THE WAIMATE DIFFICULTY.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1065, 22 April 1879, Page 2

THE WAIMATE DIFFICULTY.

MR MACKAY AT PARIHAKA. [by telegraph, from < herald's reporter.] Opunarb, April IS. Mr Mackay, Captain Blake, and your reporter left New Plymouth on Tuesday afternoon for "Parihaka, which was vaaehed at 10 o'clock next morning. It was palpable that m the native mind the visit was all important. Six hundred of the Taranaki Ngatiraanui and Ngatiawa tribes having" assembled, Mr Mackay was receiver! on all aides with salutations of " Haeremai ! haeremai !" Come ! You are welcome ! Even the children clapped their hands and shouted his name. The time of meeting- having arrived, Te Whifci sent for Mr Mackay, who was accommodated with a mat close to the terrace, on which were the speakers. The natives were all dressed m new finery, and Te Whiti who is generally slovenly m appearance, had a new shawl over him. hTcj spoke for over two hours m a vigorous strain, aud his peroration ' was delivered without the slightest sign of fatigue. The burden of his disoourse was a pressing desire for peace. He stood up to preserve^ right between* both races^ to protect*

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i the best of his way into town, when without calling upon his parents, he sought the servico3 of Dr Davidson, who speedily improved upon tho t amateur surgery ho was called upon to inspect. During the seoond operation, the little fellow never flinched, and is, we are happy to say, progressing very well. It seems he learned the trick of bandaging m such, cases from lessons given by Mr Trevan at the State school, but it may be considered doubtful whother such rough and ready surgery was inculoated at the same establishment. At any rate,- whatever harm and inconvenience the youngster has sustained from the loss of liis finger, it is gratifying to know that the snake-bite produced no ill effects.

the w d)ws and orphans, and, if they followed his counsels, not a hair ol tfapir heads should ,be hurt. His sun had been obscured, but now he would stand before them as the preserver of peace. Self-laudation was a favorite theme, and he continually referred to what ho had done for tho Maoris, but his timiles' were so allegorical and wero so full of Scriptural allusions, tint not one-half present could divine his meaning. He prognosticated that there would bo no fighting m his day, aud stated that be took credit for his prophecies, which were divulged to him by a superior power. Silver and gold might be broken, but his word would not be broken. His sword was his tongue. If they rose against him, they could npt reason with the wisdom of his tongue. He was an advocate of peace, and if they kept quiet no harm would befall them. Tohu, another chief of the Taranaki tribe, asked those who had ears to listen to what was said to-day. The Government finished their difficulty with the sword; Te Whiti 'would finish his with, his tongue. If he had done wrong they would laugh at him, and turn to the Government. The King (Tawbiao) had finished his difficulties by thi owing oyer the Maoris.

Food was then brought m, and Mr Mackay, not to disturb them at meal-time deferred his korero until next day. Hiroki, who at all times had one of his body or protec.ors with bim assisted m placing the food, and Titokowaru, with his tribe, occupied a prominent place m the assembly. Your correspondent had a private conversation with Te Whiti m the evening. He eugolised Mr Mackay as a shrewd and just diplomatist, one who talked so that he could be understood, and was careful m speech. Te Whiti is a slight-built man, with rather feminine appearance. Although only 48, his grey, beard makes him look older. He seems to have read a good deal, and enqaired whether it was true lhat a race of men with tails had been discovered. He also asked what the papers aiid the Europeans said about him and his people,, and whether it was true - that troops had been brought from Olago ? He makea himself very hnmble among his people, and has great fondness for his pig, which he feeds himself. He came to the settlement before the war, and never since has been out of it. '

At 9 o'clook the following morning Mr Mackay was sent for, and, addressing the natives, said their day. was Te Whiti's day, but that was his. What was said then was good, and he wished his words to

convey good. They desired peace and plenty, and be would show them the best way to get both. He then proceeded to explain to them about land which had been confiscated, and stated that some of the natives were not satisfiod about the issue of Crown grants for their land, and ifc should be carefully considered whi t they were entitled to, and their Crown grants should be given them. They should not be obstinate with the Go\ernment, as' the Government did not wish to be hard on them. He thought the wise coarse wonld •be having a commission of enquiry to decide these claims' and bring pence to the country. He was prepared to propose this to Mr Sheehan, to whom he had explainf-d what took place betwean them when they last met. He urged them to think carefully for themselves, and even if they were vexed about anything, he urged them to pender over what he said. He -^ould treat them m a straight forward way. He thought ho had done right and just to his own race and theirs. His words were for peace and quietness, between them and the Europeans th rough out the colony.

Toh a asked the meeting to pay attention to him, for the powers of the Government had died, and he was master of both races. He knew from Divine sources that a disturb auce could not occur. Mr Mackay had gone away and returned with the same opinion, therefore he (Tohu) must govern the Government. Tawhiao had created all the disturbance. The Europeans had failed, and were cursed.

Mr Mackay asked them to talk coolly, without being vexed. His remarks about the Commission semed to give general satisfaction, but Te Whiti was annoyed, as he was afraid of his settlement been broken up by other tribes returning. He made a long harangue, but it was so full of metaphors and self-praise that no one could understand it. He repeatedly tried to stop Mr Mackay from speaking, but the latter, much to the amusement of those present, persisted m doing so. He told Te Whiti he was assuming the supernatural.

Dinner put an end to the /torero, which will probably end on Saturday, when Mr Mackay will return to New Plymouth.,

A Plucky Child. — One of the pluckiest acts we (' Horsham Times ') have heard of for some time was performed on March loth, by a little boy twelve years of age, son of Mr Charles Smith, of Horsham. 'Ihe youngster was out rabbitting, and having run, as he thought, a rabbifc to earth, put his hand m the hole m which he supposed the animal to be, and immediately received a severe bite from a snake on the fore finger of the left hand. Having satisfied himself that the bite was from a snake, the youngster, who had a small and by no means sharp tomahawk with him, deliberately placed his finger on the sand and hacked it off, after several strokes, by the first joint. He then tore a piece off his^ shirt; and bound up his hand m professional stylo, using a bit of stick by way of tourniquet, and, being hquxq three miles from Horsham, made