The Parekino Meeting.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 19 January 1892, Page 3

The Parekino Meeting.

OoloA McDonnell hag supplied a report tJPthe Native Meeting held at Pareki/Jk, which makes interesting reading. Major Kemp opened the meeting by exhibiting a sheaf of printed papers "Behold these bills, these Government bills; these bills are very bad things; I have brought them here for us to discuss. . These bills have been named by me, also by my brother Wi Pere, M.H.R., Kakakura and others, " A short day for all things." He also named them " A long day for prosperity for ths pakeha and ruin for us." He was vexed that the Government were not wpiWMiited, m he salcl, « B«| m

it is, the Government evidently do not care to know our sentiments, for I look around and see not any one representing the Government." And again he remarked, " It is said that the Europeans are unskilled in witchcraft. (To kill by witchcraft) I have found out that this'is not true. Behold these bills, see their witchcraft, i>r before them we are doomed to die." Wi Parata said, '• If you men let this chance to free yourself pass, then the rising water will soon be above your throats. ... . These bills must be destroyed and the Native Land Courts cleaned out." Maraku te I angi Hirawea, Papanui, an 4rawa chief, also followed in the same strain. Kanika, of Ngarauru, made a little diversion by saying, " I agree to choosing a committee out of those present to devise a means to stop sales and leases by anyone. Now this will never succeed. You won't be able to manage— Here Wi Para jumped up. " Pay no heed to this fellow. You be quiet Kanika — be silent. Your land was confiscated. The rest you had left you sold for rum ; and you have no land left but what you may ■ hereafter rob others of through the madness of the Courts you frequent. Kanika— "You say I am not to speak, but I was invited here, and I have spoken. I won't be made dumb by you." Wi Parata— •• I invited you here to see you, not to hear you ; I wished to see if you were still alive, and not dead." Arawa, Hori Bopeha. chief of Ngatituaharetoa, Kereru, and a Uriwera chief spoke strongly against the bills. Eatana, of Wanganui, began " I object certainly to this bill. I follow but one Go<', and that is Israel," when he was silenced by cries of " Shut up, you seller of other people's land." Huki, a Uriwera chief, Rai-Nga-wairiki, Te Wharanui, Te Pen Heu Turei, and several others opposed the bill. /A vote was taken on the question "Are you agreeable to them (the bills) being utterly destroyed," when with one voice the meeting shouted " Ac, Ac " (yes, yes.)

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