Parihaka Meeting.

Patea Mail, 23 November 1880, Page 3

Parihaka Meeting.

TE WHITI’S SPEECH. At the Parihaka monthly meeting on the 17th, about 1300 natives were present, iliroki divided the food. Te Whiti said that at the creation of the world all things were ordered by God to happen that did happen. All things that had happened recently were also preordained by God, whether important or unimportant; whether for good or evil. All things which had already taken place, or which would hereafter take place, on the earth, were brought forth by the fiat of God. The evils which would happen during the present epoch of time by wars and contentions among men, were also permitted by the great God, and were ordained of old. The wars of our time were foretold in the Scriptures, as well as the wars of preceding generations. Men could not alter any of the decrees of the Supreme Ruler —strive as they might. In the earlier period of the world’s history} good and bad were intermingled. The people now on the earth should not shut their eyes to the teachings derived from former ages. They should be on Iheir guard lest what happened formerly would occur again, and bad would be found to mingle with good. Listen carefully. The things which happened before shall be altered to-day, and shall be conducted differently henceforth. This day (or time) is quite altered from former days. All old things snail pass away. War shall cease, and shall no longer create disunion in the world. The race of the first man Adam has fallen over many precipices, but those precipices have now disappeared, by numerous landslips, and none shall fall over those precipices again. From the beginning of all things—even before the creation of the world—it was ordained that I should speak to you this day upon this subject. My words to-day shall be few, but 1 wish to warn you that there is one precipice left over which you must all go. That precipice is death. It is not the man which tells you this, but the father. The state of men, both old and young, is like that of a pig writhing in agony after having been all but killed by the slaughterman. The one precipice which has not been levelled is death, and wc must all die as the pig. All the prophecies of the Bible have conic to pass ; no portion has been omitted—nothing has been’ added and nothing taken away. To-day is the time appointed for mankind to live in peace. You must not be afraid of death. You must remember the nearer you are to death the nearer also you are to life. The things that were done of old were to lead up to the things of the present day. One cliff is left as an enemy and a snare, and it was ordained so to be from the beginning. The evils of former days arc gathered together to pester this generation. The prophecies of old have come to pass, and wc shall also see the prophecies of the present time come to pass. War is for over ended ; it was prophesied to come to an end in these limes, and the custom of war shall now be done away with. If a pole is not securely fastened for a ring pole of a house, it will break. Thus shall both Maoris and Europeans break—they will separate from cadi other as they cannot agree. After the conclusion of To Whiti’s speech, Mr Pakius essayed to speak, but Te Whiti interrupted him.

Tk Whiti said he wished Mr Parris to speak on the following day. Mr Parkis replied that to-morrow was an uncertain time, and no one could rely upon it. He would be willing to speak after Tohu if Te Whiti did not object. Were he to delay speaking till to-morrow, to-morrow might never come. Tk Whiti : Precisely. Speak on the day that never comes. When a dog flies at a pig it does so on the word of its master and not of its own will. If you (Mr Parris) have anything to say it will not be your own words. Mr Parris: I have addressed you all on many occasions, and you cannot say that I ever deceived you. To Whiti is leading you astray. Tk Whiti : Your speech will be the words of your superior, not your own. Let your superior come and speak for him* self. Where is he ?—let him come. Mr Parris : Do you consider yourself sogreat and important that my chief should come to you? You are secretly afraid to' let me address the people, lest I separate them from you when they hear my words. Tk Whiti : My words are few. Black and white will never agree, and cannot, therefore, be joined. Mr Parris : I did not say I was trying to join black and white.

The conversation was here cut short by To Whiti giving the signal for the mooting to break up. The natives all arose and left the meeting house. Thus ended another of the great Parihaka meetings, and it teaches at least one lesson—that Te Whiti remains all-powerful among his people. During the proceedings an amusing incident occurred. A gentleman wel* known in Taranaki was about to enter the sacred house, but his steps were arrested by an old Maori policeman, who flourished a policeman’s baton, and at the same time informed the gentleman that no one was allowed to enter the sacred edifice with boots on. Everyone that entered must do so bare-footed. The gentleman replied that he only wished to go in to see the people, but the policeman was immovable, and demanded that the pakeha should take off his boots. This tribute of respect was refused by the gentleman, who demanded to know what authority the native had for stopping him. The native replied, “.I am a policeman, and I carry out my orders as the pukcha policemen do.” The gentleman was not admitted. —Taranaki Herald.

Another report says that many natives wished to hear what Mr Parris had to say, and that To Whiti, to pacify them, reassembled the dispersed meeting to give Mr Parris an opportunity to address them. Mr Parris did not do so, apparently displaying offended dignity as representative of the Government.