DEATH OF TE WHITI.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8985, 20 November 1907, Page 3

DEATH OF TE WHITI.

THE PROPHET OF PARIHAKA. AN EVENTFUL LIFE. The death of Te Whiti, the Maori chief, removes one of the most outstanding native personalities of the past thirty years,and new a and more enlightened era should now dawn for West Coast Maoris over whom the influence of Parihaka exercised for years an enthralling sway, which, however, since the death of the rival prophet Tohu, nine months ago, had been on the wane. To Whiti is behave been about 77 years of age. He had led an eventful life. As a young man with Tohu he was taught Christianity, but in its teachings, and especially in those of the Old Testament, he saw, by giving a modern application to the prophecies, an opportunity to proclaim a new doctrine and sway the Maori. He grew in influence, and attracted adherents from all over the dominion, especially from among those who were discontented with and resentful of pakeha rule. The new doctrine had as ita motto, "Ns more bloodshed, peace to all mankind." Religion and passive resistance were to go hand in hand to attain the object in view, when the white man would be dispossessed of the soil and the land be reinherited by the Maori race. That doctrine has been preached through the rolling years till the present day, but few of the present generation knew the work of Tohu and Te Whiti. In 1881, the Parihaka natives became troublesome. The then Minister of Native Affairs, the Hon. John Bryce, took firm action, N and 1,300 men marched on Parihaka. Te Whiti and Tohu were arrested. They were sert to Wellington, and afterwards to Lyttelton gaol, returning to Parihaka in , 1883. Te Whiti was a highly intelligent man of magnetic personality, and to converse with'him was to "feel his power. His declining influence, due to- the activity of the Young Maori party, of lata ceemed to disappoint him, and it is stated that he died of a broken heart. A great tangi has set in, and natives from all parts are making towards Parfijflka.