THE PREMIER AND TE WHITI.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9106, 17 May 1895, Page 6

THE PREMIER AND TE WHITI.

A WARM INTERVIEW.

[(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, May 16. The Premier, accompanied by Mrs Beddon and others, visited. Parihaka to-day. They were cordially received by Te Whiti, but later proceedings took an unpleasant torn. The Rev. T. G. Hammond who, with the Fatea Maoris, deprecated Mr Seddon's visit to Parihaka, put in an appearance, bat the Natives were disinclined to admit him. The Premier refused to talk until Mr Hammond was admitted, and Te Whiti gave way. Then a difficulty arose re an interpreter, the Maoris objecting to Mr Gray, who had acted in a similar capacity when Te Whiti was arrested, -his objection also was waived after argument, and then Mr Seddon and the prophet fell foul of each other. Tbe latter objected to the Premier's puerile remarks, saying that a man with grey hairs should talk as a man, not at a boy. He urged that Government was dilatory in dealing with matters affecting the Natives. The Premier, replying that the world was not made in a day, Te Whiti retorted that if the Maoris waited for the Government's seven day period they would all be dead before the seventh day came to hand. The Maoris had been taught by their forefathers to extend a welcome to strangers, but the late treatment they had received had done much to impair their courteous feelings. At this junoture smother deadlock occurred, tbe Natives again objecting to the interpreter. A Maori was appointed in his stead, but did not give satisfaction, and Mr Gray was reinstated. The proceedings were warm right through, Te Whiti taking off his coat at one particularly hot portion of his remarks, and throwing it on the ground. Luncheon brought about a better state of feeling, and after that there were hakas and other amusements.

The Premier receives deputations at Opunake to-night, and delivers a political address at Waitara to-morrow evening.