prepared for any emergency. I have a strong belief that Government will, and that shortly, achieve a great victory without bloodshed over the misguided fanatics who deserve some measure of compassion as the original owners and natives of the soil. Our Volunteers roll up cheerfully to drill, and soon wil 1 bo thoroughly efficient. Auckland, June 11. The following telegram is from a most worthysource : —As the result of inquiries I have been making into the position of the land which the Natives are now ploughing, I find that there are complications which separate it from the case of confiscated land. The Natives • have some additional claims which must be consider d before we take any further steps, or at all events before we shoot them. The Oakura land was given to military settlers, being cut up into forty-acre sections, which have gradually been aggregated into large farms. The land was within one of the confiscated blocks, but it belonged to friendly Natives as well as rebels. In order to avoid giving the Natives patches here and there it was arranged that those Natives having claims, and who had not been in rebellion, should receive as compensation for land of which they have been deprived in Okura, 1250 acres within the block and 3600 acres on the Ivaikate and Patuaka ranges. The Natives who had not been in rebellion signed a document, consenting to this arrangement. This was done in July, 1856. However, no title has yet been given to any portion of this land, and the Natives seem to be under the impression that after agreeing to give up Oakura they are not to receive anything at all either within the block or without. The piincipal men are Hikurangi, Hingona, and Wi Kamohoma. Two of these men are concerned in the ploughing operations. Those who were in rebellion, and who owned land within the Oakura block, .are now living at Pajihaka. There are 150 of them. Some of them are concerned in the ploughing, including Tukikino. The land now being ploughed was not really confiscated land, but was acquired by us from friendly Natives to complete a confiscated block k under a promise of compensation. Something of the same circumstances exist with regard to land now being ploughed at Opunake. Of these facts I understand that the Government has just been made aware in pursuance of inquiries directed by Ministers to be made.

IS'EW VOLUNTEER REGULATION. The following are the terms on which the Government will accept the services of persons who may he willing to join the Volunteer corps during the present emergency : Government will accept the services of Volunteers during the present eraer-

gency, to be enlisted subject to three months' notice, and relax the Volunteer regulations in the following respects: The uniform usually purchased by Volunteers will not be insisted upon, so long as a blue shirt is worn by the members of the several corps. Volunteers who do not wish to leave their immediate localities, but desire to defend their own homes. To such Volunteers efficient Enfield rifles will be issued. Volunteers who may be willing to assist should any emergency arise in which additional force is required for a particular short operation in whatever part of the district, will receive Snider arms. G-. S. Wihtmore. June 3, 1879.