THE TARANAKI NATIVES

Evening Star, Issue 3223, 19 June 1873, Page 3

THE TARANAKI NATIVES

The Natives may be termed friendly for twenty miles north and south of New Plymouth—from Ureni to Stoney river—beyond Ureni river are the returned Natives from Chatham Island, who are not pleased with us for taking part of their land to locate military settlers on, between Puini and White Cliffs, where the Rev. Mr Whitety and others were murdered in 1869; here is the frontier post held by constabulary. Beyond that comes Mokau, Ngatimaniapoto country. The leading chiefs of this tribe have recently sent in to say that they will not join in Waikato in the event of hostilities arising out of the murder of Sullivan. Probably this is as a set-off against the murders by them, in 1869, at the White Cliffs, but would not be worth much in fact. Between Stoney river and Opnnakethe worst disposed of many tribes are collected. Among them is a half-caste who is believed to have been one of the active murderers of the Rev. Mr Volkner j one of the instigators of the murder is accepted as a friendly Native, and lives nearer to the town, The leading man is the prophet Te Whiti; he has used his influence to restrain bis people from violence, and it is believed that his opposition to the telegraph taken across the intervening thirty miles would not allow of force bekigused to resist it. Not so his people. At a recent meeting on the subject, Te Wetu, oris of the then who killed Brady, an inoffensive traveller, about 1865, stated in the presence of the Native Commissioner, Mr Parris, that he would shoot the first man who attempted * tel«gra|h post j he subsequently

stopped Cobb’s eoaoh, and inquired if Mr Parris was in it, with the intention, the Natives say, of killing him. A Native from the East Coast has told Te Whiti, and the other Natives, at a meeting at their headtelegraph and the coach road would never be at rest until Mr Commissioner Parris was killed. There is little doubt that this gentleman carries his life in his hand when he traverses this district; and that the murder of Sullivan, while it remains practically unnoticed, increases his risk. Beyond this, south, comes the first reliable chief, Hone Pihama, at Oeo. It is reported that he has offered to carry the telegraph through himself ; but although his rank and his off relationship would probably carry him safely through the enterprise, payment would be taken out of the Europeans for starting it. Not far beyond him is Titokowaru, and his people, a man with some good ideas of justice and moderation, who has been obliged to lead his tribe in the way it would go ; it is said that some months ago he refused to entertain or allow the proposition of one of his men that Mr Parris, who was shortly to pass along to Fatea, should be murdered. Titokowaru is living in a somewhat grumpy state at not having been allowed to return to his land, where he is now being more correctly the land of Hone Pihama and his tribe. Some of Titokawaru’s people have threatened to stop the cutting of the road from coast to coast inland of Mount Egmont, but the good pay and rations have tempted others of his men, and other tribes so well, that there appears little fear of its being interfered with seriously. Between Titokowaru and Waihi, where the Patea frontier post is of armed constabulary, there are Natives who have been for some

time friendly, and who will probably remain so. Inland of the road from coast to coast on the Waitara are the rest of the Natives of the Province,. termed Ngatimaru. It was among them that Titokowaru and his followers took refuge from Colonel Whitmore; but they got so tired of feeding them and sharing the risk of being attacked, that they have become very friendly, have sold to the Government several blocks of land lately, and will doubtless sell more. The tribe do not probably exceed 100 souls, and can alienage a large extent of valuable country for settlement without inconvenience to themselves. Wiremu Kingi, of Waitara fame, lived for some years with his people in this district. A few months ago he moved to Parihaka, and resided there as the guest of Te Whiti. If the example of Sullivan’s murder has a prejudicial effect, it .will be on the odds and ends of disaffected tribes congregated at parihaka. What may take place to the North from Mokau will be shaped by what takes place in Waikato.