THE PARIHAKA MEETING. TE WHITI DECLARES EMPHATICALLY AGAINST WAR. TOHU AND TITOKOWARU CONCUR. [FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Evening Post, Volume XIX, Issue 64, 19 March 1880, Page 2

THE PARIHAKA MEETING. TE WHITI DECLARES EMPHATICALLY AGAINST WAR. TOHU AND TITOKOWARU CONCUR. [FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Opunake, 18th March. At the Parihaka meeting yesterday about two thousand Maoris were present, composed of natives from various localities ranging from Waikato to Wellington. A great distribution of food took plaoe at 10 o'clock. About 60 Europeans were present. At 11 o'clock Te Whiti commenced speaking by saying that his talk that day would be short. There were two qnßtions — land and soldiers. Although the white men and the Government and a great many Maoris wanted to bring trouble upon the country, he would not allow it. He was speaking to both races, and the things for which they were assembled that day would not take place. He prooeeded to say: — " All things I have arranged for are fulfilled this day. Whatever the desire of the white men may be, it will not be brought forth this day. It' all the Maoris from Waikato to Wanganui wanted to bring trouble, and the Government had taken possession of the land, I will not let them bring trouble upon yoa. Some Maoris are anxious to get silver into their hands for land; but I will not. let trouble come amongst you. The land is in my keeping, and if you sell land and get money you will spend it in drink and other "wickedness. All who say there will be war are telling lies. Although all may strive to bring it about, this water (blood) shall not be spilt on the earth. Although the kings and the governors may try to bring on war this day I will not allow it. I will have peace throughout the world. I will not allow the dog (European) to lay hold of the pig (Maori). Drink has brought you to this foolishness. The bayonet is flashing before my eyes and is piercing my sides this day, but trouble (war) shall not come upon you. The Government are trying to provoke war, but I will prevent it. There shall be no differences between the two races. I will not allow this water to be spilit upon the earth, Although the Government go in for might wisdom and power, I will not allow it, and I am God of all. All the earth belongs to me, and no trouble shall come upon you. Your land shall not depart from you." Tohu followed, and said much the same as Te Whiti. The latter spoke in the afternoon upon the same subject. He ridiculed the Government making roads, and said it was done out of spite. He said roads from Waingongoro to Stoney River would never meet. He seemed very sore upon this point, but still preached peace, saying that although many of his followers wanted to resist they must not. Mr. Commissioner Williams had a long talk with Te Whiti, in his whare, in the evening, and told him the Government did not wish for fighting, but that as he had turned off the surveyors when they were unarmed, the Government have decided te mako roads and to send armed men to enforce tho law of confiscation. Te Whiti is very " pouri " about the matter, but says it is useless to oontond against such an armed force, and counselled hU_ followers strongly for peace, and to leave all things in his hands: Only about five hnnflrftAmpn wfttild be able to take the field at present. There was no speaker against him, and he was much disappointed that some of the Government men were not there to argue the point. He disapproves the Royal Commission, and says that claims cannot go before the law courts, for he has disposed. of the land, as all the land is in his keeping. Titokowaru was present, and spoke much to the same effect in the whare at night. [united pebss association.] Opunakb, 17th March. The korero recommenced late in the afternoon, when Te Whiti said: "The words spoken this day shall not be left till next month. It has been known for some time past that Taranaki iB the land, and Te I Whiti the man who Btands upon it. The j land is all covered "with my blanket, and 1 there is no room for any Judge or Commission to stay upon it. The blanket is mine, ! and those who want to know more about it must come to me. The Government, instead of making roads, should have come to me, and then everything else might have followed. They have tried to do without me, and, therefore, I shall do away with them, and they shall be as naught. The road has been commenced from both ends, but there is a space between which belongs to me and will not be made. The chances for fighting have been great. The space between the two pieces of road is like a tide which ebbs and flows. Perhaps a strong man will arise who may make a difference — that is to say, if he proves himself to be stronger than I. One of us holds in his hand an aggressive weapon, and the other a staff, but there is one Lord over both. lam speaking the words of the Lord of Heaven ; that is why the words spoken to-day are not held over. This day the thing is decided upon. The Government wante to get all the hind in its possession so as to have the strength ; but the laud is mine. The road-making ia a piece of braggadocio on the port of the Go- j vernmont. What I tell you I mean in its ( entirety. Everything that I have spoken { this day will happen, and not pass by. It has come right before me. The Government are now outside shooting at flax-sticks. In the olden times men took guns to shoot at men, not sticks. It was said in September that the things should be left in my hands, and I hold it, whatever may be said by the people abroad (meaning the Commission), who are looking into this matter. They cannot I do anything. The Government might as well have sent sticks and stone 3as the great men they have. The good rests with one. Because the pakehas are rich men, and great in fancied wisdom, they assume the power of settling this question, but what I have said this day will not be deferred. The end of my work ia a man ; Ido not say it is a spirit, but there is a man. The waters shall not be spilt on the ground, and the incensed ground shall not be trodden upon by others. I leave it now in the hands of Tohu and the Government to say who is right and who is wrong. The Government in the height of their pride are saying-, ' There, we have done you.' That is all I have to say." Tohu did not speak again, and the talk finished.