THE DECEASED WIFE’S SISTER.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 446, 23 July 1879, Page 3

THE DECEASED WIFE’S SISTER.

The Times of May 7th, has a loader on the much-vexed question of marriage with the deceased wife’s sister, the openii g paragraph of which is as follows —The debate yesterday in the House o Lords upon the Bill for legalising mar riage with a deceased wife’s sister cannot but mark an important stage in the discussion of this question. The Bill was rejected, but by only a majority of 20 in a house of 182; and as 15 bishops toted in the majority against one in the minority, it is evident that lay opinion was very closely balanced indeed. It must needs, moreover, exert a considerable influence upon popular feeling on the subject that the TTince of Wales took the unusual course of declaring himself in favour of the Bill. He is a Norfolk landowner, and he presented a petition signed by no fewer than 3258 farmers of that country, praying that such marriages might be declared lawful. He stated that he presented the petition both on local and on general grounds. It is his firm conviction that the adoption of the Bill would be of advantage to the community at large, and he therefore gave his hearty support to it. Lord Beaconsfield presented a petition to the same effect from 1152 farmers of T^ckinghamshire ; but he did not accompany it with any expression of his own opinion. The debate was short, and touched but lightly on the arguments at issue. Lord Houghton Contented himself with a brief enumeration of some of the more obvious and familiar pleas on behalf of the measure, and the Bishop of London was equally unambitious in the speech he made in opposition to It. Lord Cranbrook’s remarks at the close of the discussion were marked by more animation ; but the House Was evidently in no mood for argument, and the division must be regarded as a spontaneous expression ot the existing balance of opinion. From that point of view it must needs have great Weights The persons who have married their deceased wive’s -sisters and those who are desirous to do so will be able to say that in the House of Lords there is a Very close balance of opinion on the subject, and that the question must be regarded as at least an open one. The consequence must he to give encouragement to such marriges, and thus to increase the pressure which is brought to bear upon Earliment in favour of an alteration of the law.

THE PAKIHAKA, MEETING. Th •; usual monthly m eting (says the Taiv.ii: ki News of Saturday last) took pla a- at P rihaka on Thursday. Five him lied Maoris and two Europeans— Messrs Messenger and Thompson—were present. Te. Whiti’s address was full of texts and scriptural phrases, the substance being- to the following effect:—The ploughing was at an end, as Te Whiti’s object has been attained ; the Government had ploughed his mana and he has ploughed the mana of the Government. He was glad to see his servants taken prisoners for his name’s sake. They were like the martyrs of old—like Peter and the other Apostles—like Christ, who suffered for righteousness sake. He rejoiced to hear that many of the prisoners had been sent to Wellington, and he expressed his hope that the rest might be sent there, that they might be brought into the presence of Kings, Governors, and Chief men, and that the word and works of Te Whiti might be spread throughout the land. He predicted that they would be persecuted, but that they would be faithful to the end. The Government came against him with sword and gun, while the weapons of his opposition were submission, reason, and argument. He believed that eventually the Government would feel ashamed of the part they are at present taking against him. He rejoiced exceedingly at the patience shown by bis disciples, and assured them that eventually they would be rewarded, as it was his destiny to reign spiritually over all. He expressed his sorrow at the stubborness of those Maoris and Pafcehas vrho -would not listen to his teaching, but was certain that his supremacy over the minds of men must eventually be attained. He understood that Europeans said that it was his intention to commence hostilities, but such was not the case ; his mission was essentially peaceful. His teachings were laughed at and declared to be ravings, but even so men derided the Prophets of old, and went out against them with the weapons of this world, and just as those Prophets’ teachings have since been believed in so would his ministrations be finally accepted. The Prophet concluded an eloquent discourse by declaring that the next event would be the maungarongo (the mountain of peace), and after that the resurrection. The wives and female relatives of the prisoners went to Parahaka with tears and lamentations; they have returned rejoicing in their martyrdom, and that they have been accounted worthy to suffer shame for the Prophet’s sake.