THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 235, 17 February 1880, Page 2

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

Wellington, Feb 14. Telegrams have been received by the Government to-day to the elf ct that, although there had been some shots fin d by Major Kemp and his followers on the Muriomntu block, they were not aimed at anybody, but were fired in the air in mere bravado. The Hon Mr Bryce returns to Wellington on Monday to consult, with his colleagues on native affairs and various other public matters. He will leave again for Hawera immediately afterwards.

(From the Lyttelton Times.) Normanby, Fob. 15. I have succeeded in obtaining an interview w th a white man, who, since 1865, has been living amongst the Maoris, and it is established beyond all doubt that lie is Kimble Bent alias Sam. Smith, the notorious deserter from the 47th Regiment. Full particulars will he telegraphed to-morrow. During my absence from the Plains, I find that telegrams have been despatched to the Press, in which significance is attached to the cutting of the telegraph wire between Hawera and Inglewood, Upon enquiry I find the thing to have been purely accidental. A Maori hoy, driving a loaded dray, struck a telegraph pole, knocking off one of the insulators. He was so frightened at what he had done that he tried to obliterate the trace of the wheel. Considerable significance, however, is to be attached to the fiict that the other day the t 'ommissioners despatched Mr Williams, Native Interpreter, to interview Hie Natives up the Waingongoro River. When he got to Mawhite he found the most of them were further up the river, where they are engaged building canoes, and those remaining at Mawliite would on no account allow him to proceed. He was told that anything he had to say must he said them.

The road between the Waingongoro and Kaipipi has been formed, but instructions have been given that it is to be made some feet vyider, so that it will have to be gone over again and the camp will not bo moved for some time. As the work is not necessary this -looks like wavering from the policy of pulling towards Piirihaka as quickly as possible, and may be interpreted by the Natives as a sign of indecision, if not weakness. The approaching meeting at Parihaka,to attend which I leave to-morrow is exciting great interest, and the attendance is likely to be I arm .