TE WHITI IN COURT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2376, 14 November 1881, Page 3

TE WHITI IN COURT.

NEW PLYMOUTH, November 12. The Taranaki Mounted Rifles, under Oapt. Davidson, arrived in town this morning at nine o'clock with To Whiti, Tohu, and Hiroki. The prisoners were delivered over to the New Plymouth gaoler's custody, and wore confined in the ordinary cells. Hiroki was placed in a separate 001 l from To Whiti and Tohu. Subsequently Te Whiti and Tohu were brought down from the gaol to the Court House in a cab. Hiroki wos handcuffed and marched down on foot, and on being brought into Oourt was put in the prisoner's dock. Te Whiti and Tohu were allowed to sit on the floor of the Courtroom facing the Bench. Mr 0. E. Rawson, 8.M., took his seat a little after eleven o'clock, and the following J.P.'s wore on the Bench:—W. Bay ley, C. D. Whitoombe, P. A. Oarrington, H. Weston, Oapt. Cornwall, T. King, H. Brett (proprietor of the Auokland "Star"), King (of Wanganui). Mr Standish, with Mr Samuel, appeared for the Crown. Mr Stockman aoted as interpreter. Hiroki was first oharged with murder, and the warrant was read and translated to him. Mr Standish asked for a remand, as the witnesses against the prisoner wero at Wanganui and Waverley. The prisoner was then remanded. The Court-room was densely crowded, several ladies being amongst those present. Te Whiti and Tohu were clad in the ordinary brown Government blanket. The former, however, had a shawl under it, and a bunch of flowers in his hand. Tohu took nonotioe of the crowd that was around him, although several pressed engerly forward to see the prisoners. Te Whiti occasionally turned his head to look at those who had assembled. After Hiroki had bren removed from the dook and marohed undea escort to the gaol, Te Whiti was oharged under the information of O. W. Hursthouse that he (Te Whiti) had on certain days named used language whioh was likely to disturb the peace of the district. The information is of great length. Mr Standish asked for an adjournment till two o'clock. The Resident Magistrate, in granting the adjournment, said it would be necessary for the evidenoe to be taken down in Maori and English, whioh Mr Standish said he would see should be done. Te Whiti and Tohu were then remanded till two o'olook, and conveyed baok to the gaol in a cab. At two o'clock they were again bronght into Court, when Mr Standish spoke at considerable length, reviewing the whole case., He then called C. W. Hursthouse, who deposed that he was a licensed interpreter. He had known Te Whiti for twenty-five years. Te Whiti used to reside at Warae, and was there till 1860, and subsequently since 1868 or 1869 he had resided at Parihaka. By birth Te Whiti was a chief, and held that position at Parihaka. For the last twelve years he has influenced the Natives, and his influence has increased until the present time. Parihaka and the surrounding country was, many years ago, confiscated by the Crown. He knew that by a proclamation he had seen, which waß made by the Governor of New Zealand. Some time since the Government began to survey, and laid out roads through the district of Parihaka, and prepared it for sale. Some of the land was reserved with the intention of giving it to the Natives. In the course of the road-making and settlement of the blook, obstructions had boen made by the Natives. The interference was continued from June, 1880, to September of the same year. The Natives came in large bodies, from eighty to one hundred, and interfered by fencing the roads. The Natives said they were acting in accordance with the instructions of Te Whiti. The witness then referred to the arrest of the Natives under the West Coast Settlement Aot, Etating that the Natives oh their return from their imprisonment all went again to Parihaka. All the Natives, 400 in number, who had been arrested, had returned to Parihaka. Te Whiti was in the habit of holding a meeting on the 17th of each month for the last twelve years, and at least 90 per cent, of the Natives on this coast attended them. The Natives who had been imprisoned were known by the name of "hirihiris" which meant "prisoner," and since their return they all sat together at the meetings, and were surrounded by the other Natives. At the meeting Te Whiti addresed them as heroes. Sinoe the Natives had returned the obstruction to the road work had been continued, and the Natives persisted in occupying Government land and fenced land which was not theirs. On September 17th Te Whiti addressed 2000 to 2500 Natives. At the meeting witness took notes of the speech, and during it Te Whiti said, "If 40,000 men mode the head of Pungarehu they will not stand; if 10,000 men make them they will be buried underneath them. If 20,000 guns are there they shall vanish behind my baok." Te Whiti also said—"lf they (meaning the Armed Constabulary) make prisoners, you (the Natives) make prisoners also; if they strike with fists, you strike also." Eew Natives left Parihaka after this meeting. The Natives continued to erect fences after this, and pulled down fences erected on the private property of settlers. The Natives established a guard and sentries near Pungarehu, and kept sentries there night and day. A translation in Maori of the Governor's proclamation was placed in the hands of Te Whiti, and was read in his presence. The Maoris continued to erect, fences after the proclamation had been read to Te Whiti. On the sth November Te Whiti was arrested in the midst of 2000 Natives by Major Tuke, in the presence of Colonel Roberts and 1700 armed men. On being asked if he had any questions to put to the witness, Te Whiti said he had not, but would make a statement. The Oourt said he would subsequently have an opportunity of doing so. The- Oourt then adjourned till Monday, at 10.30 a.m.