Removal of Te Whiti and Tohu.

Patea Mail, 22 May 1882, Page 3

Removal of Te Whiti and Tohu.

NO TRIAL-BILL OF INDEMNITY.

The Government have decided not to force on a trial : of Te Whiti and Tohh at Christchurch, but to keep them out of the. North Island for a period of years, under easy. detention (as instance the recent sight-seeing and excursions around Canterbury). To enable this to be done, the Government have prepared a bill .asking; power to further detain these chiefs in custod3 T without trial.: - :

A sketch of affairs on this 1 Coast was prepared .by Ministers for the Governor’s speech, and passages had apparently been; modified to secure agreement between ,the Governor and his‘ advisers. The speech stated the, position thus:—

“ Towards the close of the last'session of' Parliament the aspect of affairs on the West Coast of the North Island appeared to ray Government to have become more threatening than had previously been the case, and my advisers felt themselves compelled to consider whether more active steps than bad yet been taken might not be required' for the repression f -of.lawlessness, the protection -of’ .Her' 'Majesty’s peaceable subjects, and the termination of the incrersing excitement in that district* At their request the House of Representa; tives voted a sum of £IOO,OOO to meet such a contingency. In the month of October the time arrived when conciliation having, in the opinion of ray Ministers, failed to effect its object, they considered the adoption of more vigorous measures to have become necessary. A proclamation was accordingly issubd, during my absence, from the colony, by the administrator of the Government, calling.on Te Whiti and his followers to accept, within a specified time, the lands offered to them; a requisition with which? Te Whiti failed to show/any, sign of compliance. !

: ;The dangers and difflcijlties of the position were : judged,by my Government only to increase with-the continued exercise .of, forbearance*. and it was/resolved that the periodical meetings of natives at Parihaka should be no longer allowed-to be held ; that : the numerous natives from other localities who congregatedthere should be compelled to return to their own districts, and that Te Whiti and Tplui should be removed from a position winch was deemed by my advisers /to constitute a standing menace to the peace of the colbriy. ; Te Whiti arid 5 Tohu were there! fore arrested, and were committed for -trial ori a charge of'sedition. In.,order to secure, the success of the operations necessary for these objects, the volunteers were invited to leave their districts to render assistance, and a largo addition to the vanned:: Constabulary, The; thanks of the colony are due for the readiness with which they answered the call inade on ; thetri, arid for their'soldierly/conduct /while on active;service., The discipline and good conduct, of the Arjned Constabu-j lary entitle them to the highest praise. | “ ; My .Q-oyerpment desire/it to be recognised that in the course pursued they have been, and are, actuated by anxiety to^ avert consequences disastrous*to all : classes Jof Her Majesty’s, subjects, rather than by any desire to inflict punishment. A Bill

will be laid before you, having, fordts object to fender tlie trial of Te Wliia and Tohu unnecessary, and at the same time to prevent them from returning for ‘the: present-to. Parihaka, or recommencing an: agitation which, has, long caused alarm' and apprehension of danger among the settlers on the West Coast., lam assured: that confidence in the tranquallity of the district is established* and that a feeling bf security exists among the' inhabitants: which has been lbng unknown to them.”