THE MAORIS PLOUGHING AT A FRESH PLACE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1085, 7 June 1879, Page 2

THE MAORIS PLOUGHING AT A FRESH PLACE.

NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday. The native political ploughmen, who have been amusing themselves lately on IV[r Courteny 's land, at

Oakura, are getting tired of their work. They made a stait on Monday, and werei there yesterday, but failed to put m appearance to-day. Tbey do not do much,; the extent of their work each clay does /not exceed an acre. Intelligence has been received that the natives have commenced ploughing; up . William Bay ley's paddock Te Narnu, neari Opunake, within a stones-throw of were the force of Constabulary are stationed. They have warned Mr Bartlett to leave the Opunake Hotel, and have intimated that they intend to commence to plough his paddock at the back to-morrow, This is being done under the eyes of the Constabulary, and is intended as a further threat by the natives. TE WHITI'S LATEST PROPHECY. Rumors have been circulated m j town that Te Whiti states the 13th jof this month was. the day on which the " raru" (meaning an uprising or convulison of some sort) was to take j- lace, and that on that day all the land would be m the possession of the Maoris. Thia statement, though coming from Maori sources, cannot be relied on, and may be mere exaggerations, THE DEFENCE OF THE DISTRICT. The arrangements made by the Government for the protection of this district appear to give satisfaction, and alarm has been somewhat allayed. At the interview yesterday with' the Premier Sir Gr. Grey stated that the arrangements he was making were only part of a generel scheme which was under the consideratiou of the Government for the disposal of the native difficulty for ever. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Tho Governor and Ministers returned from New Plymouth to-day. Immediate steps are to be taken to recruit 200 men more for the Armed Constabulary, who will be sent to defend New Plymouth. Advices received thence by Government today are more assuring. The reported removal of women and children from the outlying settlements into town is now explained to have taken place ouly m one or two isolated cases where the husband was accustomed to be absent from / the home at his work ali*day. WELLINGTON, Thursday." Mr Hutchinson, Mayor, will wait on the Premier to-day to urge upon him the advisableness of doing everything possible to keep the peace of the colony, because, m the event of war, tha securities of the colony will be deprecated, and it' will be impossible to raise a loan. ROPATA OFFERS A THOUSAND MEN. . The Government will probably settle to-day what course to pursue regarding Taranaki afiairs. It is expected that the Maoris ploughing Mr Courtney's laud will be turned off. In doing so the Government will be guided by circumstances. A contingent of 1000 men of Ropata's triba is under offer to the Government. These can be placed on the ground m a month. The Government are quite determined that the settler? shall nob be driven from their homes. All remonstanoes and arguments with the natives are fruitless. They say they are obeying the orders of their master and intend to carry out their instructions. They are now ploughing land within a mile of the Armed Constabulary barracks at Opunake. ARMED CONSABULARYSEST TO TARANAKI. Fifty Armed Constables left m the Stella for New Plymouth at 4 o'clock this morning. A hundred thousand rounds of ammunition are on board, and a lot of camp materials will be taken on board at Nelson. Another squad of fifty will be sent. up next week. All have been recruited at Wellington, where any number of men are offering. The Government are only accepting those of good stamp. PROCEEDINGS AT WELLINGTON. The Government have not-heard anything fresh from Taranaki to-day. The natives continue at work ploughing. A Cabinet Council was held to-day, wheu it was resolved to make every preparation for any possible emergency, but a confident belief seems entertained that there will be no. fighting, and that the Maoris are really more inclined to test the title to the land m the Law Counts than to fight about it. Ropata's Ngatiporous, 1,000 strong, are ready for embarkation to the West Coast at a few hours' notice if wanted. NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday. PLOUGHING AT OPUNAKE. The • Herald's' correspondent at Opunake telegraphs to-day : — " A party of natives headed by Ngaruia, a turbulent chief, who recently warned the settlers and Constabulary off, commenced ploughing* Mr Bayley's mill paddock yesterday, within 400 yards range of the Armed Constabulary redoubt, and state their intention of taking possession of Bartlefcts' and Breach's farms next. The settlers feel considerably alarmed, as numbers of cattle have been killed m the district, and hitherto the Government hasafforded no protection to property here." The correspondent satirically adds, the Land Tax papers have just been received by the inhabitants of Opunake,

i ■' 111. 1111 ll I — - THE GOVE rt NMENT PADDOCK TO BE PLOUGHED UP. The natives have given notice to Sub-Inspector Morrison, who is m charge of the Armed Constabularyforce at Opunake, that they intend to commence at once to plough Up the Government paddock there. The natives are getting bolder and bolder, and it looks as if matters were coming to a crisis when they commence to destroy Government property. PREPARATIONS. Meetings are being held by settlers m town and m the country districts for the purpose of forming voldnteer corps of mounted rifles, and two volunteer rifle corps have been formed m town. At Bell Block another force has been raised, of sbme 60 strong. Altogether at the present time nearly 400 have enrolled themselves, and the number is being increased every day. The settlers living m the country are bringing their families into town. SMUGGLING ARMS. A small . vessel was seen on the Harriet Beach ■ on Tuesday evening. Where the Maoris' were ' fishing yesterday morning, a Maori carrying .arms was seen coming from that direction. This is supposed to . be the same vessel which was seen by a surveyor off the coast oi Tajanaki proper some two or three months ago. ■The Volunteers are being armed at Marsland Hill barracks. More than 100 men were sworn m last night. The ploughing at Courtney's farm has ceased. WELLINGTON, last night. MORE MAORI TRESPASS. According to , the Wairarapa • Guardian,' the Maoris on Tuesday took possession of some land, lo miles from the town of Greytown, leased by them to Mr Harrison, who at once consulted Mr Wardell, R,M. The latter advised Harrison not to interfere with the natives at present. The lease has still some months to ru n . NATIVE AFFAIRS IN TARANAKI.