THE PARIHAKA TANGI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 21 November 1907, Page 2

THE PARIHAKA TANGI.

AX UU'KESSIYE SCENE. TK WilJTl JA'JNU L\ r STATE. EXTKAOIiDIi.XAIIY .MANIFESTATIONS OF OlilEF. IiEKIX OF PROI'UETS ENDED. Up till Tuesday night, the heart of the l'arihaka native was sad within him —tlic hundreds of invitation* sent out to all parts of the Dominion to friends and adherents to attend the Umgi having met with lint scanty response, and he was, comparatively' speaking, left to mourn his dead chief alone. Yesterday, however, a change came o'er the scene', and a steady stream of natives poured into the settlement, and preparations for their reception and for the carrying out of the funeral have been made on a scale of magnificence unknown to the present generation.

THE SUCCKSSIOX. j At a large mass meeting held at Pariliaka on Monday night the question of the future of Parihaka was discussed at_ great length. The korero was sustamedwith considerable animation until ,'i o'clock on Tuesday morning. Much spcechirying was indulged in, Charlie Waitara (son-in-law of the deceased prophet) being the principal speaker. The principal topic discussed was the advisability or otherwise of appointing a successor to the late ruler of Parihaka. Willie Tu Whiti and the late Tohu's son

were present at the korero. The tenor of tin; speeches was against placing young Te Whiti in charge. No ill-feel-ing was expressed against the latter, but he has been living away from Parihaka for years, and it was'not considered he had the knowledge of affairs possessed by Charlie Waitara. As the meeting wore on it was clearly «een that \\ aitara was Hie man whom the speak-! ers favored, and eventually it was almost unanimously decided' that he be asked to take over the reins of government at the village. It was pointed out that Charlie Waitara had been continuously at Parihaka for about 18 years, and had acted as head steward to To Whiti. Indeed, during late years Waitara practically controlled the business affairs of the deceased. In addition to this Waitara, w(ho has considerable private income, is said to have practically built the village of Parihaka as it is seen at the present dav. Although Waitara is to be at the head of affairs this docs not mean that lie will occupy the position vacated "by his chief.

NO MOKK PKOPHETS. The Maoris have decided against appointing any more prophets, recognising that with the advance of civilisation there is no place in the life of the Maori for further trallie with such men as were the fountain heads of the Parihaka influence. Anyone who has studied the native race and their customs during the past twenty years knows how far-reaching lias been this influence, and all will admit the wisdom of.the chieftains and speakers at the meeting in deciding that no more of these will be tolerated lit Parihaka. Waitara is willing to act as head man of the village. Had the 'last of the prophets" been looked upon as a chief only, there is little doubt that young Te Whiti would have been appointed ','? C ''K P l tlle ,caiim g'is, but the late Te Whiti was looked upon more as a prophetic leader than a chieftain, and the speakers at the meeting considered that they had the prerogative of appointing a successor as a director of affairs. More may be heard of the appointment later on. however, unless young Te Whiti is prepared to tamely submit to the decision of the meeting. Until quite recently it was not generally known that the late Te Whiti was the real owner of Hie land upon which Parihaka stands. The Crown grant of that portion of the Mock is in his name, although even the natives themselves were probably unaware of the fact. This being so, young Te Whiti may claim the village by right of descent. So far young Te Whiti has not openly ex. pressed his views on the matter. '

LYING IN STATIC. The body of the great seer is lying in state in a specially-erected tent in the marae. Surrounding the corpse are quantities of white feathers—the badge which was always worn in the hat or hair by Te Whiti's followers to distinguish them from the adherents of the recently-departed Tohu. Around tho body are handsome and costly fancy and feather mats, while on the wall behind hang valuable and historical greenstone meres and other warlike weapons. Seated at the head of the. body is the prophet's daughter, Mrs. Charlie Wailani. She is sparsely clad in the oldtime custom. Other women are also seated near the body. Their grief seems very real, and as each parly enters the house, of the deail the wail of the mourners goes forth in solemn cadence. The visitors pass around the bier and gaze on the features of the great man to whom in past years many had paid such loyal homage. Many of his followers press their nps to' the brow of their departed leader, and as they pass out, the hongi (salute by rubbing noses) is exchanged with the chief mourners, lhe features of the departed chieftain depict great and calm repose, and look stately and kingly in death. As one enters the tent to take a last look at this once illustrious leader of a people, one is deeply impressed with the full significance of the occasion. N> THIS FUNERAL. TheSrcmains of Te Whiti are to be buried in front of the old house, where a grave %as been dug. The funeral is to take place at noon to-morrow (Friday).

THE VISITORS. Perhaps one of the most interesting features of the proceedings at the present juncture is the reception given to native visitors. To those who have not witnessed anything of the kind the proceedings seem strangely weird and quite entertaining. On Tuesday and Wednesday sentries were posted in front 01 I lie house ou the hill, aud as each party arrived several volleys from gunshots were fired. This was the signal lor the dancers, the female portion of whom ivei-p arrayed in greenery and Maori mats, to assemble and proceed along the road to welcome the visitors in the old Maori style. As the visitors came towards the village the dancers receded backwards, chanting dirges and (lancing, the visitors following with solemn mien. Arrived opposite the tent 111 which the body lies. the visitors in turn delivered addresses. Many of these addresses were apparently not what would be expected, being condemnatory ol the deceased. Several speakers welcomed the death of To Wliiti, statin" that the Maori race would no lom-er be hoaxed by the falsi' doctrines of the prophet. THE FOOD-SUPPLY.

Owing to provisions being short at tlio village, huge quantities are arrivin", including potatoes, flour, and fat cattle. A largo quantity of fish taken by the trawler Nora Nivon was purchased at the .Breakwater yesterday, and is boliic taken to Pariliaka. This latter supply of food will be heartily welcomed by the natives, and will give an old-time aspect to the obsequies. Before the advent of the pakclia huge quantities of iish were consumed at a laugi, especially when a person of pote died. There l"s no liquor at the village, and the' police are keeping an active eye on the proceedings to see that none is brought in Tli-WIIITI'S WEALTH. There seems to be nothing definite known as to the wealth of Te Whiti Tohu, the rival prophet of Te Whiti, had, it was stated at the lime, of his demise, hoarded gold to the extent of about .-tmnon. Those who have kept in close touch with Pariliaka proceedings consider that Te Whiti must have accumulated at least, as much. Tt is thought that this treasure is secreted in the village, but its whereabouts are absolutely secret, only very few trusted adherents of the deceased being awarol it. Should the treasure really exist, it is not known how it mav be distributed. OIJ) ANIMOSITIES When Tohu was alive the followers of (he rival prophets were at times hostile one to the other. It is a pleasing feature lo note that the death of the two leaders has settled all differences of opinion, and the two parlies are, at the present tangl, quile reconciled, and are mingling together without a trace of discord. r MoxfTinv ttosima(: ie ended?

That I lie native race has recognised I (hat the prophets were not genuine in their doctrines and prophecies is evidenced by the fact that it has been decided that the monthly pilgrimage <o .I'iirjhaka is to cease.,\,\o doubt" the village will"'continue to'Vxist, and when the huge block of country surrounding Pariliaka is opened up and cultivated Ihe village may become a flourishing Maori business centre, lint Pariliaka of the past and Pariliaka of the future will bo as widely dissimilar as it is poa-

sililo for tliem to lie. The old order changeth, and in giving place to the new all who have the welfare of the remnant uf the Maori race at heart will lie satislied to learn that the natives arc no longer to be gulled by the machinations and wiles of such men as Toliu and To Whiti.

TK WIIITI'S INFLUENCE FOR PEACE _ Although much can he said in denunciation of the pernicious inlluenee the late prophet exercised at Parihaka in the past, there is no doubt Te Wliiti had redeeming features. Older settlers will remember the "ploughing incidents" of twenty years when To Whiti incited the natives to passive resistance of the pakcha rule by ordering that ploughing operations should be proceeded with on various pakeha lands in the province. No doubt To Whiti recognised that armed resistance would not lie tolerated by the settlers and the government, yot it speaks volumes for the strong force of character possessed by the dead prophet when he could kejp the most warlike side of the Maori nature in check. It must bo. remembered that at that time the illustrious fighting chief Titokowaru, with the rem- ] "ant of Ids warriors, accompanied the ploughing party. Yet. so great was the restraining influence of Te Wliiti that no hostile force was allowed to go on the warpath, although had they chosen to do so, much that would have liorri- ■ fied the people of the colony must have occurred. It will be remembered, too, •■ that Te Whiti was instrumental in

saving the lives of a number of wrecked people, on the const. Other natives who assisted in the rescue were hostile to the wrecked people, and it is thought by many that had not Te Whiti interfered, the whole of the survivors would have been ruthlessly butchered.