NEWS FROM PARIHAKA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 36, 14 August 1880, Page 4

NEWS FROM PARIHAKA.

(from oub own correspondent.)

Ahmed Constabulary Camp, PUKEHINAU, August 6. It would appear that Te Whiti has __finally-4<»eidud to despatchHgotw-of-his-followers each day to fence the road, in order that they may be taken prisoners. By limiting the number to four, the capture of the whole will necessarily be stretched over a considerable space of time, and it is not improbable that the 17th of September will be reached before lie has finished his contributions to the prisons of the Gentiles. It is rumored among the satires of Parihaka that Te Whiti and Tohu intend to follow their disciples into captivity, and this consummation of the affair is not at all unlikely. The 17th of September is the twelfth anniversary of the " ra o te takahanga," the day on which Te "Whiti initiated his scheme for the benefit of the Maori race. It is probable that the " day of death " will be on the 17th of September, i.e., that bis tqot&l death, the failure of his ' plans for the attraction of the Gover- ' nor to Parihaka, will be considered as the day of death, and the ultimate success of his plans will then be looked forward to as the day of resurrection and everlasting life ; in other words, of his return to Parihaka, with some guarantee for the permanent and peaceable settlement of himself and his followers on the " sacred portion for this generation." It is premature to speculate upon the course to be followed with regard to the settlement of these people, but there can be little doubt that the Government will have it in its power to initiate a native policy which will be eminently for the good of the colony, should it bo wisely considered in the interests of Europeans and natives, and in considering the interests of the latter, their ultimate benefit should receive more careful attention than has hitherto been possible, because they have never been previously actuated by any unity of purpose. There can be little doubt that the natives will agree to whatever Te Whiti recommends, and it is possible that this farseeing individual will assist rather than retard the operations of the Government. There are few tribes of "New Zealand who are not represented by one or more of their numbers among the political obstructionists now in prison for ploughing, and the eyes of the whole native population of .New Zealand are at present turned towards Parihaka. Never has such tin opportunity existed for reform in •our native policy as is now offered, and the unanimity of the natives at present far exceeds that with which the Treaty of Waitangi was received. The wisdom of detaining the ploughing prisoners must now be apparent, for had Te Whiti seen his way to the return of his followers, he would now be agitating for the visit of the Governor to Parihaka, instead of making up his mind to go to prison that he may thus gain an opportunity of expounding his theory to the Government. As the mountain will not go 1 o Mahomet, Mehoniet must go to the mountain. Whatever may bethought < f Te Whiti in other matters, there < .in be little doubt that he has been a <:.iod friend to the colony in his untiring exertions for the preservation

of peace, even against the expressed wishes of some of his more important followers. He chose for himself the title of "Zing of Peace," and it is not certain that he has not deserved it. Of course it is possible that Te Whiti and Tohu may not surrender themselves prisoners, and if such is the case, the definite settlement of the native difficulty may be postponed. It is certain that many of the natives now yielding themselves to arrest, do so actuated by a certainty that Te Whiti will follow them, and should this not be the case, we may conclude that he has not yet given up all hopes of attracting the accredited agent of the Governor to Parihaka. So sure is Te Whiti that he will be able to settle matters satisfactorily with the Governor, that he describes the day of their meeting as the day when he and the Governor shall laugh together, by which he means that the Governor shall laugh with joy and surprise when he hears from Te Whiti that all he desires is a settlement of all vexed questions between the two races, and has no intention of breaking the peace. Te Whiti has hitherto expected that he would be able to bring about the desired meeting at Parihaka; but well informed natives, now say that as the Governor will not visit him, he must visit the Government.