THE LATE MEETING AT PARIAKA.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2350, 13 October 1870, Page 2

THE LATE MEETING AT PARIAKA.

(From the Wellington Evening Post.) It is a subject of great congratulation that the Native meeting at Pariaka has passed over quietly, but still the danger of an outbreak on the West Coast has not passed away. The proceedings at the meeting were utterly ambiguous, and beyond the fact that the Natives did not determine upon at once commencing hostilities, nothing is known as to their ultimate intentions. So far as we can glean from the accounts which have reached us, the idea of recovering the confiscated land was entertained by all the assemblage, but what steps would be taken towards c rrying put these ideas we are left in ignorance of. As usual, the Maoris prpve4 too cunning for the Civil Commissioner, notwithstanding the antics he indulged in to gain their confidence— for instance, marrying an old male fanatic and eating stinking “lilly-pee” out of a trqugb. Tito Kowaru, too, was apparently so confident of his position that he dared to present himself at the meeting, where Mr Parris was present—quite as humiliating for a representative of a Government which not long ago offered 1d,003 reward for his head, as eating the ‘‘lilly-pce” or embracing the evil-smelling Te Whiti. In reference to Tito Kowaru’s present position, the Taranaki Herald , of the 24th, says ; Whilst Tito Kowaru was quietly living at Ngatimaru, there might be no danger, but when he took to moving about the country, fully armed, it became at once necessary that wc should be ready for him should he mean fighting. We have had an instance in the case of°Brady of it being the Maori custoui to commit a murder to ascertain if their enemy has had enough fighting ; it was therefore the more necessary that we should be prepared should any similaar experiment be tr'c Iby Tito Kowaru. If Tito Kowaru wishes to remain peaceable, and the Government intend to condone his offences, let it 1)9 done at once, and lot the man know his position ; for whilst he is allowed to wander where he pleases with an armed force, an outcast, with a price upon his head, the settlement will be continually in alarm.