THE INTENTIONS OF TE WHITI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5657, 5 January 1880, Page 3

THE INTENTIONS OF TE WHITI.

[3V TELEGRAPH, OWN CORKESPONDEJJT.] December 2G. I have had a visit from a native returned from a visit to Te Whiti at Parihaka, whither he hatl been to invito the " prophet" to the meeting t:> be held next mouth at Te Waotu. To "Whiti declines to do anything beyond looking after his own people. Ho was asked by uiy informant what he was going to do about tbo solders. His reply was, "The eamo as my people did who are now iu prison." "But won't you "No; not if the last Maori were to be killed and fighting would Have him." He then indulged in a number of airy fliglit3 altogether beyond the comprehension oz his visitor. He told 1 him thut the Government had SOO men on the Coast doing nothing but marching about blowing away powder, and th'\y were paying them £10,000 a month for doing it. Sly friend asked him how he knew. Ho tried to make out that it was " a revelation" made to hi id j but that would not satit-fy his auditor, sr ne said that " what lie did not know the Government pakehae ho.i told him." tie was sure about the money for another reason, namely, "because the publicans and storekeepers were getting so rich, and there wan feo much drinkiog." I£ this is true, or lias truth for its foundation, what will be thought of a Government who, when asked about the Armed Constabulary Force when the Kstiraat'is were before the House, made it too serious a question to be talked about except iu whispers 1 This is the ere>ne tie. la cn'meot New Zealand politicians, who cannot aiToi-d to give us a branch railway, hut swallow nearly the cost of it every month at tlio game of soldiers to fatten Taranaki.