The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBERS, mi

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 909, 27 October 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBERS, mi

The ultimatum offered to To Whiti by the Government must be accepted or rejected by Wednesday next. It is probable that the prophet will decline to meet the Government, though his mind will not be unaffected by the gathering of the .New Zealand forces round Parihaka. For the last three years he has amused himself with snubbing the rulers of New Zealand, beginning with JWr Shechan, ending with Mr Rolleston, and taking a Governor or two in the series, So long as this was submitted to it was very natural that he should ride the high horse and crow on his own dunghill. His tone, however, n\ust 'necessarily be altered when he sees himself surrounded by armed men waiting for the word to advance upon him. There is a large population in and about Parihaka, but it is not one that is fit for fighting or is prepared for a seige. The prophet's head-quarters are surrounded by open country, but the bush is not far distant, and there is a probability of Te VVhiti and many of his followers being able to take refuge in the latter if an advance be made. Such an alternative might have been avoided if 24 hours had been given to him tor reflection instead of 14 days. The Government, however, appear to have been too chivalrous to take the advantage, and we must look forward to Te Whiti taking one of three courses, He will cither, as the Americans say, " back down" and treat with the Government, or he will " back up" and stand his ground, or lastly he will bolt. If be takes the first course, he will break the charm which binds his followers to him. If he chooses the second alternative, he and his followers will be tumbled ovsr and captured with very little difficulty; and if he takes the last course and runs away, his stronghold—with its whares, its storeß of food, and its cultivation—will fall into our hands, and he will be a homeless wanderer. In any case the. Government will have asserted that

New Zealand soil, and the colonists of New Zealand are capable of asserting her authority. What the past throe years of Te Whiti's rule has cost the colony in maintaining an armed force to watch him and in obstructing the progress of settlement it is impossible to say, but the account must be a heavy one. It is high time now to strike a balance with the prophet, and to strip the lions skin off Te Whiti. We are glad to know thai the Wairarapa Volunteers will take their full share in the military movement about to be made at Parihaka, We believe they will acquit themselves as men, and do credit to this district. We have occasionally expressed an apprehension as to their proficiency in drill,but we never for a monipnt doubted their pluck and determination. At Parihaka very many of them may be expected to give a good account of themselves.