TE WHITI COMMITTED. [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2191, 24 July 1886, Page 2

TE WHITI COMMITTED. [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Opunake, Friday. Tk Whiti ha« been committed for trial at the Supremo Comt, Wellington. It was explained tv him that although he was not actually present at the forcible entry at Mania, he wa Hequally guilty in the eye of the law bucauHO he had incited the rest to commit the crime. Te Whiti, in his examination, attempted to show that the bad work* he had spoken of were in connection with native cattle and pigs running on land near Parihaka. One by one his fellow-prisoners said lie was their master, and they would obey him unconditionally. No one would disobey him. Te Whiti, in his statement, said, "You have heard that all acknowledge me as their master, and I have little inor« to add. There is one thing 1 should \vi>ih to remark, that this i* <juii,e a new thing to me, to get a hearing in court. In days when the land was fir*t troubled or menaced 1 could not get into the court on thf question." This was an allusion to lv*> attempt to get into the Supreme Court on the laud question when he .sent his men to plough confiscated land previously. He said people living nt this day outside (meaning on open land), had not sufficient land, and were suffering in consequence. He and his natives were entiiely in the hands of Uih Government, and it might be loft for them to die m their h.uids. All the native prisoners are committed to take their trial a,t Wellington, mid the Hinemoa will take them. They seem pleased at their prospects, but probably dread that the question they wish to raise will bo avoided, hence their frequent assertions that when released they will return and continue the occupation of confiscated lands. Whlti left orders at Parihaka for operations to cease at prepent.