NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1898, 24 March 1880, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

[By Thlbqeaph.]

[IEOH OUB OWN COEBEBPONDENT.] HAWEEA, March 24. There is a good deal of dissatisfaction amongst the Maoris at the way in which Te Whiti’s and Tohu's speeches at the late Parihaka meeting have been interpreted and published in the papers. Te Whiti complains v that his meaning has been distorted, and that he has .'been made to say what he never dreamt of. Being interested in the matter, I took some time to inquire why there should be dissatisfaction, knowing that reporters as a role do not distort. It was, however, explained to me that the best interpreter in the colony could not follow Te Whiti and interpret the flow of eloquence which goes on uninterruptedly without the slightest pause. The consequences are that Te Whiti is seldom faithfully reported. Within the past few days I heard from several Natives that Te Whiti’a meaning had been altogether altered. For instance, in regard to roads, Te Whiti said that “ the roads from Hangatahua and Stoney Eivor will not meet. The guns on the plains are not there to shoot any of you. They are only there to shoot flax sticks and the trees. 1 * As in the Maori mind the expression “flax sticks” is synonymous with “nothing," Te Whiti’s meaning was that the guns were not meant for deadly purposes, and he told them that they canid come and go as of old without the slightest fear, and said, “ Although bayonets may glitter in your faces as you come across the plains on the way here, still you need not fear, for no harm will come to you. All that I have told you will come to pass, and there will be no blood spilt. All the affairs from Auckland to Wellington on the East Coast are settled in Wellington, and the affairs of the West Coast from Auckland to Wellington are settled at Wellington. So also all the affairs from Parihaka to Wanganui are to be settled here at Parihaka.” There are many other points which appears to have not been rendered into English correctly, so that on the whole very little importance need be attached to the published translation of Te Whiti’s speeches. Honi Pihama’s people are not at all satisfied with the version which has appeared in the pacers. Although Honi himself did not attend, and never does, he sent a large food contribution and always does. I visited Titokowaru’s kainga to-day, and was invited to dinner in his own whare. He is a middleaged looking man, but seems to be a martyr to asthma, as most of the middle-aged Maoris are, and certainly not the man anyone would expect to be able to go through a campaign. His brother Nuka, who piloted ns into the kainga, is a much younger man, and is apparently in the prime of life. I saw no arms and very few able-bodied men about, and generally not the slightest indication of anything out of which militaiy ardour could be kindled or fad, if once lighted. Titokowam was dull and taciturn, though sociable enough when spoken to. He is a plain looking man, rather subdued in demeanour, (silent and retiring—certainly not what many people would look for in one whose name is associated with such stirring pages of ear colonial hiitory.