OFFICIAL EXPLANATION.

Patea Mail, 11 January 1881, Page 4

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION.

THE MINISTRY AND TE WHITI. The following memorandum has been issued to the press:— Mr Hall presents his respectful compliments to the Governor, and transmits herewith draft of letter which Ministers advise should be addressed by His Excellency to the cheif Te Whiti, and in doing this Mr Hall thinks it right he should state briefly for His Excellency’s information the steps that have been taken for the purpose of communicating to Te Whiti. (1) The purport of the reports of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into any grounds which might exist for discontent among Natives on the West Coast, and generally into Native difficulties there. (2) The action taken upon those reports by Parliament, and the steps which Government have taken for the purpose of giving effect to the Commissioners’ recommendations. (3) Full information upon each of thesebranches of the question has from time to time being communicated to the friendly Natives on the West Coast and particularly to a chief of high rank there named Honi Pihama, who is in frequent communication with Te Whiti, and has lately attended monthly meetings at Parihaka. The Government have every reason to believe that through this channel the substance of information so given has reached Te Whiti and his followers, (4) The Act of last session by which Parliament empowered Government to give effect to the Commissioners’ recommendations was translated into Maori, and the Government interpreter was sent to Parihaka to distribute a number of printed copies. He found great difficulty in his attempts to do this> and eventually copies were thrown back at him by Tohu, who is a sort of brother prophet, and Te Whiti’s principal assistant. Mr Panis, an officer of the Native Department, not only of high standing, but well

and favorably known to natives throughout the West Coast districts, was instructed to attend the Parihaka meeting. Te Whiti Said he had no knowledge of Commissioners’ reports and recommendations, and that he desired to be informed as to them. Mr Parris was further instructed to state to the natives the purport of the reports and recommendations of the West Coast Settlement Act and of the Native Minister’s letter to Kiangi, and to add that the Government intended to give effect to the intentions expressed in those documents on the acquiescence of the natives concerned and to caution Te Whiti as to the evils that would follow further resistance or obstruction. Mr Parris who was directed to attend at the November meeting, was refused a hearing by Te Whiti. (7) Te Whiti on this occasion, however, expressed, as he has done on other occasions, his willingness to discuss his troubles and the best mode of settling them with the Governor. Ministers respectfully suggest that the accompanying invitation should be sent by His Excellency to Te Whiti They would propose that the delivery of the letter should be in the first instance addressed to Honi Pihama, and that if he should fail the Government interpreter should be sent to Parihaka for that purpose. (8) Mr Hall thinks it should be added that Sir Wna. Fox, K.C.M.G., senior member of the Royal Commission, has agreed to act under a new instrument conferring upon him ample powers to carry out recommendations contained in the reports of the first Commission which were sanctioned in Parliament, and that he proposes to commence his work immediately after the New Year.— John Hall.— December 22nd, 1880,

WHAT’S TO BE DONE ? The Governor’s letter to Te Whiti, as is well known, was merely an invitation to meet and explain his grievances. As Te Whiti refused to receive the letter, though its meaning was explained to him, and as Te Whiti consents onty to talk with the Governor at Parihaka, it follows that the Ministry must accept the inevitable, by asking the Governor to visit Parihaka daring his journey along this coast about the end of January,