LATEST NATIVE INTELLIGENCE

Temuka Leader, Issue 165, 30 July 1879, Page 2

LATEST NATIVE INTELLIGENCE

New Plymouth, July 26. At a public' meeting to-day the following resolutions were carried : “ That the behaviour of the present fanatical adherents of Te Whiti is keeping the inhabitants in a state of extreme anxiety, and that both agricultural and commercial business is paralysed ; ” “ That the fanaticism of Natives may at any time assume a more dangerous form, and that members of Parliament from the whole Colony should endeavour to realise the gravity of the situation, and unite in providing an effectual remedy for the present disastrous condition of affairs ; ” That the present attidude of the disaffected Natives is entirely due to their having been allowed since the last war to occupy a large district untraversed by roads, and for many years to defy the authority of the Government within ' that district by protecting malefactors and forbidding the construction of public works;” “ That the time lias now arrived when this state of things’ should end “ That this meeting most strongly urges upon the Government aud General Assembly the necessity for the immediate commencement of good open roads in the district between the Waingongoro and Tlangatahua rivers, and that the service of the Constabulary now in the district be made use of to protect the workers, and aid in the work “That the Government be requested to capture Hiroki and Te Whiti, and bring them to justice.” At the conclusion of the meeting a subscription was raised to telegraph the resolutions to Wellington. A political gathering was subsequently held at which the action of Messrs Atkinson and Kelly was approved, and Mr Carrington’s action condemned. Fifteen Maoris were arrested at Tikorangi to-day. They had made every arrangement for being taken prisoners, and actually had flax in their pockets to enable the constables to tie their hands with. One Native procured an old hat and shirt r.nd boots, as ho said the Government would give him

new clothes. The Natives are determined to show their faith in To Whirl ingoing to prison, because he tanned them at the last meeting with being only lukewarm in their faith. The 27 prisoners arrested at Red Block have been dealt with summarily, and sentenced to two moths’ hard labour in Dunedin Gaol, and also to find sureties to keep the peace for ' twelve months, each of them in L6OO, and two sureties of L3OU each. News has just reached town that the Natives are entering Mr Rowe’s farm at Huirangi. Mr Rowe was opposing their entrance when the messenger left. They are the same lot that were ploughing Mr Kingdone’s land. The Natives are destroying the land by throwing over it the seeds of weeds and bad wheat, and putting in potatoes here and there. The Constabulary have gone to arrest the trespassers. The Natives in town open’y say that they are going to plough the land, and go to Port Nicholson.