PARIHAKA MEETING.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 462, 27 September 1879, Page 2

PARIHAKA MEETING.

We take the following from the Wanganui Herald : New Plymouth, Sept. 23. The Parihaka meeting has terminated. Wi Parata .was present, and submitted to Te Whiti the manifesto drawn up by the Native Committee in Wellington. He wated Te Whiti to agree to the terms stated therein, and that the question of the confiscated lands should be tried in the Supreme Court. To Whiti would not listen to Wi Parata. He said he recognised no one higher than himself, and he was the Lord, before whom all things were to be tried. He was the Supreme power, and no one had power or right to deny it. He said it was the likes of Wi Parata and those who are at IPonclca (Wellington), who covered t"hem—selves with the pakeha’s blanket {i.e., lived on the money given them by the Government), that were the cause of all the evil. Parata left for Wellington yesterday, having thoroughly failed in bis mission. September 24. Natives are still passing through the town on their way home from the Parihaka meeting. We learn from them that Te Whiti has succeeded in still maintaining his claims to prophetship among the natives, and they left the meeting thoroughly believing in him as such. During the coarse of his speech, he referred in rather strong terms to the native members of the House of Representatives. He said they only went to Parliament for the sake of the money they got there, and not on account of the good they could do the people. He told Wi Parata that he despised the law court. There were only two authorities in the Islands, the Governor and Te Whiti, and they must settle the dispute, not the law courts. The tenor of his remarks respecting the prisoners in Wellington went to show that he is beginning to assume less authority over them. He deified ever having said he would release the prisoners in September, and distincty stated that the power of releasing them was vested in the Government. To Whiti gave his usual parting exhortations to tho natives to keep steadfast in the faith, and to look to him for guidance.