NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 300, 5 October 1880, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

The own correspondent of the Press telegraphs as follows : Wellington, Oct 2. Official telegrams were received t©-day from the Constabulary camp to the following effect :—A party of about forty Natives appeared this morning with fencing materials, but they turned back a greater distance from the fence by wholly fity yards than yesterday, and appeared t© move away in a most hurried manner. A Native here told one of the Constabulary that the Maoris did not want to be arrested as they were afraid of the consequenceIt is thought that there must be some truth in the report, judging from their conduct. The Parapara fence was put up again at dusk yesterday, and a party of Constabulary was sent to take it down, and on their approach the Natives ran away .vith all speed. It is the intention of the Government to release, experimentally, by small instalments, seme of th e Natives who were simply detained in custody under the Maori Prisoners' Act If they then repeat their former offences they will be dealt with under the penal clauses of the West Coast Settlement Act, and treated as criminals. If however, their behaviour is orderly and good their past misdeeds will be allowed to falj into oblivion It is possible that this experiment may be tried at an early date.