PARIHAKA MEETING.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 510, 21 April 1880, Page 2

PARIHAKA MEETING.

MORE PROPHECY. TE WHITTS and TO HU’S SPEECHES. [Special Report for the Mail.] Another large meeting of natives was held at Parihaka on Friday ami Saturday last. About a thousand Maoris were present, including numerous chiefs; also three Europeans, namely, Mr Barr, Mr C. Messenger, and Mr Carrington. The provisioning of so large a crowd was on a great scale. The tea, of which Maoris are fond as a mild oxhilarant, was brewed in 36 large pans; loaves of bread filled 200 baskets; and the pork carcases were piled on the ground in great layers, these carcases being cooked in halves in the Maori ovens. After the feasting on Saturday, the speech-making began ; and we may explain that the following detailed report was obtained for the Mail from a highly intelligent chief, Ngahina, and from Hone Ropata ; Mr Commissioner Williams acting kindly as interpreter. Ngahina said—l reached Parihaka on Friday, but did not go into the meetinghouse that night because the natives assembled to give mo a welcome, as a native chief, Rangipokau, a relative of mine, had died. That night the people met in the sacred building, the meetinghouse.

Wninui, a native chief, stood up and spoke as representing Ins people Addressing Tohu, who was with Te Whiti, Wairau said : Liston to me, Tohu. I am one of those who have lifted up the hook, and I have lifted up the sword—[meaning that his people had assisted the Government in surveying the land and carrying out their policy, but that he had personally been opposed to this, and bitterly objected to the European policy of seducing nativas from their allegiance by giving them offices, such as policemen, and other paid situations.] Those natives who do these things (he continued) have made mo dark and grieved ; they joined the Government when they should be my people. Tohu stood up and spoke in answer— Do not be dark on account of these tilings. Do not let them trouble yon, because all these things were arranged at the last meeting in March. This was the only notable incident ocenring on Friday night, before the regular business of next day. The incident had (his significance, that Wirau was complaining of the pacific policy of Te Whiti and Tohu, which allowed the Government to seduce his own people away from his influence into employments of profit, whereas he was inclined to take action against it ami declare war. Tohu’s answer was intended to soothe his irritated feelings and to restrain his violent inclinations.

On Saturday the people assembled in tho Marai, and all being seated, the food was distributed in primitive fashion, the whole proceeding haring a strong likeness to the Scripture narrative of Christ distributing the loaves and fishes to an assembled multitude that had gone out to hear his gospel. Te Wlnti then addressed the large crowd to this effect: Listen to me, all yon people. There is nothing new to be said this month. There will be no fighting. There is nobody to raise the fighting; no one to bring that spirit again from the dead. Neither will anyone be allowed to go to law for these matters. Neither will tho chiefs be raised up [to interfere in the matter j. Neither will the prophets rise again [that is, there will bo no further prophets to come forth and speak now things after the last meeting.] All the things said at last meeting are now completed. They cannot wake np again. Two or three chiefs then put questions to Te Whiti as to certain tilings predicted which had not come to pass. He was asked particularly as to his assurance at the last meeting that the Government road-making would not go on.

Te Whiti answered—What T said at last meeting is true this day. The road cannot meet. The hands will get tired, and that is the way the road will be stopped. Being pressed with further questions as to how the hands would get tired,

. Te Whiti said—Money will not be forthcoming to finish the roads. There is no one who can arise, to make trouble. Tohu then addressed the meeting at length, using New Testament imager}' after the prophetic manner of Te Whiti. Tohu said—As Michael and his angels fought against the great dragon and cast him out of heaven into the bottomless pit, so shall we contend with the false dragon, and cast him out from this earth, and his false angels with him. We have been pursued by the great beast which rose out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and sweeping the stars

of heaven with his tail [that is, sweeping the Maori people away from their chiefs]; but wc shall conquer the beast, and cut off his many heads. [Tohu appeared to be comparing himself or Te Whiti to Michael the archangel ; and the great dragon, the false beast with many hj eads r was the Government, winch had Keen "making unholy war against the angelic Maoris]. Tohu also said—Although the Government ? are going to fetch the native prisoners to try them, he (Tohu) will not allow them to be tried, and when he liberates them be won’t allow them to return to this land. The Government will get tired of trying them and talking about them; but the Government will have to retain them until such time as he (Tohu) chooses to liberate them. Although my hand is not strong (continued Tohu), yet it is strong enough to prevent these prisoners from returning, in spite of the Government having determined that they shall return. Te Whiti then said—Although all men were to try to get up war, even though the greatest chiefs have tried, yet it is impossible to get up war, because I have put it down. Tauke rose and said : Listen to mo, Tohu ; listen to me. Ido not feel dark or grieved at what Europeans are doing at the present time. Ido not consider the work which is going on should cause us to grieve, as long ns there is no violence manifested to ns by the Government, and there is no one killed. We should remain quiet because wc are not hurt. The work which the Government are now carrying on has nothing to do with us. Ail wc want is simply to live in pence and be let alone. Te Whiti made answer—Listen to me, Tauke, and the people. I will not say that it shall be peace [that is, there shall not be a formal peace ratified with the Government], but that things shall continue as they arc. But do not be afraid ; because there will be no peace made, for there is an era of new things. Titokowaru was also at the meeting, but did not speak. This completed the speech-making in reference to the attitude of the natives towards the Government, hut there was conversation on other matters of no interest to pakehas. ' The policy preached by Te Whiti and Tohu is based on a fanatical belief that the road-making is divinely foredoomed to be frustrated. When the roads meet, as they are expected to do about two mouths hence, the attitude of the natives may then be determined by very slight, and probably fanatical, influences which cannot be forecast with certainty. As this crisis approaches, the apprehensions of.possible mischief seem to increase rather than diminish; but all is problematical, and forecasts either way are no better than guesses.