WAWERA.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3510, 25 March 1880, Page 2

WAWERA.

Yesterday. The "Waimato Plains Difficulty.

Published Statements repudiated

by Te Whiti. There is a good deal of dissatisfaction amongst the Maoris at the way in which Te Whiti and Toliu's speeches at the late Parihaka meeting have been interpreted and published,in the papei's. Te Whiti complains that his meaning has been distorted, and that he has been made to say what he never dreamed. Being interested ia the matter I took the trouble to inquire why there should be dissatisfaction, knowing that reporters, as a rule, do not distort. It was, however, explained to me that the best interpreter ia the-colony could not follow Te Whiti and interpret his flow of eloquence, which goes on uninterruptedly without the slightest pause. The consequence is that Te Whiti is seldom faithfully reported. To "Whiti's Meaning, i Within the past five days I heard from several natives that Te Whiti's meaning had been altogether altered. For instance, in regard to the road, Te Whiti ! said that roads from Haugatahau or Stoney Biver will not meet. The guns on the plains are not to shoot any of you; they are only there to shoot flax sticks, and the trees, and as, ia the Maori idea, flax -sticksare synonymous with nothing, Te Whiti's meaning: was that the guns were not meant for deadly purposes, and he told them that they could come and go { as of old without the slightest fear, and, although bayonets may glitter in your eyes as you come across the plains on your way here, still you need not fear, for no harm will come to you. All that I have told you will come to pass, and there will be no blood spilt. All the affairs from Auckland to Wellington on the East Coast are settled in Wellington, and the affairs of the West Coast from Auckland to t Wellington are settled in Wellington also. All the affairs from Parihaka to Wanganui are to be settled here 'at Parihaka. There are many other'minor points, which it appears have not, been turned into English correctly, so that on the whole, very little importance should be attached to the published translation of Te Whiti's speech.—Star. .V':

(fbom a cobbespondbnt).