TE WHITES ARREST

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1932, Page 2

TE WHITES ARREST

EYE-WITNESS STORY.

FIFTY-QME YEARS AGO

AUCKLAND, November 5

The arrest of Te Whiti, the Maori prophet, at Parihaka, Taranaki, ol years ago to-day is recalled by Mr Thomas McGloin, of Ohaupo Road, Hamilton, who witnessed the incident when lie was ‘a, member of the Armed Constabulary. Mr McGloin was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, about 714 years ago. Attracted by glowing accounts of conditions in the colonies, he went first to South Australia jS&nd then to New Zealand as a youhjgMan.

Work in New Zealand was ~«o?i; r ce. and he joined the Armed Constabulary in . Wellington in 1880, and was'posted for service in Taranaki, where Major Goring and Major Tuke were in charge. About- 700 single men bad been drafted from Wellington to relieve the unemployment situation there and were engaged on road construction work in

Taranaki. They were:; encamped within a few chains of the Armed Constabulary quarters at Pungarehu. The Government had decided to build a road round the coast and had confiscated several blocks of native land. These blocks had been allotted to settlers, who had commenced fencing and other improvements'

Opposition from Maoris.

The Maoris strongly objected to the Government’s policy, and had demonstrated their objection by erecting fences across the newly-formed road and by pulling up the settler’s fences. The Maoris were led in their resistance to the advance of the pakeha by Te Whiti and Tohu Kahalii. These men had been rival prophets, but had come to an understanding: and were eliyipg at Pa.rihakiiy a<large, Maori settlement-,: where Natives!"from- all parts ofuthe North Island' had assembled. ••••-•'

Mr McGloin said Te Whiti was a religious leader with a large following, who had implicit faith m him. The Government, with the Hon. John Bryce as Native Minister, had determined to

put an end to the Maoris’ hostility by arresting Te Whiti and Tohu. Pariliaka was also the refuge of Hiroki, a Maori who had killed one McLean, a member of a. survey party at Moumahaki. An armed body, comprising <jsy volunteers, who had come from Thames, Nelson, Feilding, and other North Island towns, and 630 members of the Armed Constabulary, were engaged m the movement to- invest the pah.

The Call to Surrender.

Colonel J. M. Roberts was in charge of the force. Mr Bryce also took part in the operations. Mr McGloin was a member of A Company of the Armed Constabulary under Captain W. E. Gudgeon. The’men comprising A Company were served with revolvers, and \Vei-e given instructions to use '{hdnV'if they saw any Maori attempting 'id use a tomahawk or gun. Tlie situation as the force marched from Pungareiiu to Parihaka on November 5, 1881, was exceedingly delicate, said Mr McGloin, and no one knew the moment hostilities would* commence. The volunteers and several companies were directed to suround the pah and take up their stations on the hills overlooking the village. A Company was led to the entrance of the marae, and a gun was posted near the gates. The Maoris were quiet, the only movement on their part being the skipping games of a number of young girls. Mr Bryce, Oolonel, Roberts and Major Tuke stepped up to the front of the marae, and Mr Butler, the Minister’s secretary, road the Riot .Act, and a proclamation calling on Te Whiti and Tohiu to surrender, Ten minutes were allowed the Maoris to respond, and in the meantime not a word was spoken nor a movement made. Te Whiti was not at first in view, but Mr C. W. HursthouSe, a Government surveyor, who* accompanied the Minister, saw him sitting in a wliare and pointed him out to Colonel Roberts. Mr McGloin said “A” Company was then given the order to march toward the whare where Te Whiti was sitting.

Submitted Quietly to Arrest

The marae, was packed with Maoris, and it was difficult to avoid tramping on them. Major Tuke led the company into the pa. Addressing Te Whiti, he said, “If you don’t come out, we will come in and take you.” Te Whiti remarked that if the horses of the mounted men outside came into the marae they would trample on the people. The order was given id advance and take Te Whiti. A constable, named Hugh Willis, stepped forward and entered the whare, Tohu was found in another whare a few yards away, Und Willis pushed them both out. They then submitted quietly to arrest. The quest was not completed, for the murderer Hiroki had not been located. Major Tuke called out, “Hiroki„.haeremai; Where* are you?”' Hiroki‘.via at the far end of the marae, and he voluntarily stood up and came forward. Mr McGloin considered that Hiroki had such faith in Te Whiti that lie thought Te Whiti’s influence would protect him from arrest. Hiroki was handcuffed and was led away a prisoner, to be afterwards tried and hanged at New Plymouth.

Te Whiti and Tohu were taken round the company to show the Maoris that the power of their leaders was broken, and after a period of nominal captivity Te Whiti and Tohu were released. The fears of the investing force at Parihaka that they would meet with an armed resistance were practically groundless, for the search disclosed only a few old flintlocks. Mr McGloin served for three years in the Armed Constabulary, and afterwards took up land in Taranaki. For the last 26 years he lias lived in uv Waikato.