NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5715, 20 June 1879, Page 5

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

[By Tbubgsaph,] [TIMES' SPECIAL WIRE.]

NSW PLYMOUTH, Juke 19. The special reporter of the Press Association states that there were 800 Natives present at Parihaka. They had a large quantity of food, and all seemed content and happy. The wot weather prevents them from moving about. Feasting took place on Tuesday. Te Whiti spoke first, and was listened to very attentively and continually applauded. The following is a literal translation of the first speech of Te Whiti: lam the man who stopped the rains out of heaven, and flooded the lands with fighting. lam the man who spoiled the land in the place I chose to do it. It any man molests me £ will talk to him with; my tongue; that is the weapon with which I will fight. Whoever believes in evil women cannot be one of my followers. I will cast him out. The time is fast approaching, even now at hand, when all will be ended, the heavens shut j all things enacted now on earth, people, nations, and tongues under my feet ; all these things. will be given me. All men war against me, the heavens will come down and the water be disturbed and muddy. You will not see it clear. Tour great earthquakes will be in divers places, Men will be shaken and will stoop to mo. All the sayings of the Prophets of old will now be accomplished. I will rejoice and be exceedingly glad because the end is near. In old times God and Satan worked good and evil. It is God and I who work all things. The man standing before you now is Satan and God in one. My work, is now nearly accomplished. 1 will not address you at any length this time. Many walk in dark and turn to evil. Let him go in his evil ways. Those who choose light, let them walk there. Keep what I say in your minds and cherish it; do not let it slip from yourmemory. I have been crying like one singing , in the wilderness, calling sinners to repentance ; come to me and , be, > saved. So long as you remain with me no man shall harm you. The mighty shall laugh; at you because you are poor and lowly-minded, but wait till, you see them humble themselves and bow to Our feet. - I will look after and protect you. It rejoices my heart to see you all come in time to this happy place. I, Te . Whiti, will stop war for ever. This is the last generation of the world. Te Whiti continued in this, strain for a considerable time, stating that this world belonged to him, and calling himself Jesus Christ, and saying that if Government were to send large forces to Parihaka, and take him and crucify him, that after three days he would rise again. He said he would not offer any resistance to the soldiers when they came, but would gladly let them crucify him. He boasted that the Government was determined to continue the survey on the plains, but said that he would not fight. Then he stated that he had received a telegram from Sir Q. Grey on Jan. 17, in which the Premier proposed t|oL«"jd a Commissioner to luvoaugabD miO Claims Ot too iVaurea eu iuu confiscated land, and invited Te Whiti to employ a lawyer to look after his interests, Government paying all expenses. He said his answer was that the matter had been delayed too long, that the end of all things was at hand, the Court and Commissioner included. In addressing the men who ploughed the land Te Whiti said : “ Go, put your hands to the plough ; do not look back. ;If any should come with guns and swords, do not be afraid; if any smite you, do not smite them back* If the lions tear you to pieces do hot be discouraged j another will take your place, to continue the good work. If evil thoughts should enter the minds of the settlers, and if they fear a repetition of the scenes which happened during the last war, and they should fiy to town, do not enter their houses, nor take any of their goods or cattle, my eye is over all. I will detect the thief, and the work of evil and the punishment will be like that which befel Ananias. Therefore do the work appointed to you; do it without fear or trembling.” Te Whiti then addressed himself to the newspaper reporters, who he saw present taking notes of what he was saying:—“When I speak of the land, the survey, the ploughing, and such matters of little consequence, the reporters’ pencils fly with the speed of the wind j but when I speak of the word of spirit, they say this is the dream of a madman. They are so intent in accumulating wealth that nothing appears of interest except what is in some way connected with the acquisition of wealth. The storekeepers who succeeded in acquiring wealth by short weight and inferior articles, and numerous ways of picking and stealing known only to the initiated, these are the men who steal the land off the Maori,, and acquire flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle; men who would take the bread out of the mouths of the widows and the fatherless, and acquire riches by so doing. They are all looked on as gentlemen of property, while humble seekers after the truth are passed by unknown and unheeded. The time is at band when the gods will rot (heir ships in their harbour. Then the merchants will wring their hands in despair when they see all their accumulations melt away like the morning mist before the rising sun. The speech was not delivered all at once, but at different intervals when other Natives were not speaking. John also spoke, but his remarks contained nothing fresh. The meeting broke up in the usual way. The idea of any intention on the part ot the Natives of having a general rising appears to have been altogether groundless. Not a word about fighting was uttered. Te Whiti leaves the consideration of the lands and worldly things to his people. The Europeans present were very kindly treated. The Government steamer Stella arrived in the roadstead this morning at 11 o'clock. She encountered very bad weather, and was compelled to take shelter at the Oroixellos. HAWEfIA, June 19. Katene on Tuesday visited the Waihi stockade, and counted the number of men stationed there. He is evidently getting information. Ho said that he had a great liking for Waihi of late. It is a pity that an order could not be ismed to prevent all friendlies from visiting that post on any pretence.

Mr Maokay has jjono to Parihaka on private business, wishing to get the signatures of some Natives to some Wanganui leases. Mr Thomson, who is thoroughly acquainted with the Natives on che Coast, has been sent by Sir G. Grey to interview Te Whiti at Parihaka. The settlers lope for peace, but rather than have a patoh<d-up truce they would undergo the hardship of a sharp severe war, Many talk of rushing headlong into war, but the sorry experience ol the last war at To Ngutu o to Manu, where poor Von Tempsky and many others wefo left by untrained men in a wild spot, should bj a sufficient warning. As the deputation roorcsontod to Mr Maoandrew, ;in Hawera, it would bo bettor for the Government not to it,ait any aggressive movement until thoroughly prepared. The latest from I’amaka is that To Whiti

is net awed by our armament. It is said that redoubt* are built round Parihaka. The Maoris are not to fight, Te Whiti says, became it] would be Impossible for the Pakehss to fight the Maoris, if the Maoris take no notice of them and show no fight. WELLINGTON, Junh 19. News received by Government to-day in regard to the Parihaka meeting' is generally to the effect thatTeWhiti’s influence is on (he wane, that many of hi* followers are disgusted at the non-fulfilment of his prophecies, and alarmed at ths warlike preparations being made by the Europeans, in direct contradiction of Te Wbiti’s promises of peace j that a revulsion of feeling is taking place ; and that Titokowaru’s tribe have openly declared their determination not to fight the Europeans, but to make common cause with them,