The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20. THE PASSING OF TE WHITI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 20 November 1907, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20. THE PASSING OF TE WHITI.

The' death of the Parihaka chief, To Whiti, removes a picturesque personality from this mortal sphere. His was an interesting character in many respects, lie stood for the -Maoris of the old school, championed what he considered were their rights, and, short of actual fighting or the advocacy of using forceful methods, strove for the advancement of the interests of the .Maori, repelling the encroachment of the pakehas in ways that will make his name familiar to future generations. In his day no one possessed greater influence amongst the native people than he, and 110 Maori was accorded the riame material support, j It is true that of late years his mana waned a. little, owing chiefly to Ilia I henchman, the late Tohu, setting up as

■1 rival prophet and taking from him a considerable proportion of his followers. But even these were influenced by Te Whiti'rt teachings. Te Whiti's primary object was not to amass riches at the I expense (if his people, lie was unlike ; Dmvie, to whom he hud been frequently likened, in this respect. Te Whiti, we ' are disposed to think, firmly believed liinii-elf to be divinely inspired, as were the prophets of Biblical history, and to have a mission to discharge, that being

the restitution of the Maori race and 1 the subjection of the pakeha. Tt was all a dream, of course, and those of his ' I follower* who have eyes to see and ears ; to hear will by this time have realised | how impossible all their toliunga's teachings and preachings were. But while Te Whiti lived and fought for liis people, he was not their true friend. He really stood between llicih and their advancement. It is mainly because of his teachings and life that the Taranaki Maoris have in the main made so little progress during the past decade or two. The Wairarapa and ITawkes Bay natives have not been under the sway of any particular tolmnga or tohungas. Compare their condition with the condition of the Taranakis. The, comparison is not at all favorable to the natives of this province. Both Tohu and Te Whiti set their faces firmly against their people assimilating pakeha ways and methods; against their taking up and using, the grants of land; and against their having any truck whatsoever with the (Government or their officials. The disappearance of the Parihnka tohungas , will, we believe, make for the amelioration of the Taranaki Maoris ami their conditions. Henceforth we hope lo see I hem take a vigorous step forward and fall info line, as nearly as they can, with the pakeha. Since the death of Tohu, we are given to understand, many of those who formerly made the pilgrimage to Tohu's headquarters and lived the usual life of idleness and thriftlcssness have taken up work, realised work's benefits, and improved their lot. Tt is a hopeful sign. The Taranaki native can !>e regenerated by 011 c means only—work. If Te Whiti had taught the doc--3 trine of work instead of passive rcsistI ance to the pakehas, he would have conI fcrred a real and lasting blessing 011 his | followers.