THE PARIHAKA MEETING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 56, 23 October 1880, Page 4

THE PARIHAKA MEETING.

(From the Taranaki Herald.)

The monthly Parihaka meeting was held on Sunday, and was attended by about 1000 natives, including women and children. A large number of Europeans were also present, including two ladies (whose names we have not been able to ascertain), Messrs. Partis, Thompson (Government Interpreter), Carrington, Messenger, Hardington (from Auckland), and Shaw. The natives, as usual, were very attentive to the Europeans, proTiding for their wants and showing

genuine hospitality. The meeting took place at about ten o'clock on Sunday morning, in the large niarai' or square set apart for the meetings. Te Whiti was calm and dignified during the delivery of his address, which lasted for about an hour. He said the Europeans need not fear on account of the prisoners returning to New Plymouth, for were all the prisoners to be liberated, there would be no lighting or disturbance of any kind. Tne time for disputing bad ended. The natives would find redress for their wrongs m a manner and at a time they did not expect it. They must remain faithful to him, and all their troubles would soon be at an end.

Tohu then followed in a speech which contained little or no matter of general interest, but referred chiefly to, the conduct of one native towards another. He advised them to cherish hrotherlj affection, and to remain loyal to Te Whiti and himself.

None of the prisoners who were liberated appeared at Parihaka, and we hear they have no intention of going there until they are sent for by Te Whiti. The natives do not oppose the Constabulary now in any way. They go down to the cultivations regularly, but make no attempt to fence the road, or even to fix green boughs in the ground. They say that their only object in going near the camp is to look after their cultivations.

The meeting svas of short duration, and most of the Maoris returned home on the following day.

(From the Wellington Post.) Official telegrams received on Monday from the Government Interpreter, Mr. Thompson, state that there was a very full attendance at the monthly Parihaka meeting, which commenced on Sunday. There was a fair sprintling of Europeans, and plenty of food, but the speeches were practically the same as last month. Hone Pihama supplied food. Hiroki was present. Te Whiti spoke for three-quarters of an hour, and went over the same ground as last month. He said that he was working for the twelve tribes, and nothing could be taken from them. The Government were powerless, because there was no standing ground for the great and strong this day, but all were dependent upon his words, which had been called lying words. This was not a time of war and strife. The warrior^ (the constabulary) were lonely and tired of idleness. Tohu, in his speech, attempted to prove from Scripture that tne fencing prisoners would not return for two years. The rain stopped further speech-making.