NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2025, 20 August 1880, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

[PER PBESS ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WISE.) NEW PLYMOUTH, August 19.

Mr E. Graham, of Auckland, accompanied with Marsh Torangikaheke, left on a visit to Parihaka on Tuesaay, returning to town last night. When they arrived at Parihaka Tohu had finished his speech. Mr Graham was invited to To Whiti's whare, and was introduced to the prophet. Mr Graham said (addressing To Whiti) “ You saved many lives at the wreck of the Lord Woreley. I was one of the passengers whom you saved.” To Whiti—“Yes, I recognise you.” Mr Graham said, “ Show me your right hand that I may bo satisfied with you.” Mr Graham and the prophet then shook hands. Mr Graham continued—“ Yon are called Te Whiti now, but I know you in the old days as Eretu. You were then friendly to Europeans. How is it now that you are causing all this trouble with the pakeha ?” Te Whiti made no reply. After some further remarks on minor subjects Mr Graham retired to his whare. Shortly afterwards he was visited by Patare, and a conversation was entered into. Mr Graham asked Patare why he (Te Whiti) was causing the trouble. Patare replied—“lt Will come all right, we shall continue the fencing. First the men will go, and when they are all taken, the women will take their places, and when they too are made prisoners, the children will go to the fences, after that Te Whiti and Tohu will go themselves to fence and will be taken prisoners.” Patare also compared the Government to Satan, and said that their works were the works of Satan. Ho said “ Do you think if we intended to fight that we will allow all our fighting men to be taken away. We have no intention of fighting.” Mr Graham also conversed with other Natives, and they were all confident that Te Whiti would bring them out of all their trouble. They were determined to abide by the counsels of the prophet to the end. Having seen the principol chiefs at Parihaka and obtained a clear insight into their feelings, Mr Graham took his leave and returned to town. He left for Onehunga in the Bangitira at 5 30 to-night.

[STROM OtTB OWN COEEESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON, August 19. No fresh information has been received by tho Government regarding the Parihaka meeting To-day’s telegrams from the Pungarahu camp report that tho four Native fencers, finding that they were not disturbed at first, rushed violently into the camp and insisted on being arrested. They were duly accommodated.

Tho 11 Post’s ” Hawera correspondent telegraphs to-day:—“The road blockade still continues. I hear that the Natives are fencing in two or three different places. Te Whiti is reported to be anxious to stop the road by any means. The hapus around here are quite deserted, all the strong men having gone to Parihaka to help to fence. The surveys on the Waimate Plains are getting on well. Mr McKerrow, the Surveyor-General, with the Chief Surveyor, visited the Plains on Monday and Tuesday.” The “Times” correspondent telegraphs from Pungarahu camp to-day:—“Te Whiti has determined to send four men per day to prison until tho whole have been arrested, and should the constabulary object to arrest them fourteen will bo sent the next day, and in event of those being rejected fifty would bo sent the day after. Tho men are chosen by Ta Whiti and Tohu, two by the former in his where and two by the latter in his. At first so many volunteered that tho chiefs had to adopt the selection system. Te Whiti made a very good speech, of which the following will give an idea of his tone. He said ‘ all the evils I have stirred up shall not be made clear. Neither of tho two races know how I shall finish my work. Taking men to prison is not good work, when they are taken for nothing. This quarrel shall not be left for another year to finish. It shall be finishod this year. Thera is a door to every house and an opening to every net, but there is no opening and no fence to my pah. There shall be no Land Court to adjudicate on my land, and it matters not who shall try to settle this difficulty, without mo they will not succeed. They are wrong who think that it is the appointment of a Minister who can settle it. This is entirely a new thing, and those who are wise in other things are ignorant in this. All I have to say this day is, come and dwell with me, you men of many tribes and every tribe from the four quarters of the land, for the back of the difficulty is broken. Mine enemy will never know what I am aiming at till he comes to me.’ The refusal of the constables to receive tho prisoners, and their return has excited fresh confidence in Te Whiti. Ho said in his speech that he was sending his men to prison as the best guarantee of good and peaceful intentions.