Miss Dobie's Last Sketches.

Patea Mail, 14 January 1882, Page 3

Miss Dobie's Last Sketches.

A week after the arrest of Te Whiti there appeared in the London Graphic a sketch of Parihaka, and another showing a native meeting being addressed by Te Whiti. These sketches were made by the unfortunate Miss Dobie shortly before her murder near Opunaki. In the same paper she recorded her impressions in the following words, written three days before her death : Parihaka, the principal Maori stronghold in New Zealand, is an enormous native town of quiet and imposing character, with a background of bush, partially cleared. Behind all rises the snow-clad Mount Egmont, There are regular streets of houses. The native women and children were immensely excited when they saw the pakeha voaiheni (English women) ; they crowded round me, grinning, jabbering, and shaking hands. Only one or two white women had ever been there before. I went to the great monthly meeting last Wednesday. I never before saw such numbers of Maories, It was a most picturesque sight, such gay colors, finelooking men, and pretty girls. The j'oung men and boys were having a cricket match ; the bats and wickets were homemade, but they pla3’ed just like white men—chucking- up the ball when a man was out, &c. After this we saw a vast crowd in the centre of the town, so went and found the prophet Te Whiti making a speech. The natives squatted round with upturned, eager faces, listening intently. Te Whiti is a very clever looking man, with a fine head and brow. He gesticulated with his arm raised, and his blanket folded round him. It really was a fine sight, the crowds of natives all listening, babies tumbling about, the women staring at us. Directly Te Whit* finished speaking the meeting was over. I saw Tohu, a fine big black man ; also Hiroki, the murderer, and he looked such.