AUCKLAND OPINION OF TE WHITI'S SPEECH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 894, 8 October 1881, Page 2

AUCKLAND OPINION OF TE WHITI'S SPEECH.

In considering Te Whiti's late speech the Auckland Herald says:—lt seems difficult to think that such utterances as these arc not literal commands that the natives are to oppose the taking possession of the land by force, and if necessary to lay down their lives in the effort. In the event of an outbreak the plan of Operations would probably be for a force of about 500 men to march on Parihaka and break up that hotbed of trouble Then the Maoris would be scattered through the bush. There they could not long remain, for food is scarce, and they would have to separate and take refuge at the head waters of the Wanganui and Mokau rivers, and in the Tohua country. To these recesses and fastnesses we could not follow them at present, and they 'would be removed from the possibility of doing any damage to European settlements. But, in the meantime, the West Coast would be terribly injured. High prices have been paid for the land, and a large'amount of capital.has been embarked in fencing, clearing, plantinp, and in buildings and stock; The Maoris would, 'possibly for a brief time, take to their ancient custom of surprises, and this would, cause a panic from one end of the district to the other. • The steps taken by Government and the Commission to pacify the district are.approvingly referred ip. But, says our contemporary, on the whole, disappointment must he felt that, after all that has been done, To Whiti should still be able to threaten at Parihaka, with several hundred men at his back, and that fencing should still be carried on. It was professed at first that the fencing meant only the assertion of a right to a particular piece of land. No such pretext can. be setup now. '. All claims have been investigated, and it is quite .clear that the natives are now fencing as a protest against our being there at all, and not against our occunaturn of any particular place, ! The policy which the /Government'. have,-.' already pursued will no ioubt: be continued—thatißj.tobear.as.much asppssible; The . natives'musti^Bw^yeri^mthertfi