THE MAORI AGGRESSION.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1096, 3 July 1879, Page 3

THE MAORI AGGRESSION.

ARREST OF A CHIEF. Wellington, Monday. The Government has received the foU6wing telegrams : — / Haweba, Sunday. The natives who were turned off at Opunake, made no resistance to the arrest of Ngamare. He is the chief who on sevoral occasions ordered settlers off at Opunake, and who has been m many other respscta troublesome. THE PROSECUTION. Wellington, Monday. Of the seventeen natives arrested, al Oakura, two were boys. The Native Minister has ordered their release. Full instructions as to prosecution of the others have been sent by the law officers here to the Crown Prosecutor, New Plymouth, and they are expected to be committed for trial to-morrow, and will immediately be removed to Wellington. An application from the gaol authorities m New Plymouth for increased accommodation haß been declined, as the prisoners arc not to remain there.

WAITARA, HAWERA, AND MOKAU.

Major Tuke and Mr Parris have left with sufficient force to arrest the natives ploughing north of the Waitara, where teu teams are at work. It is expected that to-morrow ploughing operations will be resumed on Livingstone's land, Hawera, but every prepartion has been made to board and lodge the j ploughmen at Her Majesty's expense for j some time. A friendly chief of note has been sent to Mokau, to report on the state of affairs there. AFFAIRS AT NORMANBY. Nobmanbv, Monday. The Maoris are holding a tangi over an old chief. They are making political capital of it, talking over all the absorbing questions. Te Iki has just returned from Parihaka, strongly advocating ploughing near Normanby. The Maoris say their work is ended at Hawera. Titokowaru and Kokiri also advocate ploughing to-morrow, but some few others are speaking against it. They will talk and drink rum over the question all day. They say they want to assert a claim to the land on the Normanby side, and then Tc Whiti will settle the whole land question with the Government m person. Our Normanby friends are quite ready for them, and wili treat them firmly if they do come. It having been reported that they were coming this morning, the Normanby Rifles and Cavalry, and also the Hawera forces, have been on the alert since nj&rning. The men must be put on pay. TlwsM.fj.oris can play the game of humbug for years. Opinions are divided as to whether the Maoris will plough tomorrow. If a bold chief like '»'c Iki orders them they will. Titokowaru will not come here himself. Matters do not look any worse. The Maoris will come unarmed if at all. They are only trying to revive a bouncing spirit. Wiremu Mauaia has just come here. Ho says he cannot make head or tail of this ploughing nonsense. His young fellows have got the bit m their mouth. He docs not anticipate any war troubles. He laughed at Ttunati being caught. He thinks Te Whiti intends to briug the Government to the scratch, and, finally, to settle matters peaceably and m order.

THE POSITION TAKEN ISY REWI

Wellington', Monday. Rewi has telegraphed to the .Native Minister, contradicting categorically all

the statements appearing about him m the newspapers, to the effect that he is sympathising with To Whiti and his people. The conclusion of Ms mbssage to the Native Minister, is as follows : — " Be strong, and prevent trouble coming." Mr Parris wires also that he has heard from reliable sources that Te Whiti was about to withdraw his ploughing parties m a few days. The Government have replied to Mr Parris that they cannot afford to wait Te Whiti's convenience, and that the instructions given re the arrest of trespassers are to be carried into effect forthwith. Information has been received by the Government to tho effect that Te Whiti disclaims any connection with the ploughing at Livingstone's, at Waingongoro. The Government have replied that it is of uo consequence from whom the instructions came, the persons concerned therein are law-breakers, and orders previously given for the arrest of all persons engaged are directed to be vigorously enforced.

THE MAORIS IN GAOL.

New Plymouth, Monday.

The natives arrestsd for ploughing Mr Courtney's land are to be brought before , the Resident Magistrate to-morrow morning, under the Malicious Injuries to Property Act, and tried. If they are convicted, they will be sent to another part of tho colony to serve their sentence. The mon aro divided into two sections m gaol, and are separated from the prisoners. The young mon do not seem to mind the punishment, but the old native are very sullen. A young native, when asked what he thought of his position, laughinglyreplied that he expected to be taken up the first day they ploughed. An old native said, "We are only the branches ; we are following Te Whiti's order. Why do you not take the trunk of the tree ?" To this remark the old man got the answer, that we intended to tap tho branches and take the trunk afterwards.

THE NATIVES SULLEN, AND ARMING-

The 'Herald's' Carlylo correspondent telegraphs : — " It was reported yesterday that 60 Maori ploughmen passed Opunake on Saturday for Mawhitiwhiti, having been commissioned by Te Whiti to continue ploughing on the south side of the Waingongoro. It is reported m town that the natives between Opunake and Parihaka are very sullen, and are among themselves."

TE WETERE DENIES ORDERING'EURO"

PEANS OFF.

Waitaba, Monday,

The Europeans will not leave Mokau, Te Wetere denies having ordered them off. although some mischievous native did use some threats. Te Wetere has written to the Government on the subject.