THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY AT CAMBRIDGE AND ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 721, 30 January 1877, Page 2

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY AT CAMBRIDGE AND ALEXANDRA.

ARRIVAL OF THE NATIVE MINISTER.

THE ROAD PARTY ARMED

The Honorable the Native Miriist-r Dr Pollen, arrived in on Sudday morning, having travelled by special train from Auokand to Ngaruawabia on Sunday night. Yesterday morning accompanied by Col. Lyon, he proceeded to Alexandra, where ha wi 1 meet the Chief, a Mai,uhiri, who h*s ex* pressed a wish to confer with bim upon the two -questions of difference which have arisen, the Pirongia survey aud the Cambridge and Ta-upu road party. In the latterjcase, arms have been?usued to the Constabulary employed, and work was resumed yesterday morning, the men stacking their arms in readiuess for use alongside the<work, sau'tries being placed at proper distances to prevent surprise. This determination on the part of the Government to be no longer overawed by Maori insolence, and threats will 1 be received with satisfaction by the settlers, and will do niooh to restore a feeling of confidence, which the events of the past fortnight had done uot a littlj to shake. The general feeling i-; that the po.-it.ion is just one of those when to draw back would be more disastrous than to ad. vance, when the sole chance of safety is to act boldly and face the ' conse" quence of action. Ttiisthe Government, it would seem, is prepared to do, and in bo acting they have taken the besb, indeed the only way of preventing a repetition of the mischievous panics of former years. The whole quesliun, however, of the defence of Waikato requires full consideration at the hands o 1 the \ew Zealand Executive. The gathering of a large body of natives about Maungatautari, which position strategically outflanks the frontier linei a looked upon generally with suspicion and distrust, and is the cause of a feeiiug of uneasiness to many of the settlers be. yond Cambridge. The opicion of those best informed ui on the matter, is thai a less force than 150 men in Waikato, at any time, is false economy ; that there should never be less than 50 men in garrison at Cambridge, and as many at Alexandra, while twelve or fifteen, per haps, andfthe telegraph at work in that township (the)iine is completed, but there is neither telegraphist nor apparatus) would be large em u. hj force at Kihikihi. ■ The remainder would be sufficient, too many, to occupy head quarters at Hamilton, and to allow for men off duty from sickness, accident, or other causes.