PARIHAKA MAORI MEETING.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 40, 28 August 1875, Page 2

PARIHAKA MAORI MEETING.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) DETERMINED RESISTANCE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TELEGRAPH. RUMOURED DESTRUCTION OF KING AND QUEEN.

A large meeting of Maoris has been arranged to take place at Parihaka, and as the affair is likely to bo attended with political significance, I beg to forward you an outline of the business to be transacted in anticipation of the same being acceptable to you. As I am well versed in Maori, and having transactions daily with the race, you may rely upon the correctness of my information. The meeting has been instigated by the two great Maori Chiefs—Te Whiti and John —and already there arc 1000 natives on the scene of the coming rendezvous, which number will be considerably supplemented when the Ketemarae and Hawera natives put in an appearance. The king, with his tribe, is expected at the end of the month. The sovereign Maori will come by steamer to Taranaki, and his people will travel overland to New Plymouth and thence to Parihaka, The notorious Te Koote is now making his way through the bush, accompanied by his tribe, and may be expected to arrive shortly. His messenger has reached Parihaka, and informed the natives that there are 100 men marching with this great rebel.

Invitations have been issued to the Patea natives to attend this monster korero, but Titolco has sent back word that he won’t go unless it pleases himself, and if he complies with the invitation, his presence may not be expected earlier than the 15th of next month. He evidently is determined not to put himself much about. The Wanganui Maoris, and indeed from all parts of the coast, have been requested to attend, and the invitations have been accompanied with a peculiar manifest from Te Whiti and John, to the effect that the Maoris are forbidden to ride, and on no account are they to be allowed to take their horses to the Parihaka pah. The pakehas are exempt from this injunction, and I presume will be permitted to attend mounted on their charges. Mr Parris, Major Brown, and other celebrities are expected down. The Governor and Sir Donald McLean are mentioned as probable visitors, but as Parliament is now in session, it is feared these two gentlemen will be precluded from attending. I have taken much trouble to ascertain the object for this huge gathering of Maoris, and I have learnt that it is generally understood among the native race that Te Whiti and John have laid a scheme to secretly do away with the King and Queen in order that the Government may have no intercourse with them, as they say that these Royal personages have brought war to the world. These two men desire to elicit from the Parihaka meeting whether the race desire peace or war, and both Te Whiti and John have resolved to resist the construction of the telegraph. A large quantity of blankets have been purchased at Southby’s store, Ketemarae, for this meeting, the store having been crowded with Maoris for the last few days, and the owner must have experienced a large increase in his cash.