THE PARIHAKA MEETING.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4260, 25 March 1879, Page 2

THE PARIHAKA MEETING.

[Press Special Wire.] Pabihaka, March 23. ; Just as the Native Minister and his party were ready to start this morning, an intimation came from the Natives that a further conversation would be held. Accordingly tho Native Minister and his followers crossed the creek which divides tho village into two parts, and found congregated in the marae a large number of people Mr Sheehan and his party occupied the sa_e position as on the previous day.; Major Brown, after a pause, opened the conversation by telling 'ie Whiti and tho people t—it Boakere had on the previous evening beea appointed a Native Assessor, in consequence of the fidelity of .his conduct and his rank as chief. This is the. man mentioned yesterday aa being. . underpaid and overworked. To Whiti stated that he wanted to know nothing aboat the appointment. The Government could appoint whom they pleased, and he would do the same. A rather acrimonious discussion here ensued between the parties, and rough words aud sayings were the order of the day. The Prophet had thrown away the prophet's mantle and the pretence of inspiration, showing the bare head of a calc—ating man of the world beneath his profession of sanctity. There waa nothing in the whole affair but a fencing match between the two parties. After Te Whiti had finished Mr Sheehan arose and addressed the people. In order to understand the gist of Ms discourse two or three preparatory remarks are necessary. Pressure was put on Te Whiti by his peopteto speak, and discontent was manifested ** hw reticence. " His predictions have been falsified, and his mana in consequence, as well as hu veracity, has been questioned. I told you in a former telegram that the Native Minister h*d mcurred especial odium among the Native people of this district from being so caHona in their feelings as to utilise waste lands which the previous. Government had confiscated. This is his high arime mi misJemeanoV,"

'he people were ncbr the eyo of ti.e prophet a_ d tt n-ian. There was no duTnrn „f P o l 7aimate. The spiritual powers had fLSft. 8 . nd nothing was left but to vaUfv iL „"* b,ns . ad taken their land. L_KkT ordi'r. v W5i « lootings of Parliament, those short™.?? rere mostirregular.ToWhiti oonstantlv p and saying all the hard and bitUr t__;f?J» -agination and lm lovo of power e-miii j ß * ■ v it last, carried away by passion hddl CTlB - 3 '- -innou-Iy, although Mr Sheen!-! «-** peaking, had the chair. Briefly th„ ? e , cf ras said on both sides. h tb ' 9 ls *lrt Te Whiti, having adverted to whatx,,-,. •, bout Mr Sheehau. about Hiroki L* "S* -mister", demand for his surrender M>%)_ i 3 old him that such men could only &„_*._" he Supreme Court. v olu y &c tried by Te Whiti said tint the Supreme Conrf .i.« v .ot try Hiroki, as what Mr -hcX-ISiS?? ,o an offeiice bad taken place in bis distort Mr Sheehon said the Supreme Court ouW- :- ----„ appointed places, aud tbe interests of n _aori were protected so that malefactors conW ie tried by jurios of Maoris. anitt Te Whiti said if tha Supremo Court »„__'- lot como there, Hiroki should not go daowW v he had claimed his protect-on. In * ialf an hour s duration he accused M* si_il >f stealing land belonging to tho K£eeh« said that ho would not allow Mr Bhee_U i *ddrosa him on account of his beine in a nn.ftu that he could not justify himself forocSl? He would not talk to a thief Then M& long tirade about his Parliament and «_ European Parliament, and ha stated that V, was going the right way to promota cood Jn between both races, while Mr SheeEan wf. taking a different and erroneous course. Mr Sheohau listened pntiently and then »jj him that if he (TeWhiti) had listened to ihS he had to say, ho would now have been enabW to give a coherent reply; but as he h.d w fested a disinclination to hear him, through c_i stant interruptions, there was no uae to „_»•_ the discussion. proioa « After the people began to disperse Mr Sheekn Major Bro«n, Mr Lewis, and others weat-fa' saw reWhiti, Te Han, and other chiefs, and W a good humored chat about the Government The Native Minister, who was standing in tw marae, borrowed a pipe from ono andberanta smoke, to the prophet's disgust. To add to hU sorrow, half the men who listened to him oa tha previous day had gone away sorrowful aU_ refnsal to di?cus* the qnestions that were an their tongues and in their heart*.