THE PREMIER AND TE WHITI.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9126, 10 June 1895, Page 3

THE PREMIER AND TE WHITI.

NEW PLY MOUTH, May 16. Th_ Premier, accompanied by Mrs cJaa™ and others, visited Panhaka to-day. Kiere cordially received by Te Whiti, Lf later proceedings took an unpleasant The Rev. T. G. Hammond who, with Xfratea Maoris, deprecated Mr Seddon's '«it to P'-rib * ka - l )Ut iv **'■ a PP earance > tSntthe NaM'-ci were disinclined to admit •h'm Th* Premier refused to tslk until Mr Hammond was admitted, and Te Whiti mve way. Then a difficulty arose re an fnterpreter, the Maoris objecting to Mr ("ray win' had acted m a similar capacity when To Whiti was arrested. This objection al»° was waived after argument, and then Mr l^'hl 0 " ■ l " fl the l' I(> l >l,,?t fe!l ioal of each oilier. The latter objected to the Premiers pu.rilc remark*, saying that a • man with grey !i;um should talk as a man, not as a bny. He uix'od that Government V as dilatory in «U-Alin_ witn matters •fleeting the Native?. The Premier, replying _feat the uorJ] was not mad in a day. Te fFhili retorted that ii tlie Maori* waited for jfce Government's seven ilny period they would all be-' dc-id 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 Jul done much to impair their courteous feelings. At this juncture mother deadlock occurred, the Natives again objecting to the interpreter. A Maori waa appointed in his (stead, but did pot give ->uti«f-Ciion, and Mr Gray waa reinstated. The proceedings were warm right through, Te Whiti taking off his coat at one particularly hof-portion of his remarks, and throwing it on the ground. Luncheon brought about a batter state of feeling, and after that there were hakas and other amusements.