THE LATEST.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1441, 27 September 1881, Page 2

T HE LATEST.

Auckland, Last Night. Government are evidently disturbed by affairs on the Waim.ite Plains, and have taken steps to strengthen the Armed Constabulary. Major Withers calls for recruits, and a similar course is being adopted in the South. New Plymouth, Last Night. Several settlers who were living near Piingarehu, on newly-acquired lands, are coming into town. The Native Minister, Col. Roberts and Major Parris, with a guard of eight men, went yesterday morning to inspect the fencing, and to ascertain the present disposition of the natives and the numbers that may be expected to resist the Constabulary. If the attitude of natives is not so determined as reported, he intends that the Constabulary shall remove the fence this morning. The force went out, but no news has reached here as to what has been done. On his way to Pungarehu the Native Minister met a messenger (a good Maori scholar, and who was at Panhaka), and asked him respecting Te Whiti's speech published in the paper by the Association. The messenger said it was a fair translation, and in no way exaggerated. Opunakb, Yesterday 2 p.m. Major Stapp to-day is enrolling the settlers at Manaia for a Volunteer Corps, and to-morrow will be at Opunake The Native Minister is now at Pungarehu, and he endorses the action of the settlers in preparing for contingencies. At present the natives are passive, and appear discomfited at the action of the Europeans. Wellington, 3 p.m. It was rumoored in town to-day that native hostilities were imminent, and that Major Atkinson was leaving in the Stella to-night with a strong re-inforce-ment of A.C. ; also arms and ammunition to co-operate with Mr Rolleston. This is incorrect. The Stella takes a small body of A.C. to-night, with stores, etc., but Major Atkinson does uot go, for he will be the Minister-in-Charge of Government during the next week or so, as Mr Hall is sick and going away to-morrow for a short holiday. Mr Rolleston telegraphs to-day that all is quiet in native matters, with no signs of war. Christciiuroii, Last Night. Over one hundred jnen had applied before one o'clock to-day, to be enrolled in the Armed Constabulary.