Parihaka Meeting.

Patea Mail, 19 August 1880, Page 2

Parihaka Meeting.

The present meeting of natives at Parihaka is mucli larger than the usual monthly gatherings. About three thousand Maoris are in the “ city.” The fencing excitement has cooled down, but natives say they are ready to go on with the fencing and be made prisoners at any time that Te Whiti requires them to do so. One young Maori said a few days ago: “Tc Whiti told me that Jesus Christ had ordered me to go, and that I would get good clothes and not have anything to buy. I shall go.” The number captured for fencing has averaged about two per day, and the farce is still going on. No soldier from the camps is allowed to go within a mile Parihaka, under strict penalties. Tc Whiti is hospitable to strangers, when satisfied that they do not come as representing the Government. The old chief is not tatooed, as commonly supposed, and is not at all a terrible fellow to look at in his wretched dirty blanket for a mantle. Tohu, his lieutenant and right-hand man, does all the prophet’s business receives ; strangers, questions them, aad makes them welcome—unless they arc suspected to be Government agents, when they get the cold-shoulder without violence. Kemble Bend (not Bent) is at Parihaka, and is about as dirty and lazy as the average Maori. Major Tuke’s camp is about half a mile from the road to Parihaka. Immense quantities of potatoes arc stored in the native city, these being the principal article of food. Tc Whiti addressed the assembled natives on Tuesday, and is reported to have said that the Government road must be stopped, even if all his people have to be taken prisoners in the act of of fencing. All natives, he says, must come to Parihaka, from both islands. We would suggest caution in receiving this interpretation of what Te Whiti said. His language was probably of this tenor, for he holds a brave defiant front in addressing his people; but his meaning is likely to be that the Maoris must stand their ground without any show of violence.

A curious incident happened last Friday. A telegram to the Post says: —“ This morning 100 natives from Parihaka appeared on a hill seaward to the constabulary camp, and commenced to pull up ferns amidst cheering. They afterwards laid the ferns on the rojd near the camp, and disappeared. Tlwe is evidently some political significance in this, but rvhat it is, is not known.”