TE WHITI AND TOHU IN COURT.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 116, 15 November 1881, Page 2

TE WHITI AND TOHU IN COURT.

PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES. STATEMENT BY TE WHITI. The case against Toliu was opened in the Now Plymouth Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday. A great deal of the evidence consisted of a repetition of facts with which the public are already familiar. "We eztraot the following from the Press Association's report of the proceedings :—: — 0. W. Hursthouse deposed that ho had known Tohu personally for the last 15 months, as residing at Parihaka. He had known him by report for the list eight or nine years. He belonged to the Taranaki tribe, and to the same hapu as Te Whiti Witness believed he was next in rank to Te Whiti. About 50 or 60 natives only belonged to Parihaka, although there had been on an average about 20 iO residing there during the last year. Witness attended tho meetiug on tho 17th September, and heard Tohu's speech. He said, " There is only one thing to talk about now, that is death. Listen, survivors and prisoners, quarrel, quarrel !" Mr. Samuel (to witness) — You are the informer in this case, and there are other expressions mentioned in the information. Can you swear to them ? Mr. Hnrsthouse — There are expressions in the information I cannot swear to have heard myself. I got them from other gentlemen who were present. Mr. Samuel — You oan give ua what yon can remember of the Bpeech, and also the meaning. Mr. Hurathouso — It wonld be difficu't lor mo to give the meaning of the sentences, and I prefer not to do so. I heard him also say, " I let my tribe go to contend for the land that the white man has taken." Mr. Samuol — Did he not also say, "I cay to all, let the white man come and swallow us up ?"' Mr. Hurßthouae— l cannot remember him saying that, but I remember him saying, " Do not be afraid of the big one, although they all hunger for us." Mr. Samuel — To whom did he refer when he said "big one?" Mr HursthousB— l do not know. He might have meant God Almighty for all I know. Mr. Samuel — Mr. Hursthouse, you must use the inference of a reasonable man. Was it not the Government he meant? Mr. Hnrsthouse — It might have been so. The examination waa then continued : — Tohu also said, " All I have to Bay is, quarrel and strike and pare none. The namo of to-day is pakanga (quarrel). Rnmember what I say." I can swear Tohn said, " Strike and spare none" moro tha i once during his speech. He also said, " Strike, oh, prisoners; oh, survivors, strike." Mr. fcamuel — Thero are other expressions in the information used by Tohu. Mr Hursthouse — I cannot swear to them. I cannot swear to expressions I did not hear. His Worship— You have already sworn to them in the information. Mr. Hursthouae — I was not aware that I was responsible for all that appeared in the information, or I would not have sworn it. At the conclusion of Mr. Hursthouse's evidence, Tohu was informed he could ask witness any question. Tohu— Were you at the meeting when I made the second Bpeech iv the evening? Mr. Hursthouse — I only took down the words of the speeoh in the morning ; I did not take what was said in the evening, as I was not there. Tohu— Do you know the division that was made of the land for the natives? Mr. Hurethouse— Yes, I know it. Tohu —Did you tell us where it was? Mr. Hurathouso— No. Ihe Court then adjourned, and on resuming, the case against Te Whiti waa once more proceeded with. Mr. Carrington, licensed interpreter, gave evidence as to the obstruction of the natives to the peaceable occupation by tha settlers of the land sold to them by tho Government seaward of the North-road. At the meeting in LSeptember last, To Whiti, in tho course of hts speech, said :—": — " Aline is the land. Mine are tha people. This is the great quarrel of the generation. Mine is the land from the beginning. I say to great men, to kings, governors, prophets, and wise men, stand up mw with your weapons, tha land will not be let go, it U proper for U3 that the quarel should be here ; we are striving about tho land, said to be the Governor's land. PakehM bring your guns ; Maoris bring your guns ; fighting alone will settle things at this time. All hough 50,000 men buildthe walls at Pangarehu, it will be a burying place for them ; although there are 20,000 guns there, they will vanish behind my back ; if they catch or get hold of yon, you catch them ; if they strike you with the fiat you strike them ; if they take prisoners, you take prisoners." I waa told off to read the proclamation to Te Whiti. I went with Mr. BuUer to Par haka, and he delivered a copy of the Proclamation. Mr. Standish — I will put the proclamation in as evidence. Probably it will be better to read- it now to Te Whiti. Mr. Renall then read the proclamation in Maori to Te Whiti, who listened attentively. Mr. Carrington's examination resumed— A native named Rangi, or Lloyd, read tho proclamation to Te Whiti, and a copy was left with him. When Rangi read a3 far as where the natives were commanded to disperse and go to their own homes, T«J Whifci said, '' That will do," and would not listen to any more of the proclamation. I went up with a letter which Mr. Bryoe wrote to Te Whiti, but I do not know its contents exc?pt by hearsay. Te Whiti has not said anything to me as to whether he would accept the terms of the proclamation. He wo aid not read Mr. Bryce's letter, but threw it down on the gronnd. Since the 17th September the natives have finished cropping the hind seaward of the road. I have never seen a guard of natives placed at the fencas to watch over them, hut some men were p'aoed there to keep oattle off the land. I have never heard that the land described in tho proclamation as res ryes for the natives has been Bhown or deEoribed to Te 'IVhiti. He never asked about it. Mr. Parri3, who waa sitting on the Bench, to witness — Do you remember you went up with me, when I went to Parihaka to explain to Te Whiti about the land? Mr. Carrington— Yea.- Mr. Parris— After I commenced to speik to Te Whiti, what did he say ? Mr. Carriagton— He said dogs did not come out hunting pigs without their masters. Te Whiti then gave a signal to break up the meeting, and refused to allow you to explain the nature of tho reserves to the natives. Mr. Parris -Wer

yon not supplied with a plan showing the land that had been reserved for tho natives, and were yon not instructed to show *ho boundaries to thotn P Mr. Carrinpton— Certainly not. Mr. Parrirf — Rptnember yon aro on your oath. Mr. Carrinpton— l know that ; you ne:d lot remind mo of it. Mr. Purris— A pan was made out by Mr. Humphries, tho chief surveyor, showing the reserves and given yon? Mr. Uarrington— I reoeived a plan of tho reserves, but it was given me for tho purpose of finding what natives were cultivating portions of tho land coloured on the plan, and I did bo. I did not understand I was to point out tho boundaries of the reserves to the natives, or I should have d<ine ao. Mr. Parriß— Have tho 25.009 acres ever been defined or pointed out ? Mr. Carrington—Not that I know of. Mr. Parris— Were yon not aware by the map that a portion of the land seaward of Pungarehu was resorved for tho natives ? Mr. Carrington— T understood that without the map. Mr. Parris — And yet you never explained ? Mr. Carrington—Certainly not. Mr. Parriß— Wall, I recollect giving you those instructions my. self. Mr. Carrinnton— l never was told to point out tho boundaries to tho natives ; it was altogether out of mylino. By a JusticeHave you seen the report of the "West Coast Commission and tho plan attached to it? Mr. Carrinprton - 1 cannot Bay that I have Been the plan ; but I recollect the report. By a Justice — How many nativo3 aro thor« interested in the Parihaka Block P Mr. Oarrington — I do not think there ate moro than 150 men belonging to tho hapu. Te Whiti waß told that he could examino the witness. To Whiti said— Did I not toll you njt to write down what I said at the meetings, because you did not understand it? Mr. Carritifeton — I remember you tolling mo not to write clown your sp:ech. To Whiti — Did you como over on tho evoking of the 18th to hoar the spooches that were made? Mr. Oarrington— No. To Whiti— Was the notice (proclamation) read at Par"haka the samo that was road to-day in Court? Mr. Carrington— Yes. Te Whiti seemed surprised at this answer, and did not ask any more questions. Mr. Parris to witness— Do you know that Mr. Hurathouse and Colonel Roberts went out to the natives ropoatedly when thoy wore fencing, and told them not to do so, and showed them tho reserves which woro eot apart for them ? Mr. Carrington— l do not know what Colonel fioborts and Mr. Hursthouse said to the natives, but I havo soou them go out often. Mr. Parris— Are you not aware that when the Maoris woro spoken to about the reserves they always sai.l. " Oh, go to Te Whiti; there ia no use talking to us " ? Mr. Carrington— Yes. Some corroborative ovideuoe w*s given by Charles Messenger, licensed interpreter, and Mr. Standish then said thiß closed tho case for the prosecution. Te Whiti was then asked if ho had anything to nay. He appeared to be very languid during the afternoon, caused probably by the exceedingly close atmosphere of the Court-room, which had been crowded all day. Ho said — It is ni^ht now and not the time for speaking. Mr. Standish— l understand from this that Te Whiti ia tired and fagged, and dooß not feel able to address the Court. If that is the case, I would offor no objeotion to tho case being remanded until to-morrow morning. The Court adjourned at 5.10 p.m. until 10.80 to-morrow, when To Whiti will address the Court. LBr Tklbqkaph.J Ignited preps association. 1 New Plymouth, This Dat. At the oonolusion of the proceedings at the Court yesterday, a numbor of gentlemen gathered round To Whiti und Tohu, and entered into conversation with them. In reply to questions, To Whiti and Tohn said they had nothing to oomplain of regarding their cjiifinornent, except that thoy wero not allowed to smoke. Tho Resident Magistrate and a Visiting Justioe visited the gaol, and got several of the prison rutaa rolaxed in favour of the politioal prisoners. Daring the whole of .the proceedings yestorday To Whiti and Tohu Beemed impressed with tho dignity of the Court, Te Whiti, especially, paying particular attention to the mvnner the witnesses wore sworn and tho mithnd adopted of oxaaining all the witnesses. 11 35 a.m. To Whiti and Tohu wore brought up again this morning beforo tho Court. Te Whiti made a short speech, which was takon down in Maori and .English. He said thoy had lived on the land Bince the war and cultivate 1 it. Ho did not wish that there shou'd be a quarrel betwoen tho two raooa, and wished that both races should live on the land. Ho had no wish to do evil or kill anyone. Up to the present time his wish was to live peaceably and happily on tho land. His Worship thon addressed Te Whiti in tho following terms : — Yon are committed to the common gaol at New - Plymouth, and there safely to be kopt until yon shall ba delivered by due course of law. To V?hiti did not make any reply. 1.10 p.m. Tohu 8 case was next heard, whon W. Carrington was examined. His evidence was Bimilar to that given in To Whiti*B case.