NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 284, 21 August 1880, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times telegraphs as follows.—

August 18

The Government lias received no information as to the proceedings at the monthly Parihaka meeting that has ju<t been held. The rapo: tisth it over 2000 Natives wore present, that Te Whiti declared roadma'-ing most be stopped, even if all the Natives were arrested ; ailding that all the Natives must to Parihaka. including those across the sea. No confirm ition of this rumour has, however, yet come to hand The arrest of the fencers stiil goes on daily. It was suspended fo* a day or two through the following «*ircumstances: —Several days ago t.e daily quaitrtt.e of fencers included very old men and boys.' As it might have been inconvenient to d' tain them, the experiment was tried of iv leasing all four next day. However tie same tour came down, :»nd then four m >re, and afterwards six. All fourteen were arrested an 1 then let go, on which they at once returned towards the ?pot wlru-e they were arrested, with the intention of resuming fencing, but a strong guard of Constabulary had been post°d t'lere and effectually k'pt them off. They then becanre quite frantic and very violent, insisting on being re-arrested or else allowed to go on fencing. Te Whiti also sent a polite message that unless these m'U wore arrested he should send down twice as mipy Jnext day. Under heserircumstancesitis deemed advisable to take them into custody an i send them in f o New Plyrouth, which was done, and to-day only the usual four came down. It is thought that Te Whiti now intends to concentrate nil his defensive measures on the Parihaka block and to leav the Waimate Plains to their fate. The Government have been endeavouring to ascertain the meaning of tne singu lar demonstration with ferns the other day r ! ome of the best authorities on Moari customs here,however, can explain. A Maori expert says it used to be a declaration of war when fernstalks were stuck into little pieces of flesh of a particular bird, but this ha* not bv?n done in the present case. Another says it is a species of •"ncantatton. and a thirl regards it as a m-re declaration of title to the whole Parihaka land down to the seashore. The fern was gathered by fully 100 Maoris on a hill seaward of the road. The stalks were carefully stripped, and when quite bare of leaves, the stalks were laid on the road which points towards the Constabulary camp The whole affair is a complete jiddle, which odly time can explain. Th? Hon. Mr Bryce will, go to the front as soon as possible. Tnis, indeed is one of the reasons why the Government desires a speedy close of tbe session.

August 19. ' 4 Np fresh information,has been received by the Government regard ingthe Pan*;., haka meeting. To-day’* telegrams from the Pnngarahu camp report that the four Native fencers, finding that they were not disturbed at first , rushedviolently into the camp and insisted cn being arrested. Tney were duly accommodated.

The Post's Hawer* correspondent telegraphs to-day :—"The road blockade ) still continues. 1 hear that the Nativei are fencing in two 'ir three different places. Te Whiti in re -orted to be hnxious to stop the road by any means. Tue hapns around here aw quite deserted, all the strong m-"i having gone to Pari- "i haka to help to fence. Tin. surveys on the W.\iovite Plains are getting on w 11. Mr Mackerrow, the Su-vey«ir-Gemra' t with the Chief Surveyor, visited the Plains on Monday and Tuesday."