THE PARIHAKA AFFAIR.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11499, 4 February 1903, Page 8

THE PARIHAKA AFFAIR.

INTERESTING LETTER FROM THE

HON. JOHN BRYCE. TO THE EDITOB OF THE PRESS. Sir, —Contrary to my vovrs and intentions, I find myself writing a letter lor publication in reference to Parihaka affairs in 1881. My dear nnd valued frknd William Rolleston » on a eiek bed, and I think myself bound to repel implication* which 1 know must bo specially distasteful to him. Our moat recent historian of the Tarihaka incident has implied unmistakably, I am aony to cay, that Mr Rolleston r«ired from the office of Native Minister in 1881 in order to eacape from actioas which he dreaded for himself, but desired to over to me. How little Mr Alpers understands the true nobility of Mr Rolleaton's naturv! I had left the Hail Ministry nine months previously, and in that interval Rolk-ston, who took my place as Native Minister, was tinceaaing in his efforts to arrange terms with Te Whiti. The Royal Commission and he were in complete accord in their desire for a juat> settlement of the claims and di-sputes. At first hopes were entertained that matters would be arranged without the employment of force. Rolkston hoped with fear—the Communion, i« its early days, hoped without fear, hence passages in its reporte which have been quoted. But gradually the clouds darkened. Te Whiti would not entertain any proposals for a settlement —nay, he would not even allow his followers to listen to them. . How should lie, if he believed his own powers to be omnipotent, as, with some lucid intervals, he generally did. He t*tablished the burying ground in the immediate vicinity of the marae 90 that the dead he was to raise to life would have less trouble in joining the living. His numerous visitors, month after month for many montlis brought clothes with them for the dead who were to be quickened into life. Why should they listen to the wretched pakeha? When Titokowaru asked him on a noted occasion who -was behind him to enable him to do the things he spoke of, Te Whiti replied, in a voice which rang ever the country side, "There w no one behind me, I am the Father. I am the Son. I am the Holy Ghast; there is no one behind me;" and Titokowaru sat down with a muttered apology. Visits of JiJ-inlsters, indeed! Reserves, Supreme Court! Pooh, why do white peoplo talk folly? It was only "when threatened by an overwhelming force, that Te Whiti's natural timidity overcame his superstition. That Te Whiti'e ideas'were wider than the West Coast of this • island, or even thewhole of New Zealand, ,1 may endeavour to show on a future occasion, but that -s not the point just, now. The point is that Rolkfiton did everything that mortal man could do to ensure by negotiation a settlement without forte, and at last had to give up the attempt in despair. Prior, to the request that I should resume offlcej Rolleston had made all suitable arrangemente to secure, by a display of force, ft peaceful termination of a disagreeable and dangerous drama. Volunteers were enlisted for the special eervioe, and were on their way to supplement the forces of the constabulary. At that linte I went to Wellington, by request, to confer with Ministers. Rolleston, in the greatness of his heart, had insisted that as Government had now adopted the plan, the refusal of which had caused my resignation, I, and I alone, should carry it out. He would stand back, but give me every loyal assistance.

How well, how generously, >how magnanimously he kept liis word I can under-, etund, although Mr Alpers cannot. It was late in evening of an eventful day that Sir John Hall asked me to rejoin his Government. I replied that I had ccme to Wellington with pleasure to assist ■with my advice, but that, as a matter of personal feeling, I would much rather not join. Hβ said that Rolleston was very strong on the point, and the urged that, as a matter of public .duty, I could not weil decline. Well, late that night we were with the Acting-Governor in Council. Rolleston had 'his resignation of the office of Native Minister in one hand, and that terrible proclamation giving the Parihaka natives -fourteen days' notice in which to accept the terms offered, in the other hand. He iiisisted on signing the proclamation uefore resigning. Must I explain why Ire thus insisted? I hope not. For, although Mr Alpers seems unable to understand it, I trust most of your readers Imve the faculty in which he seems wanting. Then when the fifth of November was approaching, Rolleston came to me at Pungarehu, near Parihaka, with the intention, as I knew well, of identifying himself with the proceedings and sharing whatever blame might come of it. On the evening of the 4th November (the day before the Taid), in the deep anxiety as to what the natives would do on the morrow, I spoke seriously to my friend, and begged him not to go in with us. He became very sad, and eaid. "You arc captain here, and if you order me to go r.way I will #o.'" I replied that I could not do that, but for unything I knew to the contrary, he might be killed the nest day. "And you," he said, "what of yourself?"• "Ah, that is another matter, I shall be where my duty requires me to be." "So shall I," he said. Then 1 used my Jast argument and declared that if linything happened to him Mrs Rolleston would have good cause to reproach me. His yoice was slow and emphatic as he leplied. "If anything happens to me Mrs Rolleston "will be grieved, but rather than see me in these circumstances evade a danger which you are to Incur, she would prefer to see me dead at her feet." We went in to Parihaka next day together, and it was he who wrote in my name the first telegram announcing our success. How steadily, unfalteringly, and generously, my friend "kept his promise of loyal support n> one knows co well as I do. I cannot

pursue the theme, but I will not mar it by alluding at present to the awful nonsense whieli/ lias been written on the occupation of Parihaka on the sth November, 1881.—Yours, etc., JOHN BRYCE.