PIGEONGRAMS.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3792, 22 February 1881, Page 2

PIGEONGRAMS.

TE ABOHA.

(Fboh Saturday's Te Aboha Mineb.)

Te Aeoha, This day, 10 a.m. We are at a loss to account for the sudden postponement of the hearing of the charge of murder which, was to have taken place to-day at the Thames. On Friday last all evidence was completed, and witnesses were warned to be in readiness to proceed to the Thames by Saturday morning's steamer. A special messenger, however, arrived. here on Saturday morning early with, the news that the case had been adjourned tilli Friday next. The witnesses were put to considerable inconvenience, but we scarcely think that the police are to be blamed for the delay. We feel strengthened in this opinion by certain peculiar telegrams from Wellington, officially conveying the intelligence that ihe residents of Te Aroha are in no danger from the' natives. Why on earth a political aspect has to be given to every misdemeanour ia which a Maori is concerned, we cannot understand, unless it is through the machinations of that class known as pakeha Maoris, who have so long tried to make people believe that nothing: can be done with the natives except through their instrumentality, and so manage to retain their little sinecures. It will be a red- letter day in the history of the colony when pakeha Maori influence ia a thing of the past.

The father of the murdered man has been. at Ohinemuri during the past few days, threatening what he would do if Proeoffi got off. It is admittad on all sides that the deceased's relations are a dangerous lot.

The Cape Argus says: —" All the world knows the plain facts of the present native disturbances. Theßasutos were peaceful loyal, and well disposed to her Majesty the Queen. Disarmament was attempted to be forced upon them, and as the Government was forewarned would be the case, the Basutos are now in rebellion. Saffraria is terribly disturbed; blood has been freely shed; the resources of the colony in money and men are. being strained to the uttermost; a long course of misery, violence, and expenditure is probably before us—and all this ha* sprung instantaneously and directly from Basuto disarmament. That, and nothing but that, stands as .the dividing point between peace and ruinous war.

A letter has been published from a Taranaki settler, in which the present Government are accused of favouring supporters. It says:—" One man, an Atkinson supporter, has secured 36,000 acres near Hawera at 2s 6d per acre. The land is splendid, and worth now £2 10s and £3 per acre. This land the Government paid a large deposit on four years ago, and afterwards handed it over to supporters- There are numbers of such blocks, and larger areas, Fancy D and H ,of Auckland, obtaining 160,000 acres at 10s 6d to Us per acreand this averages in value one-third fa^ £1, one-third £3, remainder £4 to £51