THE PARIHAKA NATIVE MEETING.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1589, 24 March 1879, Page 3

THE PARIHAKA NATIVE MEETING.

[Press Special Wire.] Paeihaka, March 21. A large number of Natives congregated to welcome Mr Sheehan. It rained almost from the time he left Opuuake until his arrival. He drove into the centre of the village and gave the people a general greeting. He then crossed the creek and came over to the whare provided for the Government by Te Whiti. Major Brown, Mr Williams, your agent, and several others accompanied him. Te Whiti is pleased at Mr Sheehan’s arrival, which he considered a concession to his mana. The object is to increase the power .of the peace party on the coast, lest Te Whiti and his confreres should throw their influence into the recalcitrant West Coast faction. At about ha 1 f-past nine, the Native Minister and party went to the marae, where a large party of Natives was assembled, not quite as large as on Monday, but nearly, tidings of his being expected having kept the people together. Te Whiti has told all the people that Hiroki’s bravado could not give him safety, and those men who were blood guilty and ran to a city of refuge should remain hidden and be content with the protection they claimed. There were still a few white men sprinkled through the audience, but only a few. The Native Minister and his followers sat in the middle of the marae, the same delay of expectation taking place as on the previous general meeting. Tohu then arose and said that the 18th of the me. nth was the ordinary time for their meeting, but the IBth had passed and this was a supplementary meeting. Major Brown next arose, and with a fluent tongue aad happy manner spoke as follows Te Whiti and your people, greeting. The Native Minister has come to see you; to hear what you have to say and correct any wrong impression you may have arrived at from reports, often wrong, that travel and may have reached you. Such reports travel to and fro until what was originally no bigger than a man’s head becomes as large as Mount Egmont, which is now looking down on us. The Native Minister says —Do not believe anything imputed to him unless you hear it from his lips, and he will believe nothing as coming from you that you do not tell him yourself. To Whiti next spoke, saying that he had s;.oken all he had to say at the meeting, and would say nothing more until af er feeding. Another delay ensu’d, pending the production of food, during which all w re squ tied on the gr und, in accordance with Maori etiquette. Then ihe Na ive Minister and party were shifted further back in the nurae ; fern leaves were spread on the ground, and a huge mound of food piled thereon with great pots of tea, and pannikins sufficient in number for all the people. Turi, of isgatirua iu’, stepped up and declared that fool for the meeting was prepared and placed. Five or six stalwart men provided with knives then commenced cutting the meat, and a general distribution took place, There were three thousand pannikins procured for the guests and residents. The people, as in the first meeting, were located according to their tribes around the inside of the marae, where the representatives of Wanganui, Waikato, Ngatiawa, and other tribes were scattered according to their relationships. The Native Minister gave the food presented to us to the wife of Kuakere, or the hostess, her husband being a cousin of Te Whiti and a man of higher rank than the prophet himself. He is and has been a xedous good servant, but, like many others holding similar positions, underpaid for his services, which are almost unknown and unrecognised. It was about half-past eleven when the food was distributed. After the meal had taken place, and the spot where the food had been was cleared, the people drew nearer together, but the middle portion of the square was kept clear.

Te Whiti then stood up and —If you, the Native Minister, have any special reason for coming here, state it, as the greetings are over. The Native Minister went into a clear place, and after greeting all the people said what may bo thus summarised —Salutations to you, le Whiti, and to your people and your guests from all parts of this island. You have asked me if I have come merely to greet you and discuss any questions of importance. I will tell you my reasons for coming are only my respect for yourself, as a man who has for years past guided his people in the paths of peace, and that I might show to the Europeans that the stories published in the newspapers about the unfriendly attitude of the people under your direction were without foundation. These are my reasons for coming. As I am hero I am quite willing to talk with you and your people about any matter in which yon take any interest. If these matters are mentioned I will talk about them with you, so that we may discover a means of removing any evils that may exist, and combine to promote the happiness of both races. To Whiti stood np and said that the meeting held on the 18th was the proper time for it to be held, and he thought the Minister had something to say. He was not responsible for reports that were put in circulation. Lewi-paper people were not this people. Ho then sat down. 1 he Native Minister asked Te Whiti to repeat what ho had said on the 18th for his information. The reply was that the 18th was gone, and what he had then said had become public property. He should not again state what he then uttered. The Native Minister replied that this was a Maori Parliament, Te Whiti’s own, in fact, and he (To Whiti), having the power of its conduct, should reguLte its proceedings. Te Whiti replied that Parliament was shut up. Other people might be ignorant of what he had said on the 18th, but Mr Sheehan certainly was not. The Native Minister said he wanted a distinct answer as to whether Te Whiti had anytuing more to say. If bo, he would fix any time to-

Dtorrow to hoar what he wanted to say to him or the people. The remainder of the day might as well be devoted to amusements as to idle The discussion was a trial of skill in fencing throughout, the prophet apparently wishing to show his followers that he could hold his own against an educat d pakeha. Among t sections of the people dissatisfaction is expre- sod that the presence of the Native Minister was not taken advantage of to discuss the questions that are of interest to the people. There will probably be a further talk to-morrow