TRIAL OF THE NATIVE PRISONERS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2377, 15 November 1881, Page 3

TRIAL OF THE NATIVE PRISONERS.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.] NEW PLYMOUTH, November 14 The Court sat at 10.30 a.m. to-day, when the following Magistrates were present: — O. E. Rawson, 8.M.; B. Parris, 8.M.; P. A. Oarrington, T. King, and 0. D. Whitoombe, J.P.'s.

O. W. Hursthouse oontinued—Te Whiti when addressing the people divided them into two classes—Hirihi (prisoners) and morehu (those not taken prisoners). The tribe who properly reside at Parihaka are known as the Taranakis. They do not now number above sixty altogether. There have been ever 2000 Natives attracted to Parihaka, and they have no interest in the land, although they have now interests in the cultivations which have been made. Te Whiti is now the head of the tribe resident at Parihaka. The majority of the Natives digging and fenoing were not interested in the land. They said they were doing so by the direction of Te Whiti. Te Whiti—Have the 2500 acres reserved by the Government for the use of the Natives been shown to them. Witness—Not that I know of. Te Whiti—There were two parts of the European fence which were pulled down by tho young men.

His Worship (to the interpreter)—Tell Te Whiti he must only ask the witness questions.

Te Whiti said he had no more questions to ask.

Mr Standish—Your Worship, J«?r Hunthouse, who is an important witness in Tohu'e case, is engaged in important work, and wishes to be relieved from attendance at the Oourt, and I therefore propose to call Tohu'e case now in order that the witness may be relieved.

His Worship—Tery well. Mr Standish then opened the oase against Tobu, and called the following witnesses : C. W. Hursthouse deposed—l have known the prisoner Tohu for the last fifteen months personally. I have known him by report for the last eight or nine years. He belongs to the Taranaki tribe, and I think he belongs to the same hapu as Te Whiti. He resides at Parihaka. I know he has resided there for the past fifteen months. He is next in rank to Te Whiti at Parihaka. About fifty-six Natives only belong to Parihaka, although there have been on an average about 2000 residing there during the past year. Parihaka is confiscated land of the Grown. The Government have within the last two years been making efforts to sell and survey the land near Parihaka which was confiscated. The Government have surveyed and offered for sale 15,000 acres out of 40,000 aores which were confiscated. About 12,000 aores have been sold to Europeans. Certain portions of the Parihaka block had been reserved, including some 26,000 aores for the use of the Natives. It was the intention of the Government to give this land baok to the Natives. For three years past the Maoris have been interfering with land in the possession of private persons and the Grown. I attended the meeting on September 17th, and heard Tohu's epoech. He said, "There is only one thing to talk about now—that is death. Listen, survivors and prisoners ; quarrel, quarrel." Mr Samuel (to witness) —You are the informer in this case, and there are other expressions mentioned in the information. Oan you swear to them ? Mr Hursthouse—There are expressions in the information I cannot swear to. Some I heard myself, and others I got from other gentlemen who were present. Mr Samuel—You can |give us what you remember of the speech, and also the meaning. Mr Hursthouse—lt would be difficult for me to give the meaning of the sentences. I prefer not to do so. I heard him also say, " I let my tribe go to contend for the land that tho white man has taken."

Mr Samuel—Did he not also say, " I say to all, let the white man come and swallow us up?" Mr Hursthouse—l cannot remember him saying that. I remember him saying "Do not be afraid of the big one, although they all hunger for us." Mr Samuel—To whom did he refer when he said " Big one ?" Mr Hursthouse—l do not know. He might have meant God Almighty for all I know.

Mr Samuel—Mr Hursthouse, you must uee the inferenoe of a reasonable man. Was it not the Government he meant ?

Mr Hursthouse—lt might have been so. The examination then continued.--Tohu also said, " All I have to say is quarrel and strike and spare none. The name of to-day is pakanga (quarrel). Bemember what I say. I can swear Tohu said strike, and spare none, more than once during his speech. He said "Strike, oh prisoners, oh survivors, strike." Mr Samuel—There are other expressions on the information used by Tohu. Mr Hursthouse —I oannot swear to them, I oannot swear to expressions I did not hear. His Worship—Ton have already sworn to them in the information.

Mr Hursthouse—l was not aware that I was responsible for all that appeared in the information, or I would not have sworn it._ Examination continued—After the meeting on the 17th September was over, the Maoris continued to interfere with the land of Europeans within the vicinity of Parihaka. The Government ordered the Natives to desist, but they took no notice of the order. By the Court—The Natives attended Parihaka from all parts of the Island. By a Justioe—What is the meaning of the expression "Let all who wish the quarrel come this way." Mr Hursthouse —It means, "Let the Europeans come this way." They did not consider that the Maoris wished to quarrel. Tohu was informed that he could ask the witness any questions. Tohu —Where you at the meeting when I made the second speech in the evening * Mr Hursthouse —I only took down the words of the speech in the morning. I did not take what was said in the evening, as I was not there.

Tohu—Do you know the division that was made of the land for the Natives t Mr Hursthouse—Yes, I know it. Tohu—Did you tell us where it was ? Mr Hursthouse —No.

The Court then adjourned, and on returning Mr Standish said he now proposed to go on with the case against Te Whiti. Wellington Carrington deposed—l am a licensed interpreter and captain in the New Zealand militia (unattached). I have known Te Whiti for thirty-five years. He belongs to the Ngatimoiau Hapu of the Waikato tribe, and resides at Parihaka. Before the confiscation Farihaka belonged to Te Whiti's hapu. The Government have surveyed and offered for sale land in the Parihaka block seaward of the great North road. I have been stationed in the locality of Parihaka as a Government interpreter since November 4th, 1880, I believe there are about 500 acres set apart for the Natives on land seaward of the South road. I believe there are 25,000 acres set apart for the Natives inland of the North road. Prior to September last the Natives offered obstruction to the peaceful occupation by the settlers of the land sold to them by the Government seaward of the South road. They cultivated part of the land and fenced it. I have never seen more than ten or twelve Natives at a time actually engaged in cultivating the Crown lands. The Natives always come from Parihaka to work at the cultivations. I have been in the habit of attending the monthly Parihaka meetings regularly for the past twelve months, and occasionally for several years before that. These meetings are always addressed by Te Whiti. I was present at the meeting in September last, and heard Te Whiti address the Natives. The Natives appeared to listen attentively to what was said. I recollect some of the words Te Whiti used. I made notes of them. He said, " Mine is the land, mine are the people. Xhis is the great quarrel of the generation. Mine is the land from the beginning. I say to great men, to kings, governors, prophets and wise men, stand up now with your weapons. The land is mine, and will not be let go. It is proper for us that the quarrel should be here. We are striving about the land said to be the Governor's land. Pakehas bring guns, Maoris bring your guns. Fighting alone will settle the thing at this time. Although 50,000 men build the walls of Pungarehu it will be a burying place for them ; although there are 20,000 guns they will vanish behind my back. If they oatoh or get hold of you, you oatoh thexa. If they strike you with the fist, you strike them. If they take prisoners, you take prisoners." I was told off to read the proclamation to Te Whiti. I went with Mr Butler to Parihaka, and he dolivered a copy of the proclamation,

Mr Blandish—l will put the proclamation in ae evidence. Probably it will be better to read the proclamation now to Te Whiti. [Mr Eennoll then road the proclamation in Maori to Te Whiti, who listened attentively.] Mr Oarrington's examination resumed—A Native named Rangi, or Lloyd, read the proclamation to Te Whiti, and a copy wag left with them. When Rangi read as far as where the Natives were commanded to disperse and go to their own homes, Te Whiti said, "That will do," and would not listen to any more of the proclamation. I went np with a letter which Mr Bryce wrote to Te Whiti, but I do not know its contents except by hearsay. Te Whiti haß not said anything to me as to whether he would accept the terms of the proclamation. Te Whiti would not read Mr Bryoo's letter, but threw it down on the ground. Since the 17th of September the Natives have finished oropping the land seaward of the road. I have never seen a guard of Natives placed at the fences to watch over them. Some men were placed there to keep cattle off the land. I have never heard that the land described in the proclamation as reserves for the Natives has been shown or described to Te Whiti. He never aßked about it.

Mr Parris, who was on the Bench, to witness—Do you remember you went up with me when I went to Parihaka to explain to Te Whiti about the land ?

Mr Carrington—Tes. Mr Parris—After I commenoed to speak to Te Whiti; what did ho say t Mr Carrington—He said dogs did not oome out hunting pigs without their masters. Te Whiti then gave a signal to break up the meeting, and refused to allow you to explain the nature of the reserves to the Natives.

Mr Parris—Were you not supplied with a plan showing the land that had been reserved for the Natives, and were yon not instructed to show the boundaries to the Natives ?

Mr Carrington—Certainly not. Mr Parris—Remember you are on your oath.

Mr Carrington—l know that; you need not remind me of it.

Mr Pame—A plan wai made out by Mr Humphries, the Chief Surveyor, showing the reserves, and given you. Mr Oarrington—l received a plan of the reserves, but it was given me for the purpose of finding what Natives were cultivating portions of the land colored on the plan, and I did so. I did not understand that I was to point out the boundaries of the reserves to Natives, or I should have done so. Mr Parris—Have the 25,000 acres ever been defined or pointed out Mr Oarrington—Not that I know of. Mr Parris—Wereyou not aware by the map that a portion of the land seaward of Pangarehu was reserved for the Natives. Mr Oarrington—l understood that without the map.

Mr Parris—And yet yon never explained f Mr Oarrington—Certainly not. Mr Parris—Well, I recolleot giving you those instructions myself. Mr Oarrington—l never was told to point out the boundaries to the Natives. It was altogether out of my line. By a Jußtice—Have you seen the report of the West Coast Commission and the plan attached to it ?

Mr Oarrington—l cannot say that I have seen the plan. I recollect the report. By a Justice—How many Natives are there interested in the Parihaka block ?

Mr Oarrington—l do not think there are piore than 150 men belong to the hapu. Te Whiti was told that he oould examine the witness.

Te Whiti—Did I not tell you not to write down what I said at the meetings because you did not understand ?

Mr Oarrington—l remember you telling me not to write down your speech. Te Whiti—Did you come over on the evening of the ISth to hear the speeches that were made P

Mr Oarrington—No. Te Whiti—Was the notice (proclamation) read at Parihaka the same that was read today in Court ? Mr Oarrington—Yes. Te Whiti seemed surprised at this answer, and did not ask any more questions. Mr Parris to witness—Do you know that Mr Hursthouse and Colonel Roberts went out to the Natives repeatedly when they were fencing, and told them them not to do so, and showed them the reserves which were aet apart for them ? Mr Oarrington—l did not know what Colonel Boberta and Mr Hursthouse said to the Natives, but I have seen them go out often.

Mr Parris—Are yon not aware that when the Maoris were spoken to about the reserves thsy always said, "Oh, go to Te Whiti, its no use talking to ub t" Mr Oarrington—Yes. Ohas. Messenger deposed—l am a licensed Native interpreter, and have known Te Whiti for twenty-five years. I have attended a great many meetings at Parihaka during the last nine years. I attended the meeting held on September 17th last, and heard Te Whiti address the Natives. This witness corroborated the evidence of the last witness (Mr Oarrington) as to the expressions used by Te Whiti in his speech on September 17th. Te Whiti asked—Were you at Parihaka on the evening of September 17th, when I was talking to the Natives ? Mr Messenger—Yes, I was at Parihaka; but was not present when you were speaking. Mr Standish said this closed the evidence for the prosecution. Te Whiti was then asked if he had anything to say. Te Whiti appeared to be very languid during the afternoon, caused by the excessively close atmosphere of the Court room, which had been crowded all day. Te Whiti said—lt is night now, and not the time for speaking. Mr Standish —I understand from that that Te Whiti is tired and fatigued, and does not feel able to address the Court. If that is the case I would offer no objection to the case being remanded until to-morrow morning. The interpreter said that Te Whiti said he would speak in the morning as he was now tired.

The Court adjourned at 5.10 p.m. until 10.30 to-morrow, when Te Whiti will address the Court.