LATEST FROM PUNGAREHU.
CONTINUANCE OP THE FENCING. IMPOETANT SPEECH BY TOHU. i united prbBB association. | New Plymouth, Thi3 Dat. A telegram to tho Herald from Pungarehu says that the natives have gone down to tho feuceß evory day in large numbers, tho parties being from 350 to 400 strong. They have maintained the foncps without hindrance, although within sight of tho Constabulary camps. The Constabulary rofrain from interfering with the nativos until tho Native Minister arrives. Tohu held a meeting on Sunday night, and delivered a long speeoh to the natives. Ho told them to bo careful and not misunderstand what To Whiti had said to thorn ; they wore merely to resist the Conatabulnry at tho fences, and they wore on no aooonnt to use firearms until they wore fired on by tho Constabulary. If tho Constabulary triod to pull down tho fences they woro to resist, and if they attempted to take any nativos prisoneis they were to prevent it ; if blows woro struck they were to return tho blows, but on no account wero thoy to Bhoot unless thoy were fired upon. A few iiativos left Parihaka on Sunday, but returned ngain last night, having sold their horses, ploughs, &a, at a great eaorifico to raise money. TE WHITI'S ATTITUDE EXPLAINED. A correspondent of tho Wangauui Herald, telegraphing from Waitotara, under date 20th Soptembor, says : — I sent you a telegram today alter a long kororo with ono of To Whiti's trusted men, and he was most indignant at the meaning attributed to To Whiti'B and Tohu's npeeohes. Te Whiti, he said, knows what tho results to himself and people would be if war was declared. It would bo death, death, doath. No salvation for the Maori raco oould aoorno from fighting. Tho chiof said, "God doos nob wish for war, and Te Whiti hears from him. It ta true tho people would fight if told to fight, as they must obey Te. Whiti." I have at some trouble gathered the following, upon which I think you may rely:— Te Whiti told his people to pull down the posts, moaning the fenoing, and to push tho Constabulary away ; if they hit them to return tho blow ; if they got a b'oody nose from tho fist of a Constabulary man to givo him a bloody nose too. Away the party went. On their return they related that they had obeyed the orders that had been given to them, and had out down a telegraph post. " Cut down a telegraph post," said Pc Whiti ; " who told you to cut the telegraph posts down?" " Wo understood that that was what we wero to do," was the reply. " but wo did not quite cut it down, wo nicked it with a tomahawk." " You have acted very wrongly. You have given great cause for our enemies to mako mischief and annoy us. I meant another thing^, and you have done this thing." Mr. Pams lias, I behove, gone up to see into the the matter, but the article in a Wanganui paper headed "Te Whiti declares for war," ia mischievous, and calculated to do great injury, and has caused alarm all along tho oast. Besides, it is not even fair to Te Whiti. My sympathies are not with the natives ai a rule, but I liko fair play, and To Whiti ought to be praised for keeping his followers in hand, in place of it being said of him that he had declared war. Such a statement is utter rubbish and entirely untrue. Te Whiti, in my opinion, has his hands full, and finds certain spirits among his followers who are hard nuts to crack, who dare to have ideas of their own. These are some of the returned prisoners, whom, I have evorheld.itwasmadnesatopormit to return, and Te Whiti seems to bo of the same opinion, and he wishes they would commit so mo assault and bo taken prisoners again, and so rid himself of such a troublesome lot. If he can manage this without causing death to anyone, and so perhaps precipitate tho whole thing into war and dire disaster to all concerned, he and Tohu will be well pleased. It of course is possible that some disturbance may arise, but should this bo tho case, numbers of the Wanganui natives who are now up there would withdraw, and this example would be followed by other tribps, and To Whiti's great charm, tho policy ho has ever stated to be his, viz., peace to all Maoris and pakehas, would be lost. Many natives who loudly cry "Lot us fight," devoutly hope that Te Whiti won't haul down his white flag. I have some practical experience of men, and the moat eager for war in peaceful timos are moro often to be found in rear of tho battle than in the front.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18810922.2.24
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 71, 22 September 1881, Page 2
Word Count
808LATEST FROM PUNGAREHU. Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 71, 22 September 1881, Page 2
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