TARANAKI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 828, 29 September 1870, Page 2

TARANAKI.

NATIVE MEETING AT PARIAKI. ABSURD VAGARIES OE MR. PARRIS. [FROM THE 'TARANAKI HERALD,' SEPTEMBER. 21.] Feiday last was devoted to a sort of saturnalia amongst the natives, and each hapu endeavored to outdo the other in the performance of the most grotesque acts in the movements of their limbs and the most horrible contortions of' the face. During the day, Te Whiti was married to Mr Parris in the following laughable manner :—Te Whiti brought forward a large trough, about three foot long by one foot deep, containing a large quantity of a mixture called " lillipee," which is manufactured from rotten maize, &c. He asked Mr Parris to come and eat with him. The Civil Commissioner then came forward and said he could eat " lillipee," and would join Te Whiti if it was to be in friendship. The old chief looked at Mr Parris a few seconds as it weighing the meaning of the words spoken, and considered well before he answered, whether he should eo limit himself or no ; ho, however, decided to eat in friendship, and, nodding to Mr Parris, dipped his had into the mess, and took some ; the Civil Commissioner followed suit, and had to swallow a quantity of the filthy stuff. Te Whiti and Mr Parris then took hold of the trough and conveyed it to one of the hapus, where it was divided amongst the people assembled. Mr Parris to complete the consecration of the marriage, sent to his tent for a bottle of wine and a large damper with currants in it; and taking the former from the messenger, poured out a glass, and handed it to Te Whiti, calling upon a native priest, who was present, to perform the ceremony of " marriage between Te Whiti and Parris." The wine was drunk, and a portion of the cake eaten by the chief. As part of the ceremony consisted in others partaking of a portion of the wine, a native gave a taste to each by pouring a small quantity into their mouths. He was followed by another man with the dampers, aad each Maori in his turn took a bite from the cake. After this ceremony was over, more fun ensued, which lasted till sundown.

On Saturday the serious talk commenced, and although everything that was done was allegorical, yet there cannot be the slightest doubt that it all tended to the question of the confiscated land. Mr Parris, it seems, took the initiative by putting a Btick into the ground, stating that it represented the Queen and King United, and that together the country could be governed peaceably and well. Te Whiti then came forward, and said, "That the King was no good, he hai allowed his people to be destroyed and worried by the dogs; the Queen had done the same, —neither were good," and pulling up the stick handed it to Mr Parris who replaced it. A friendly chief came forward, and plucking away a small piece that was hanging from the top of the stick, said " That was the King ; he had helped to make the King, and he now threw the King from him." The Civil Commissioner picked up the piece which was supposed to represent the King, and stuck it in the ground beside that which personified her most gracious Majesty. Te Whiti then came forward and made a long speech, quoting from scripture very largely, and finally putting his stick in the ground close to the others, —saying " that is Te Whiti." He then went on to say that he was the only one who had looked after his

people, and that as the others had not done so, they were only worthy of being cast into the air ; so he broke them up into small pieces and threw them away. Mr Parris then put another stick in the ground, and around it placed four small sticks, and left them there till Te Whiti should speak. After a short silence, that chief asked what was the meaning, to which the Commissioner replied, the long stick was the Queen, and the four smaller ones were to represent rangatiras who were' to counsel with her. Te Whiti wished to know the names of the rangatiras, but Mr Parris replied they were to be hereafter made. This did not suit the old chief at all: he said they had rangatiras enough already, and wanted no more. He pulled the whole of the sticks up, and, throwing them on the ground, stamped on them and rolled them under his foot. Hitherto, he had handed the sticks back to Mr Parris, butHhis time Te Whiti took theui with him and sat upon them. The Civil Commissioner, however, went and took them with him and stuck them up again, and the talk went on till late on Saturday evening, with no definite result.