OPUNAKE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1949, 26 March 1885, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

(from our own correspondent.) March 21st, A mtti,e notion of Native affairs, particularly with regard to. the West Coast of this, jajanrt, will, I thjnjc, prqye of gome interest, especially as niattprj app so' frequently misrepresented by' interested ■pjwtjcs, and » gpat n)ajprity of taxpayers, especially in fcjje South Island, does not understand mugh afiqijt natjye pplitics or the vast sums qf voted, yearly by the innocent members of Parliament for Heeping the Natives quiet, It is best, sir, for all OQnoemed that the thing should not he kept quiet, especially when the money is wanted for road making, the abenpe of which Is keeping the oountry fek "in. its onward maroh, It Is best that the public should know that: the writer has some knowledge of what he is writing about, the want of whioli spoils and fools theoolumnsofmanya-good newspaper. 1 have studied and watohed tho movements of the Maori for tho last twentytwo years, three of which nought against them. I will state at once that the Native and Defence Department should have been abolished years ago, and f will tell you why, First, because it would do jiwfly

with a Native Minister—and iflp well known that each successive Minister has tried hard to keep the pot boiling, while the great multitude of colonists believed ■the game genuine. But, sir, you will admit that they are beginning to see • through the swindle, and our present' Native Minister sees the farce is played out, and is moving about and discharging : the Armed Constabulary, Each resignation is accepted with thanks. I - have now given you the white man's side of the question in its brightest aspect. Now let ua notice the part the Maori • takes in the play, winch will open the- eyes of many a shrewd colonist. The old Maori is like the monkey 'whois well fed with nuts; but don't give him. empty' ones. When the Maoris want' more nuts they get up a little scare is cboked,'M they wedelighte3 in tV : old age with their comfortable honfek plenty of blankets, tea, sugar, and to$TO and laugh at how they fool the Govern: 1 =•■■ ment,- The young men are quite civilized ■ and take up the neutral part, offering their harbor of refuge to either party in turn. When the old men want, to get up a play, the young men join in and set the ball rolling by shooting,tft|White • man's, bullock, or pulling doww few yards of fencing, or do something of that - description. The Native Minister perhaps takes third hand, and the cards - • are shuffled. The Native Minister for' ' tho time is considered one of the bigpeat men in the House, almost ■■■"■ equal to the Premier; the other members •■ bow the knee to him, as seen from the-' strangers gallery. Te Whiti is delighted, he is the man in New Zealand; his banking account is overflowing, and he spends it wisely. 1 went to interview him on the 17th—St Patrick's Day, above all other. ' On entering his house I was soon intrato him, together,witli his lady, Mrs Te ■' : ' Whiti, who quickly had half a dozen - waiters.runniug from end to end of the - house, preparing for a great dinner, some ' in swallow-tailed coats, nearly resembling . Christy Minstrels, then a fine few fpung ..> kitchen maids, all at tho call of J\ Te •' Whiti. I was placed at the head ?■ I » l1 ■• table, while ranging down on both ''SB' ■■ ■■ were a fine lot of young Maori chiefs, wen-. ' dressed, who know how to enjoy "*jm. selves in first-class British style. stated that he'knew Mr Bryce would not last long. Mr Bryce, he'said, thought the Maoris wore pigs, bnt he thought him a fool. Te Whiti says he has no powor ovor tho young generation of Natives, but is content to live as their priest. Among the guests were the great chief Tohu. He was ivell dressed, and affable to visitors, but I do not think he has as good a head as the prophet. If a Maori can be a gentleman Te Whiti is one evenway you take him, except in education. He is not a-military man, and believes in peace,: He was dressed like an old farmer; his wife often quarrels with him because he is too English for her after his visit through-New Zealand, He is very honorable in small things, and he keeps a white woman in his pah to make and: mend clothes for.his family. The latter thinks a lot of him. The young Maoris take every advantage of our laws, and are well posted up, Most of them can argue the point in a Court of law with consider- <!, able ability. fa '■ = fit \