NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 911, 31 January 1882, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

A Wellington correspondent says : ; The reported epidemic at the Pungar.ehu camp is a very mild sore of feverish attack, and not at all due to overcrowding , in the camp, as there are only thirty or ( forty men there trow. About 150 men are stationed in Parihaka, but the greater portion of the .Constabulary are, a; iually , engage d in constructing a road, round the native reserve of twenty thousand acres, which has been allotted, to the Parihaka people, with, a view to the better and more distinct’ve definition of this block, instead of marking, its boundaries by ' ordinary survey lines. Tne block is, of course, the 25,000-acre reserve, recommended by the. Royal Commission, and , has the 5000,acres forfeited, for sedition. After being set apart and marked off as above described, its distribution among individual claimants will be conducted by the Royal Commissioner, Sir William , Pox. The natives, themselves express ’ great satisfaction at this being done s gaud eager to manifest their thorough Submission ito the law, now that they have had practical evidence of its power. Go. yernmont frequently, receive communications from leading, natives of. the formerly disturbed districts, express ng their . entire willingness to abide by Mr Bryce’s decision on the land question, his vigorous policy having evidently inspired, .wholesome respect. One chief naively observed that he should try to get as much land as lie possibly could, but that nevertheless he chould be content with whatever, was assigned to him. Some of the natives have been applying to Te Whiti for instructions how they should act, but so far as can be ascertained, he has refused to direct them any further than he has done in the past. He says his words remain, and he has nothing more to say. Most of the natives, however, seem disposed to discourage all reference to Te Whiti. They appear to recognise that he has failed, and their present anxiety is to make the best terms they can for themselves. Moreover, many are anxiously desirous to see European settlement progress, as they are shrewd enough to have discovered that this means a large benefit and profit to themselves. Consequently, the present aspect of the West Coast aff irs may be characterised as exceedingly satisfactory, and promising as well as possible for the future. The above information is on thorougly trustworthy authority, and may be accepted as tho roughly authentic.