TE WHITI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14538, 25 November 1907, Page 2

TE WHITI.

I A reminiscence: lii the eaxly part of the winter of 1882 the people of Christohurch had two topics of absorbing interest for disc ussion—the International Exhibition and the Parihaka expedition. The Exhibition, held in the South Park, with its main entrance facing the end of St Asaph Street, deserved the title of international better than did the moTe pretentious "show" which recently occupied the North Park. It was, moreover, an exhibition with " side-shows " as adjuncts, and not a " popular fancy fair," with an exhibition as a humble and somewhat neglected accessory. It was the biggest and best thing of the kind New Zealand had then seen, and, though there had been some heartburnings and bickerings in connection with it, they had been assuaged by the tact and courtesy of the promoters, and the people of Christchurch. were in high good humour over the undertaking. The Parihaka expedition—the Parihaka parade, scoffers styled it—had resulted in two notable prisoners being sent to Canterbury for safe enstody. Te Whiti, whose life ended the other day, and his henchman, Tohu, who died a few months ago, were lodged in the gaol then maintained at Addington. Their confinement was made as little irksome as possible, for they were State prisoners, not criminals. They had shed no blood, and had advocated peace, not war. They practised what they preached, too, for when the Hon John Bryce, with a couple of thousand armed men at his back, rode into Parihaka, Te Whiti and Tohu sent a swarm of little children to meet -the invading army. Hence there was much sympathy with the two Maori captives. In Addington they were under the care of a soldier of "the old Permanent Force, the Armed Constabulary, an intelligent, kindly man, a fluent speaker of their language, and more a friend and attendant than a gaoler. The Government of the day decided, wisely, that it would be a good tiring to give the imprisoned chiefs a glimpse of the power and products of the pakeha, as exemplified in the Exhibition. Accordingly, one morning, accompanied'by their custodian and by Mr Richmond Beetham, who, as- a finished Maori scholar, had been selected for the office of cicerone, Te Whiti and Tohu walked from Addington to the " great show." Their captors had no intention of making a "gazing stock" of them, and their visit had been unannounced, save to the Exhibition authorities. Hence they made their inspection, without being annoyed by a too-curious crowd. They may have been mightily impressed, but if so they did not show it. Interested they certainly were, and their interest was not by any means unintelligent; but, during most of their peregrinations, they maintained an impassive bearing. A reaper and binder, an , implement to which Te Whiti was then introduced for the first time, broke down his attitude of reserve. The machine was worked in his presence, and its operation explained. He quickly understood and uttered an emphatic " Kapai 1" When inspecting the exlribt of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company the Maoris were told by the company's representative to each select a rug for himself. Tohu chose one, not of gaudy design, but one of the "quietest patterns' in the exhibit. Te Whiti said, "Will you send one to my wife?" He could have given no better proof of his gentle, affectionate nature. Needless to say, the rug was sent. Men of peace though Te Whiti and Tohu were, they were also mystics and missionaries. Striking proof of this, and also of their belief in the genuineness of the supernatural revelations which they professed to have received, was afforded during their visit to the Exhibition by a curious incident. One of the "side-shows"- was a group of wax figures representing Moees striking the rook in the Wilderness. It was a good group, the images being tolerably artistic and life-like. Moses, _ a venerable figure, white robed and white bearded, stood in commanding attitude, raising his rod, with Aaron by his side, and confronting a knot of awestricken Israelites, men, women and children. To this company Te Whiti and Tohu were introduced. The effect was not what their guides had expected. Gone in a moment was their impasfiiveness. Their eyes flashed, they spoke rapidly and- excitedly to one another. Anger began to show itself in their features, and their attendants, apprehensive as to what might follow, hustled them out of the show. Their explanation of their behaviour was startling. "We have seen Moses,and Aaron," they said, ni " and these images are not like them! W r hat weird imaginings or what strange virion, had inspired those amazing words? ,ii Between visions of the great dead, and so commonplace a thing as luncheon is a great gap, but that gap was bridged by the tactful director of the Exhibition, the late Mr Jules Joubert, who invited the chiefs and their companions to lunch with him in the refreshment room of the Exhibition—a somewhat unpretentious place, where plain and substantial fare was served. Here Te Whiti, Tohu, Mr Beetham, the attendant soldier (in mufti), Mr Joubert and a Pressman or two, had their midday meal. No exception could be taken to the table manners ot either of the Maoris, who ate sparingly. Their drink was tea, and, if recollection serves aright, the other members of the party took the same beverage. It was not thou glit advisable to otter the Maoris intoxicating liquor. _ Neither Te Whiti nor Tohu, in their European clothes, made a very striking figure. The former, a sturdy, somewhat thickset man was then, a, quarter of a century ago, apparently near his sixtieth year, and his hair and beard were grey. Tohu, rather tallei than his companion, was evidently considerably younger, for few, if any, grey hairs were visible in his dark beard and locks.