THE NATIVE SCARE.
Clutha Leader, Rōrahi V, Putanga 295, 25 Paengawhāwhā 1879, Page 6
Mō tēnei niupepa
THE NATIVE SCARE.
1 The following report of a meeting between Mr Mackay and tbe natives at Paribaka shows the present position of the latest Maori scare Opunake, April 18. Mr Mackay, Captain Blake, and reporter left JNew Plymouth on Tuesday afternoon for Paribaka, which was reached at 10 o'clock next morning. ,It was palpable that in the Native mind the visit was all important, fully 600 of the Taranaki Ngatiuas and Ngatiawa tribes bring assembled, and Mackay was received on all sides with salutations of Haere mai. haere mai," Come, yon are welcome," and even the. children clapped, their bane's and •shouted his name. The time of meeting having arrived, Te Whiti sent for Mr Mackay, who was accommodated with a mat close to the terrace on which were the speakers. The Natives were all dressed in new finery, and Te Whiti, who is really slovenly in appearance, had no shawl over him. He spoke tor over two hours in a vigorous strain, and bis peroration was delivered without the slightest sign of fatigue. The burden of his discourse was a pressing desire to preserve peace. He stood up to preserve right between both races, to protect widows arid orphans, amd if they followed his counsel not a hair of their heads should be lost. His sun ,had been obscured, but now he would stand before them as the preserver of peace. Self-laudation was a favourite theme, and he continually referred to what he had done for the Maoris; but his similes were so allegorical, and partook so largely of Scripture, that not one-half of those present could divine his meaning. He prognosticated that there would be no fighting in his day, and stated that he took no. 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, and if they rose against bim they could not reason with the wisdom of his tongue. He was an advocate of peace, and if they kept quiet no harm would befall them there would be no more fighting. John, another chief of the Taranaki tribe, asked those who had ears to listen to what was said to-day.. The Government finished their difficulties with the sword: Te Whiti would finish it with His tongue.. If he had done Jvrong. laugh at him, and* turn over to the Go-, vernment. King Tawhiao had; finished his difficulties by throwing, over the Maoris. Food-was then brought in, 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
'oody protectors with him, assisted in dating the food; and Tito Ko'waru, vith his tribe, occupied a" prominent ulace in the assembly. Your corre••pondent had a private conversation with Te Wluti in the evening. He Mr Mackay as a shrewd and just diplomatist, de who talked so that lie could be understood, and was* careful in his speech. Te Whiti is a slightly built man, with rather feminine appearance. Although .only. 48, .his grey ;^eard makes him look older. He, seems to havd r^ad si good deal, and inquired whether it was true that a, race of men with tails had been discovered. He also asked what the papers and Europeans said about him and his'peopb, j and whether it. was True that troops' had i been brought from Otago He makes himself very humble amongst bis people, and bas great fondness for his. /pig, which he feeds Himself He came. to the settlement before the war, and has never since been out of.it. z At 9 o'clock the following morning Mr Mackay was sent for, and addressing the Natives,, said the:r day -was' Te Whiti's day, Imt this was his. 'What was said then was good," and he wished his words to convey good. They desired peace and plenty, .and he would, show them the best way to get both. He then proceeded to explain to tham about the land which had been confis- cated, and stated thar, some of the Na- tives were not satisfied about the issue of the Crown grants lor their lapds,. and it should be. carefully considered what they were entitled to, and their Crown grants' should be given them. They should not be obstinate with- the' Government, as the Government did not wish to be hard upon them., He thought the wise course would be. to have a Commissicn.of Inqiiiry to decide these claims, and; bring peace .to. the country. He was prepared to propose this to Mr Sheehan, to whom he had explained what took place between them when they last met. He urged them to think of it carefully for themselves}* and even if they were vexed about anything, he urged them to ponder over what he said. He wanted to treat them in a straightforward way. :He thought he had done right and justice to his own race arid theirs. His wordg were for peace and quietness betwfeen them and the Europeans, throughout the Colony. Taku asked the meeting to pay attention to him, for the powers of the Government had all died, and he was master of both races. He knew' from a divine source that a'dibturbance could not occur. Mr .Mackay had gone away, and returned j-^it.h^the^'me opinion. Therefore he(.l t St'u) must govern the* Government. T,;Tawhaio had created all the disturbance. European laws had failed, and were cut sed. Mr Mackay asked them to talk coolly, without being vexed. His remark about the cJut»,missiun seemed to give general satisfaction,. but Te Whiti was annoyed, as he was afraid of. his settlement being broken up by the other tribes. Te Wbiti delivered a long harangue, but it was so full of 'metaphor 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 ot those present, persisted in noirg so, and told Te he was assuming the supernatural. Dinner put an eni to the korero, which will probably end on Saturday, when Mr Mackay will return to New Plymouth. New Plymouth, April 20. The Parihaka, meeting is overhand: Mr Mackay has. returned. -No definite settlement was come to, but a large, number of Natives approve of the. pro-' posal for a Commission. Te Whiti tear* it would shake his influence. If. he remains obstinate, secessions from hia party are probable. Wellingon, April 20. Mr Sheehan,. when interviewing the Natives on his visit' to the Coast last week devoted his attention to examining the alleged promises. He states he found that every promise made either by Sir D. M'Lean or other Native Ministers had bepn fulfilled to, the letter. As to promises which Te Whiti alleged to have, been made to himselfi the> closest investigation failed to show that he had- the slightest gi&und for his claims. He was given plainly to understand this. f Two telegrams have been received by tbe Government relative to> the meeting now being held at Parihaka. The Na- tive Commissioner of the di^tpjjo.t, telegraphs that Te Whiti has Explicitly and: publicly' declared that dn no account 1 will he allow any disturbance or breach 4 of the. peace now existing! between '-the races* Mr Mackay, reports vthat^ he i« engaged with Te Whiti in discussing the. whole, .question,! and: with; every f hope of a speedy solution of the diffi-i--culty, as the M aori prophet has 'entirely dropped his mystical, apd prophetical style, arid talks of matters in a miire y business-like manner.
