THE LAST MEETING AT PARIHAKA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5734, 15 August 1879, Page 6

THE LAST MEETING AT PARIHAKA.

The special correspondent of the Taranahi Herald states that Te Whiti’s speech at Parihaka on the 17th ult. contained little of importance. It consisted of a short address of welcome to his people for their attendance. The important part of the business was transacted in a semi-private manner, partly in the meeting-house at night, where he shut up all the scoffers who came there to witness his downfall, and partly by instructions to his principal adherents. Several attempts were made to throw ridicule on Te Whiti and his doings—notably by Tahana —but they were all complete failures. Tahana spoke boldly at first, but Te Whiti’s denunciation, intermixed with bitter sarcasm, seemed to cow him, and from a standing position he was in when speaking, Tahana gradually sunk to the ground, covering his blanket over his ears, as if to shut out from his hearing the bitter imprecations on his bold and imprudent utterances.

Te Whiti is evidently watching events and keeping in the back ground at present. He has no new schemes, and apparently wishes matters to settle down for a time. He says the present Ministry cannot stand long, but declines to give his reasons for saying so. He is very silent 'as to his own actions for the future. The following are the utterances of the prophet at the meeting, as near as I can give them.

TE WHITES SPEECH,

Te Whiti said :—My spirit hath entered into Te Rangi Prahoaho, the chief man among the prisoners, who talks incessantly night and day. This is the only instance on record, from the time of Adam to the present day, in which the leader hss voluntarily given up his followers to imprisonment. The number should have been one hundred and twenty. A number of boys and old men were rejected, which brought the number down to one hundred and nine. These people now belong to the holy army of martyrs, and their reward will be a crown of glory. Te Whiti then proceeded to make plain to his followers from scripture quotations, the reason of his people’s imprisonment, saying that when they, the two witnesses (Te Whiti and Tohu) have finished their testimony, the Beast (Sir George Grey) shall make war against them and overcome them.

The following will give some idea of his utterance in this respect: —“ When the Pharisees held a council how they might destroy him he withdrew himself, and charged the multitude that they should not make him known, as it was prophesied.” “ I will not strive nor cry, but a bruised reed shall I not break, and smoking flax I shall not quench, and in my name shall the Gentiles trust.” He then proceeded to say in August and September the pakeha will come to Parihaka in large numbers; they will flow into the place like water, and bring food for the people. When the Government see large numbers at Parihaka they will release the prisoners and come up with them accompanied by a large force. Then the Governor and Te Whiti ■ will meet face to face, and war together with the tongue. The Governor will be surprised at the audacity of Te Whiti —his indignation will exceed all bounds ; in his passion he will draw his sword and smite Te Whiti to the earth. The governments of the earth have built up a structure that exists only by the power of money. The head of the land—the Queen —is honored in propertion to the pomps and vanities of her immediate attendants. Her governors all hold out their hands for their wages, without which their patriotism would shrivel up. The legislators, the magistrates, the police, &c., make laws and put them in force at so much per day. From the highest to the lowest money is the motive force. Strike away this prop, and the confusion that would result could only be compared to that which eventuated at the building of the Tower of Babel. I have built up my power by the force of my will—no worldly considerations affect my followers. They are disinterested ; they are superior to the power of money ; their thoughts are raised from earthly cares to soar in the realms of bliss. Their hearts are being purified in anticipation of the great day that is at hand. I have an uniform distinct path that I travel continuously—peace and goodwill to men is the password. The wayfarers are clothed in love and charity ; the end of the journey to those who enter it is joy everlasting. He then denounced the backsliders, and portrayed in glowing colors the great reward that awaited the true and enduring believers who were martyrs to the good cause for which he had been sent upon the earth to see carried out.

All the natives that were present were evidently greatly influenced by his speech, and if there were any waverers amongst them they came from the meeting stronger believers in Te Whiti’s power than ever. ANOTHER MEETING AT PARIHAKA. (PER PRESS AGENCY.) New Plymouth, July 19. The Parihaka meeting took place on Thursday. Five hundred Maoris and five Europeans were present. Te Whiti said the ploughing was at an end, as his object had been attained. He had ploughed the Government rmna, and the Government had ploughed his mana. He was glad his servants were taken prisoners for his sake. They were like the martyrs of old, like Peter and other Apostles, and like Christ, who suffered for righteousness’ sake. He rejoiced to hear that many prisoners had been sent to Wellington, and he hoped the rest would be sent thither, that they might be brought into the presence of kings, governors, and chief men, that his words and works might be spread abroad. They would be persecuted, but would be faithful to the end. The Government came against him with swords and guns, while his weapons were submission, reason, and argument. The Government would eventually feel ashamed of the part they were taking against

signed by their agent and formally accepted by the Superintendent in the presence of the Provincial Council. From the time when Mr. Sewell ceased to be agent for the Canterbury Association, he threw himself with all the energy of his character into the public life of the colony. He was member for Christchurch in the first Houseof Representatives, and continued a member sometimes of the House sometimes of the Legislative Council during the whole of his residence in the colony, which lasted with the two intervals which Ee spent in visits to England until the year when he finally returned to the mother countrv.

He was a member of many Ministries, and was a long time in office. He joined with Mr. Fitz Gerald and Mr. Weld in the first responsible Ministry formed in 1854. He was Colonial Secretary in the Ministry under Sir F. Bell, in 1856, and then in Sir. Stafford’s Ministry from 1856 to 1859. He was Attor-ney-General under the successive Ministries of Mr. Fox, Mr. Domett, and Mr. Weld, from 1861 to 1865, Minister of Justice under Mr. Pox in 1870 and 1871, and Colonial Secretary in Mr. Stafford’s short Administration in 1872.

It has been said that no one had so large an influence on the practical legislation of the colony as Mr. Sewell. His mind was creative and versatile in an unusual degree, and fertile in expedients to meet unforseeu difficulties. He was probably the best debater who has appeared in this country ; devoid of impassioned eloquence, and not without some hesitation in his flow of language, he never failed to chain the attention of his audience by reasoning which was always ‘acute and powerful, and illustration which was apt and amusing. As a lawyer his attention had been chiefly directed to constitutional law, in which he had probably no equal in these colonies. When the late Lord Grey attempted to recall the constitution which had been granted to the Cape of Good Hope, Mr. Sewell, who was then in England, was the principal adviser of the Cape delegates in their successful resistance to an illegal assumption of authority on the part of the Crown, which has no power to recall franchises once granted except by courts of law, for cause shown. In private life there was no more delightful companion—ever genial and pleasant, with a flow of playful wit, polished by classical learning, his love for which ho retained to the last. His classical witticisms will long be remembered by all who knew them. It was known to some of his friends that for many years Mr. Sewell kept a journal of the passing events of the colony, chiefly in respect to public affairs. Should it ever see the light, no more interesting chapter of New Zealand history will ever have been published, and it is to be hoped that it may not be lost to the world.