THE PARIHAKA INCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 208, 22 January 1913, Page 6

THE PARIHAKA INCIDENT.

AXD THE LATE MR. BRYCE. ! ]) the period between 1870 and 18S1 1 the natives on the coast were trespass- I ing on settlers' lands, and were very in- J sol nt. Titokowaru was frequently at | A!: naia in a half-drunken state taunt- \ i;ig the Europeans upon their losses and \ defeats when, he fought against Von Tempsky and others. Bands of Maoris were raiding the settlers' property, pulling up surveyors' pegs, and ploughing' the land, thereby intimating that they did not recognise the confiscation. Apparently these natives were good-tem-pered, but it was evident that they were determined that the settlers should not take possession without protest on, their • part, TTiroki, the murderer, was at Parihaka, and the natives made no secret of his presence there. The Government seemed impotent to arrest him, and it was admitted that the Queen's writ did not reach the native settlements in and aiound Parihaka. Large gatherings of natives from all parts were regularly held at this centre, and were, addressed by Te Whiti in language that was symbolic and abstruse. Nobody knew what might occur. Although Te Whiti's speeches were free from anything that could he construed as treason or incentives to force, for he definitely warned his followers against bloodshed or plunder, still there were many peculiar metaphors couched in the purest Maori language, making them at times so ambiguous that only those who were well versed in the old Maori mode of expression could under-

stand the meaning. The people of New Zealand became alarmed, and concluded that these harangues resembled a spark flying over a Leg of gunpowder. Mr. Bryce, who had returned to the Atkinson Ministry with the portfolios of Native Affairs and Defence, took prompt measures to arrest Hiroki, and the leaders Te Wliiti, Tohu and Titokowaru. He collected an army of 1700 of the armed constabulary and citizen soldiers from all parts of the colony, and went with them to Parihaka, 0» entering the village, to the surprise of himself and many more, he found no resistance was offered. In fact, the women brought bread for the soldiers, and Tohu said to the natives, "Let the man who lias raised the war do his work this day. Be patient, omy people, and even if the bayonet comes to yolur breast, resist not." Te Whiti and Tohu were arrested without demur on their part, and were treated as political offenders.

Hiroki was also seized and handcuffed before them all, and treated as a criminal. He was tried and hanged for the terrible crime of which lie was guilty, but the others were taken to the Industrial Exhibition, and for sixteen months were treated like tourists under escort, the object being to show them the civilisation of the Europeans and to convince them of their stupidity in defying tie power and influence of the white man.

Although the majority of the people of New Zealand considered Mr. Bryce's decisive policy was that of a practical statesman, yet there were some who thought that when portions of the native lands were confiscated, if the Maoris had been definitely told what lands remained for them to occupy, the trouble at Parihaka might have been avoided. Passing by the sentiments expressed in favor of the policy adopted and the speeches and articles that deprecated it, the effect was to break the mana of Te Whiti and to stop the interference of the 'natives with the surveyors' "work . and European settlement in the district then known as the Waimate Plains.— Wanganui Chronicle. A DRAMATIC CLIMAX TO THE LATE MR. BRYCE's'CAREER.

During committee proceedings on a Land Bill, some reflections were made upon a member of Mr. ißrycti's party, a former Minister, by the ' : Minister' of Lands, and although the incident seemed to have quickly been relegated to obscurity by withdrawal of the offending words, the matter was raised as one of privilege a few hours later, with the Speaker in the chair. Mr. Bryce, as leader of the Opposition, was commenting upon the incident when he was interrupted by the Premier.

"I rise ft> a point of order. The hon. gentleman is disputing your ruling, sir," protested Mr. Ballaiice.'.".'.'.'.'

Mr. Bryce: The, lion., the- Premier ought to be ashamed of .himself Mr. Biillance: I shall .ask • the•. Hon. gentleman to withdraw Ihqse: .words. He has no right to use. those'.words in the House. ' '[' ~

Mr. Bitcp: I shall- not withdraw them, and I shall take the consequences! The Speaker ordered '-the galleries to be cleared and the publkv'and reporters withdrew. A resolution was adopted, "That this House regrets that,the words taken down were used, by, the hon. member for Waikato, although qualified as they were by the subsequent, words used by the hon. member.?'" \ '"', ' . /,.' Mr. Bryce explained,'that-, he'was interrupted by members'.'.find could not finish the sentence, which should have been: "The hon. member should be ashamed of himself in.replying on a technicality to-prevent an enquiry into a disgraceful charge agajnst ; - a ' member of this House." He ; reminded the Speaker that his predecessor stated in the chair that he had* never once been required to call Mr. Bryce to prder "I felt very proud of that remark," continued Mr. Bryce, "very proud—and I tcel proportionately miserable at having received substantially. ..the: censure lof tins House. The House lias done it under the scourge of the Government whips (Xo. no!') After I sleep upon it, and not before, I shall consider my own positmn, but I regard this censure as a most grave thing to me. and I shall, with your permission, leave the House now. Whether I enter it again will be a matter for my own consideration." Many pressing requests were made by his followers and friends that he should remain in the colony's service, but Mr. Bryce decided that he could not again take his place in Parliament. This decision was regretted on both sides of politics for Mr. Bryce had earned a reputation as an honest and trustworthy politician of long experience. It wa 'L pointed out that the vote was a purely party one, and that a party vote e | lst no reflection upon anyone. Bnt Mr Bryce adamant. Though it was suggested that the censure vote would have been expunged had he recognised his error he handed his resignation to the Speaker and disappeared from public life