THE NATIVE MEETING AT PARIAKA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 223, 21 September 1870, Page 2

THE NATIVE MEETING AT PARIAKA.

"We learn from the Taranaki Herald that Mr. Civil Commissioner Parris had safely arrived at Pariaka, where his reception was most cordial and hospitable. On the way he was joined by large numbers of natives, until, on the night before arriving at his destination, the party had increased to about 700 — 500 having come from North of Tharoa, and 200 from the southward. One party of about a hundred strong — all on horseback — made a most imposing appearance as they joined the ranks, having flags, and streamers, made of hat-bands, flying. On arriving at a place called Kopara about a mile from Pariaka, the forces were marshalled by the Commissioner who sent those natives who were on foot forward first, tben those on horseback, the whole being followed by the provision carts, eight in number. When the party came in sight of the village, they were received by the Pariaka natives with the usual shouts of welcome, which were kept up till the whole seven hundred had arrived. Those on foot were defiled off into an euclosure on the sea side of the village, whilst those ou horseback were mustered on the outside. la front of the village was an immense quantity of potatoes and kumeras, of which there must have been over 2,500 kits, weighiug from 10 lbs. to 121bs. each. As soon as the tents had been pitched, more food was brought, the natives making a great noise, shouting, gesticulating, and making violent contortions of the face and body. The provisions we hear, consisted of 72 carcases of pigs, weighing about loOlbs. each, and two sheep (possibly a peculiar breed of Pariaka pigs), ISO kits of cooked potatoes, &c, and tea large wooden troughs, each holding some gallons of maize made into a kind of stirabout. The whole was then divided amongst the different hapus, and the feast commenced. After the appetite of the whole party had been satisfied for a time, several chief's came forward and saug songs of welcome. The tent of the Civil Commissioner has been pitched on a smsill hill seaward of the village, from which the white visitors can see aud hear every thing that passes. There is very little feed for horses at Pariaka, we believe, so the animals are not likely to fare so well as their masters at thi3 feast. Mr. Parris has sent to town from Pariaka a horse belonging to Major. C. Brown, which had been detained by a Taranaki tribe (Kaporangi) for over eighteen months.