The Star.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 169, 7 November 1881, Page 2

The Star.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1881. SATURDAY'S ARRESTS. —^ » It is yet too early to pronounce on the events of Saturday, so fay as they affect the immediate future. All that at- present can be done, is to express gratitude that so far everything has gone well. Te Whiti and Tohu can no longer be powers in Maoridom. Their niana has departed as surely as night follows the day. That they themselves have been taken prisoners, is not so fatal to their influence as the circumstance that the refugee whom they had undertaken to protect, has now to answer his accusers in the courts of the pakeha. The Queen's writ runs at Paribaka, and for the first time in the history of this coast, a native has been deprived of his refuge, and the protection guaranteed by big chief has

proved of no avail. But what will the result be ? Te Whiti acted tlv role of the man of p^ane, evr-n at tbe l«T«t. moment. " Peace, forbearance, faith, and trust," were tbe words which fell upon tbe ears of tbat strange weird group <j£ astonished fuuafcjc; as the military Lore away the man, who for years has lieen the menace of the country ; but how long will they linger in the minds of his deluded followers, how long will they retain their authority, and what will be the result when Te Whiti's imposture is demonstrated even to the Maori mind ? Time alone can answer these questions, but tbe time will, we hope, be short. The Government must force matters to an issue, and no doubt their intentions will be disclosed in tbe proclamation which it is said will be issued immediately. So far as we can judge from tbe necessarily incomplete reports to hand of Saturday's proceedings, everything -was managed well. "Pot- this the Q-overuxneiife avo deserving oi every credit, and certainly are entitled to full confidence as to the future, especially as three of the best heads in the Cabinet are at the scene of action. By telegram we learn that Mr. Bryce did not press for the dispersion of the assembled natives immediately after the arrest, because they were naturally in a state of considerable exGitcjment. When the events of the day have soaked into their minds, means will be taken to cause the strangers at Parihaka to withdraw to their own homes.