TE WHITI AND THE NGATIMANIAPOTO TRIBE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2019, 18 June 1885, Page 2

TE WHITI AND THE NGATIMANIAPOTO TRIBE.

(From a Correspondent of the New Zealand Herald), Attention lias already been directed through these columns to the fact that the' well-known chief of Ngatimaniapoto, Wetere to Eerenga, had reached Waikato, as an embassy of Te Whiti, with a view to converting the Natives into following under Te Whiti's banner. On Wetere's arrival at Kihikihi, arrangements were made for a meeting of the influential Ngatinianiapoto chiefs, to hear what lie had to'say. The meeting took-place at Rewi'sjhouse on the 2nd instant. - . Wetere te Rerenga Explained to the' assombled Natives that he had for. a long, time carefully studied jthe .Opinions and works of Te Whiti, and so satisfied had he become of the,fact .that; in Te Whiti; would be found the salvation of the whole Native ! race, .that he had unreservedly

joined him as a faithful ''follower. ' One reason ho gavo that all 'Natives shouldfollow suit was that Te Whiti alone, of all Native leaders, is : able io show clean hands; and that To Whiti has resolutely stuck to his'people, notwithstanding the offers of bribes made to him by Europeans to throw his people over. The following is a synopsis of the Te Whiti doctrine, which, as it will be seen hereunder, has met with an acceptance on the part of the Ngatimaniapoto tribe, which may lead to results of an alarming nature to the colony. As'to the construction of roads and railways on Nativelalnds, Te Whiti urges the "natives sto permit their 'construction by Europeans, as the . whole benefits to be derived therefrom, will acorue to the natives, who can refuse permission to. Europeans'-to' use-such roads or railroads when constructed. ■' 0n this point Te Whiti claims that Tawkiao's boasts, that ho European''foot should; tread on Native land, have,all vanishied into thin air through Tawhiao's visit to England as the bearer of a petition to the Queen*. '■ Hid he, of, accepting that position,' remained, with his pebple, - it would have- been impossible for the European's to have, encroached din 'hia* territory, as; is,now the /case, If Te Wliiti's advice is followed, lie says the'influx of Europeans into Maori countiy can and will be, prevented, Wetere.' informed the natives at Manga's house that he had seen Wahanui, Taonui, and a great number of. Ngatiinaniapoto chiefs on his way hither. As to Wahanui, that chief, on being asked to'join.Te Whiti, replied that he had to fini&h some work in Wellington lie'had undertaken to I do, but that done, he -wiitild .willingly follow the lead his friend te Wetere had | given him. :•. { 'j> \J \ . The result of the ineetingiiere.was that Manga, with his wife and child, have proceeded to "Parihaka, Manga stating that he was perfectly satisfied thlt 1 all Te Wetere had stated was right. Hopa Te Rangianini was also asked to go to j Pavihaka with Wetere, but declined to | have anything to do with the movement, saying that he did hot believe in it, and was merely at the .-. meeting on their, invitation to hear what' they- had got to : say. - Meetings of Ngatimania|pto are; being held at the various -settlements en route to Parihaka, and almost all the Natives are expressing their' adherence to I tho cause. So large an amount of support has tho movement received that it is statedjthatTe Whiti,TohuiandTitbkowaru, with 1800 people, will visit the Ngatimani apoto resident in Waikato.

.Whether Mr Ballance was right or not in removing the. Constabulary from tlio vicinity of Parihaka and the frontier settlements, is capable of argument, ..but Te Whiti attributes their remo/al to the foot that he, many months ago, , -had prophesied that this would happen, and that their usual tnonthly meetings would be held undisturbed. He further claims that now he has got more than lie would have obtained by fighting. During last week Wetere te Rerenga and Ngatimaniapoto have been using, strong endeavors to induce Tawhiao with his people to visit Whatiwhatihoe,- and return to their former stronghold of Hauhauisin, Te Kuiti. There can be no doubt that this request has some- connection with the Te Whiti movement, which has attained such .prominence so suddenly amongst the Ngatimaniapoto tribe. Tawhiao refused distinctly to return to Te Kuiti, stating that his face was towards the Europeans, that'he would not turn round, and could not walk backwards lest he fell in a hole in the attempt. So far''as Tawhiao is concerned, there can be little doubt that he hasietennined to do everything that will tend, to bring him into closer relation with Europeans than lias hitherto been the case.