ON THE WAIMATE PLAINS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5953, 25 March 1880, Page 4 (Supplement)

O N THE WAIMATE PLAINS.

Armed Oowt-bttlir-iOump, 'Ewpip*. on Veb, 19, i says i;T7iTherftr.Ss a - delighbfnl: Areadian simplicity' about cthiugef generally in; toese., hamlets oif tbo.plainsrrto wit, Ko'rraacby and Hawerar-thot.'isipositivciy refreshing!: to too. acpUstomed to-too eophistioations.of city life. At the pamoi timOiiithas its inconveniences,; and.but for. the;knowledge that the- telegraph wkc is AiOOntjectuifi link with .the outer world, one might, as ' located in, that.' ‘ 1 vastwilderness” .of (Which; the poet sings.- Aftera Hawera nxpflrienoe, a 'glimpse, of (the. life, vivacity,-and aotivityuOf ißarihafcftiis isqme.‘thing to be lool»d:bftq|c .satisfaction,.and looked, forward to -with pleasurable, anticipation, bn Hornranby,! though much' the, gmaller ofitoe two.towiltoipsiiis, by far the pleasanter plwe torCeide inj,todi possesses the advantage of being close to the Waihil'-whore' the (l property accredited) Isojournos/iin- this districtjcauialway# meet .with gencral, society and;iwboie"hPWte.d'i hospitoUtylfi! Theogreoter j -portipn-tofi the] military pOpulatTmn of .Waihi halst-hp^cvscr,gouei^oi.ihofPampiiat: Kaipipi, > aflUthe BunOptonopOpulatidatofitoUjdtoriititAs/ccUicerncd.imey bo /considered! theisfloialhe«dqrtaJptfii»(Of * the ipliins. ■ But 1 am wandering from, iusteadYdf-to,:; Parihak«*ynsH. /J,■ The noonday- sua was -a-i?egular-‘‘ blazor,— Normanby to iqurgey wtoli;b’'imU#U!a9 o 'toeflUlftria t toe‘'fleX’ Which *toe''dußt;6f the maitf/ibkaWei? to#Walii|Un|orci- brldgie is avU!!®^? v, -Iklh' ,, e^y i f6H6 , Wfli''&’cP, | ! , W6nld' top■ dis-’ trio t to bfaubjh’ dm 'at ’NUriUuUhy, and' make 1 en(tUiri'to' there for 1 toe 1 track in' 'question; ’ 'They VfH^finS'-'Uilnei*' of the'liind 1 ' lords 1 ' of"’ the’ two 1 ''Nbtmanby : - hotela very’ .obliging and ei^licit i! fifa''^v?ng' , direclJons; 'Esipipi'camp, wo pushed on for OpuUake, reaching that funny little townahipAbcut dlisk. /At present Opunake consists ofa hotel.(Bartlett’s), a billiard satoon/one smfll oottlge; and the telegraph station V-but the-immediate- proximity-of- 4ho redoubt,'in whiChiupWiiirds-ofTOO men, Under command of Captain Morrißon, aro stationed/ gitres life and animation to the place/ Gpur nake ;< possesses U beautiful and safe natural harbour, and; when 'the Plains become Settled,will’ undoubtedly be, the principal port and centre of commerce bn this coast-rat all events between.the White Cliffs and the Patea river. And yet, at New- Plymouth, tens of thousands of pounds are feejng thrown-into the sea to make a political breakwater ! No one Unbiassed 'yjr local 'prejudices; can look at/ the topographical position of pguhako,tod its' wonderful! natural" advantages. as a 'pwt, •!without being convinced of |_ha great; 'future before ij;. ; Itf 'ia/,,4iriaplyr toeidesy tonijitoe Plains;/.whether.;from U nautical, a military, or an agricultural point '‘of j -jUf pight .spept pleasantly at, saddle again, anfi puabing emfor Paribaka.' Unfortunately the tide did not suit, so! that instead'Of, an - invigorating t gaUop that; the receding tide leaves, we had to - phmgh our way slowly, through, thb -deep- loose sand above high water mark. It was not until', we turned off fromtobbstacitinto the five, miles of bush that'lies between the sea and Paribaka that bur hoiSes 1 could go out of. a walk. Along the I bush road,; however, now in 'splendid condition, we made up for. lost time, and abbut IO.Bd-Am/reach'edtoe ehd of onr‘ journey. Haying seen to-the 'horses,, we strolled towards toe’ Marae, or public square, where the people were already gathering in anticipation ’of 1 the' forthcoming oration. Seines of the Natives recognised me. as having been there in August, and greeting me by the name of, Makolapeha. (whioh has been given me td bbinmoMOfate Te Whiti’s present of a shark’s .tooth) pressed forward to shake hapds. One Native reminded me that when last at. Barihakaj I left behind me a ridingwhip,and told bie that'Te Whiti had charged 'him with the core of it until-it could be ■returned to.me. This was afterwards formally done by Te Whiti in person. After having partaken of much needed food in the wharb - of a faqepitable Native, we re* tutoed totob which between 700 and ?hf jtnoyr assembled, and found Te Whiti’ just cbipmt-ncing to speak. ■Having little time .at my disposal, I cannot in this letter enter ifitb any,eltobrate description, of tho very striking' scene. ‘ ‘ I may just say, however, that ,Te Whiti in his picturesque Native .opstuote, grapeful - attitude, with his earnest expression, and by his easy eloquence —without a particle... of declamatory. rank----gavo one the idea of ,a great natural orator*: I do‘not know a .single member ofeither branch of ; tfee Legislature who combines to anything lik<? the same degree these qualities./ Having heard; Te Wjiiti' thus publicly addressing his people* it is pot difficult to comprehend the secret of his great power over them-; ■i. ;■ The speech was; as compared with previous, speeches on similar occasions, a short one; and on its conclusion he' immediately'retired, to his where,,no conversation being indulgedia, until he was opt :of .sight.; Then the Natives discussed what, had been said with ; eagerness, and evidppt apprevol. j They wore,: pleased, too, to know that it had been fully tkken down, and would duiy be nublished tp' the world. Refreshments, were 1 served- out in lavish prodigality; but of all this I must write anothertime. 1! 5

Up to this time I had 1 -not spoken to To Whiti, but in strolling about, the, Settlement in the course of the afternoon I suddenly came upon him squatted-cpnte by himself outside a wiiard, some little distance from his own. Ho immediately shook hands, appearing much pleased *o see mo, and-(aid we should have a kororo in the evening. ■ Jlc. also inquired what whard I was staying ia, and if I was being properly looked . otter. Kecognising the shark’s tooth he had given .me, and which I; wore as jo breastpin, he looked much pleased, smiling pleasantly ..and repealing' “ Mako ; tkneha; makotanehn;” ' ' In the evening To Whiti sent for me, and accompanied by Mri Dalton, I proceeded to his private sleeping whard, where ho invited us to Ho down on the mat beside him, and the-' korevo commSpced.v; I-" ’ ■ Mr Dalton, at ‘my request, explained that I should sooner ha.ro redeemed my promise to visit him again, but for the faot that the late long session . pf Parliament, and work, t hat had subsequently to lie attended t o, had detained'mb inhWelliogtbn. ; A«'To Whiti looked >at' me dubiously ; at the mention 1 of ' Parliament, I ■ requested Mr Dalton to explain. <thftt ?: I Was not a member of the House, nor had’ any otfiiial connootioiv with the Government of the country, but attended the Parliamentary korero in the

■; f'LU'.-t, J.r.i.fc a- ;y ' i . same- capacitv r an4-lor.. the same reosontbat L w attorn 'morninojv ■ i Tb*'Wnftr»pprarcd perfectly mW ’fled with this explanation. Iho conversation *».» w"‘-y ! j T#Whiti: 'YouC !^i( l, hW ( 'i»f i tho South s Island flinchit Fafilifikov Did’ you take any, part ip the ftft)«Wlo‘ithere*«i- ---■ (Meaning' thd ,attack' dh 'this' 1 Ottiß'gteiheh at . OhrirfloWoh oh BokiOTDay) ? 1 1 °- ■ ~ f Myself! No, tyriU not in the Sdfith'lsland' ■ attliotime. AW" i To,,Whhi! Are you of opinion, that tjie 'Government is able to settle thia trouble ?\ ■ ; Hero I askod the interpreter to question ToWlnfi as to whether,ho thoroughly understood, the nature 6f the change,of. Ministry that had taken place since my last visit, when* /ijo Whiti's‘ ! roplfdS' that he was Thoroughly posted 'bh‘ this 1 point, thet ;! only .gitye mVi individual opinion,;! : siiid that 1 thought the present Government .wfiß 'more likely to deal with the Native idifficulty more flymly, tljan.lhp,late one., k jToWhiVi: ‘Y°R',aro wrong j they .will not ibe ol»l£$ aj&wnp)si anything. , _.. ; ’ Myself’Arb, you acquainted with,. Mr is now fSfalivo Minister ? > ;. To Wlilti ■ ’ No, lam npt acquainted with Mr Dtjco, but X about. hjm., There is no Native Minißter--with, Mr, Sbgefian the Native Minister,died,'. Former Ministers viiited the' whole- p£ the }’this man .is ohlj a European visitor, and d paje only .vyith tHo'liigattywd (north of Taranaki; to Mokau), the/. .Taranaki and the ' Neatiruanui,. from thence southward tqward "Vyanganui. Myself: 4rb,W‘aware.that the Commissioners slt’at Geo to-morrow, to enquire into the'Native claims? ■ '" f% > i To Whiii: Yes j-Y. Iftow it., They khpw ■ that’tho Natives, pfe collecting at.Parihaka to-/ ■day, 1 inti'Will return,. tp-morrow,; whoh they intetfd stepping them as they'pass through Osq.pp.their way hope. .. . ... > i Myself j Will the Natives attend the meetings of the Commissioners ? :■ TbWhiti: Nothey will n0t..,,. ■ ■ Myeplf I'Have 'you given instructions that rthey should not attend ? i ; TbWhiti ; I havo -notgivott'direct iiistructions, but those whb) know my mind will hot attend.. . ■ ■ ■- i 't ■■" '■

I Myielf’i What do you- think of Tawhai for resigning his position on the Commission ? , ■ , Te; IWhiti i ! Tawhai i did well; he is • man with a clear head; ' ; -i .N 1

; Myself :.CTawhai felt very potiri (dark), because you called him a dog. > T« Whiti: 4 -That iis right ; I called him a taringakuri :(a : dogV; ear),, because, as a dog does, he listens to the oall ! o£ tis masters (the Afteiva pauseof . sdreral minutoa’ duration, Te> Whiti added :>vßat;Mohi Tawhaiis a man of sense,/ind knows exdcily. whalnT m&ntl ' TesVVhiti ; Do-you think the. Commission wiUiiokothis difficulty ? Si ■ ' ■ ’.'oS is-jr,.,

! < JSSjaelfi tjjish tockplainto you that the . Commission lias no; authority i to ■> solve "the ctifEculUyi-l they cannot met; they can > only 1 lisiomto tbe complaints-of; the Natives, and. adfrieo the; Government whot -.<K> :do; It i* for the Government' tonctvaqd the Government is hesponeiblo to,Parliament* t h .-t* ; Tes Whiti; pressed -me ■ :for. my individual opinion of the Commission, which! gave; habit , is not necessary that it should be repeated here. Te Whiti : The Commissioners are men of j&»oe, are they not ?. - i , ; ■> Myself: Yes,; certainly. To . Whiti: And soldiers are men of war. Myself,Yes, - : smlv.. I. ••••n:-; ■ ■ '* ;/ Te Whiti t TheiGommissionera have [come ,to endeavour to settlethis matter peaceably ?; Myself: That is so.. ■■■■ ■<• 1,1 Ta Whiti : Ifthatisso, why do they come in the midst of soldiers? J ; Myself: They ■ are nob .in the midst of soldiers; they are quite distinct and separate from the soldiers. > Te Whiti: But "the soldiers came first and prepared theway for them. - Whiti: Do you think that a man who has committed adultery, should be made a 'judge of his own crime? Myself : Certainly nOti ~ ; Te Whiti: Well,■ the fdi (meaning Sir I William Fox) confiscated the land, made promises wbich are all broken, and deceived the Natives; and now he is appointed a Judge of his own works. Is it right ? ‘ Myself: No; if what you say is correct, it is hot right. ■ Te Whiti: Siifeh is the case.

Myself': Well, To Whiti, what do you thihk : willhe the putcUm’e of all this ? Te Whiti: If you are 1 conversant with the BiblO will explain it tpyou; Do you under"staLd 'the SMptmeS thoroughly ?; : < r ; • ThiS'heioe'soWiewhat Of a poser, T J fenced { the question by saying that I' thought I would understand ahyilhiatrationhe might make.' ;TO WMti: Do you Know the ; book called Daniel?' ' 1 ■ • i ” Myself: Yes ;’! know there is such shook. Te Whiti: You know it is: writteU in' that book that N ebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream, which was interpreted by . Daniel, who said, “ Thou, O BMgP taweWt and beheld' a greiat image. r The great image, whose! : brightness Was eioeDeht; stood before thee, and the form . thereof Was terrible., ■ ThO* image’e head was of fine gOldj Kit hrdast and arms ailverj his belly and his thighs Of brass; his legs of iron, his feet patt’of iron ahd part of clay.” 11 Myself ': Yes,-Tam aware that it is written ?- ; Te ! Tahiti, taking Up fire-oindOrs'from the fireplicej said : Well; I will explain the meaning to you. This (coinmenbing' with the cinder representing the' head) is : Babylon y this is the King of the Jews ; this is Borne ; this is England; this is the 1 iron and the clay. The iron is the’PaKeha; the clay is the Maori. The clay and* the iron were mixed together. When the rain fell' upon the clay it softened it, and when the sUn shone upon it it oraoked it. f You also know that a ' stone smote the image, and it fell to pieces. The stone became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth and remained.

1 Te Whiti-herb iwept away with'his hand the four upper cinders, leaving one to which he pointed; saying, “iThis is the stone.” Myself; Who is that stone ? ; ' Te Whiti: It is I. Myself: Do you iUean that it is ,by you, or thebugh you; that this work is to be aooomplished ? - ' T© Whiti It is both by me, and through me. It was jjrojihesied byßzetiel.- ’ ' ; • Myself : Are you of opinion’ that Natives belonging to: other tribes are with you in this matter? ■ , Te Whiti: No, they are mere slaves of the government; but when the sun shines upon the image, all; the clay (meaning all the. Maoris) will be separated fr6m the pakohas (the irom) " ■■■ . Myself : Do you mean by that that you thiuk all fche Maoris will separate from the pakehas ? Te Whiti: Yes ? that is what I say. 1 J Myself: Wm'tHi be “acooSplished in March ? . ■) • - ’ '

. Te Whiti: It will be accomplished while this .Government is in, .office.. If the Commissioners do not settle the matter, what do you think the Government will do ?-> speak' from any 'actual knowledge of what the Government Intends to do j but what I think wiU jirobably be done,'in the event of the Commission being a failure, is this; The 0o» vornmont will take possession of the whole land, and will make' reserves in siioh pieces, and of such extentj as it thinks fit. - !" Tb Whiti : You are wrobg. The Government cannot do. this —it is the Master who will do- tblsL . ; ' -•

Myself: Will it bo accomplished peaceably P Will there be kino (trouble — 1 - Te Whiti: No j although ! the bayonets shine iii our eyes wo. wilt take ho notice of them. There will bo trouble, but not through the sword; “jit was foretold there would bo trouble inthis generation. The Government is only ! nlakih'g trouble through * vexation of spirit, ■ The Government is verypouri (dark.) Myself : I hare been requested by n Government official to ask ; y pu whbtbery if the . Governor were to come to Parihaka to see' you, it would ttadto facilitate the settlement of this difficulty. Eemetnber, I have no' authority- from the Governor to 1 put 5 this question, nor would T .have* 'dope''so of my own accord ; but I have been asked to put it to you: Would it bo so ? - Te Whiti i The Marne (public square) is open 1 to all. 1 If the Governor romea here he, will be l ’Welcome, the same as other Pakehas. If be comes it will be good; if he'Stays away it will be good. -• Immediately after this the korere'eametoon

nuraber of his prihdnll’i? the o?® bufc ono HtS?w«5 a had n » 'myjhentiomng occurred mu ent *Mth. the A'w ^ 6 Wer o J-oftribld'Madri toddled un ef ’ & ttle two'belwfeen my outetretcho A/Lv® an . d Bt <>ocl at my-faco. Nothing ’ loo “ in 6 intently ‘ST. h ?3®55" 4 ‘* i S£ffiSt£ % «*lB Immediately afterwards dl f ßc ? mfltur e return journey, of whfch—lnd ted v n OUf X saw at Parilmka—more anon/ mUCh that