THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2809, 14 February 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1878.

The Hon. the Native Minister, at his iuterview with the Patea County Council (reported in our telegraphic columns), lias refuted the rumor circulated at the beginning of December last, just before the rising of Parliament. At that time a telegram from Patea stated that the survey of lands in the Waimate plains had been stopped just as everything was ripe for success; that this action on the part of the Government had created a feeling of indignation amongst the Europeans of the district, whilst the Natires were v\

high glee. It was also confidently reported that the Maoris were assuming „. | bounceable attitude, as they expected alt the confiscated land to bo returned to them now that Sir George Grey had come j into power. These reports caused Borne disquietude at the time, although it was not generally believed that Sir George Grey and his colleagues would signalise their accession to power by returning the land whioh had been confiscated for rebellion. Moreover, now that wo have Mr Sheehan's assurance on this matter, we may be certain that such an act was never contemplated, and that probably the rumor originated with some of that class indicated by the Native Minister when he said " he understood that a number of 1 persons, including licensed Native interpreters, had interfered with the Natives, making the confiscated land question difficult to settle." The firmness exhibited by the Native Minister at this interview augurs well for the success of his future dealings with the natives, and ; with those who have to come between the native and fclia Government. He says he will not allow any interference in the settlement of the confiscated land, nor will the Government yield one inch. Ample reserves will be provided for the natives to live upon, and fishing grounds along the coast. The other land he is favorably disposed towards settling—a portion to be sold for cash, and a portion on deferred payments. This utterance of the Native Minister's must be regarded as eminently satisfactory. To have attempted conciliation by restoring to the natives the confiscated land, beyond necessary reserves, would have beirayed a weakness in the Government's native policy which the natives would not have been slow to take advantage of immediately.—[Later telegrams show that the Native Minister has been equally firm in his replies to the demands of Natives along the coast for a return of the confiscated lands.]