THE PARIHAKA MEETING.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1590, 25 March 1879, Page 3

THE PARIHAKA MEETING.

[Press &j>cei3il Wire.] Parihaka, March 23. Just as the Native Minister and his party were ready to start this morning, an intimation came irom the Natives that a further conversation would be hold. Accordingly the Native Minister and his followers crossed the creek which divides tho village into two parts, and found congregated in the m.irae a large number of people Mr Sheehan and his party occupied the same position as on the previous day. Major Brown after a pause, opened the conversation by tolling '< e Whiti and the people . that Ruakere bad on the previous evening bee" appointed a Native Assessor, in consequence of the fidelity cf his conduct and his rank as chief. This is the man mentioned yesterday as being underpaid and overworked. Te Whiti stated that ho wanted to know nothing about the np ointment. he < !:;vim-. - ment could appoint wh .m tiny ploestd, and he would do the same. A rather acrim. nious disus.-ioi hire ensued between the parties, and rough words and sayings were the order of the d.iy. The rophot had thrown away tho prophet’s mantle -ml the pretence of inspiration, showing the bare h ad of a calculating man of the world beneath his profession of sanctity. There was nothing in the whole affair but a fencing match between tho two parties. After Te Whiti had finished Mr Sheehan arose and addressed the people In order to understand the gist of his discourse two or three preparatory remarks are necessary. Pressure was put on Te Whiti by his people to speak, and discontent was manifested at his reticence. Bis predictions have been falsified, and his mana in consequence, as well as his veracity, has been questioned. I told you in a former telegram that the Native Minister h id incurred especial odium among the Native people of this district from being so callous in their feelings as to utilise waste lands which the previous Government had confiscated. This is his high crime and mis emeaiur. The people were dispossessed immediately under the eye of the prophet and politician. There was no chance of saving Waimaie. The spiritual powers had failed him, and nothing was left but to vulify the man who had taken their land. Unlike ordinary Maori meetings of Parliament, these shortened deb .tes were mosf.irregular.TeWhiti constantly ju ping up and saying nil tee hard and bitter things his imagination and his love of power could devise. At last, carried away by passion, he spoke continuously, although Mr Sheeh- n, in our mode of speaking, had the chair. Briefly, this is what was said on both sides. Te Whiti, having adverted to what was said about Mr Sheehan, about Biroki, and the Minister’ demand for his surrender, Mr Sheehan told him that such men could only be tried by the Supreme Court. Te Whiti said that the Supreme Court should not try Hiroki, as what Mr Sheehan claimed to be an offence had taken place in his district. Mr Sheehan said the Supreme Court only sat at appointed places, and the interests of the Maori were protected so that malefactors could be tried by juries of Maoris. Te Whiti said if the Supremo Court would not come there, Hiroki should not go elsewhere, as he had claimed his protection. In a speech of half an hour’s duration he accused Mr Sheehan of stealing land belonging to the Natives, and said that ho would not allow Mr Sheehan to address him on account of his being in a position t'ut ho cmad not justify himself for occupying. Hu would not talk to a thief. Then followed a Lng tirade about his Parliament and the European Parliament, and he stated that he was going the right way to promote goodwill between both races, while -■ r Sheehan was taking a different and erroneous course. Mr Sheehan listened patiently and then told him that if he (l eWhiti) had listened to what he had to nay, he would now have been emu led to give a coherent reply, but aa he bid manifested a disinclination to hear him, through constant interruptions, there was no use to prolong tho discussion. After the people began to disperse Mr Sheehan, Major Rro .n, Mr Lewis, and others went and saw I’eWhiti, Te Han, and other chief's, and had a good humored chat about the Government. The Native Minister, who was standing in the marae, borrowed a pipe from one and began to smoke, to tho prophet’s disgust. To add to his sorrow, half the men who listened to him on the previous day had gone away sorrowful at his refusal to discuss the questions that were on their tongues and in their hearts.