ARREST OF TE WHITI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21332, 5 November 1932, Page 11

ARREST OF TE WHITI

AN EYE-WITNESS' STORY BREAKING PROPHET'S POWER FIFTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY The arrest of Tc Whiti, the Maori prophet, at Parihaka, Taranaki, 51 years ago to-day is recalled by Mr. Thomas McGloin, of Ohaupo Road, Hamilton, who witnessed the incident when lie was a member of the Armed Constabulary. Mr. McGloin was born in County Leitrim;' Ireland, about 73 years ago. Attracted by glowing accounts of conditions in tho colonies, lie went first to South Australia and then to New Zealand as a young man. Work in New Zealand was scarce, and he joined the Arieijd Constabulary in Wellington in 1880, and was posted for service to Taranaki, where Major Goring and Major Tuke were in charge. About 709 single men had been drafted from Wellington to relieve the ment situation there and were eni gaged on road construction work in Taranaki. They were encamped within a few chains of the Armed Constabularly quarters at Pungarehu. The Government had decided to build a road round the coast and had confiscated several blocks of native land. These blocks had been allotted to settlers, who had commenced fencing and other improvements. Opposition by Maoris The Maoris strongly objected to tho r Government's policy, and had demonstrated their objection by erecting fences across the newly-formed road and by pull- - ing up the settlers' fences. The Maoris were led in their resistance to the advance of the pakeha by Te Whiti and Tohu Kahahi. These men had been rival prophets, but had come to an understanding and were living at Parihaka, a large Maori settlement, where natives from all parts of the North Island had assembled. Mr. McGloin said Te Whiti was a- religious leader with a large following, who had implicit faith in him. The Government, with the Hon. John Bryce as Native Minister, had determined to put an end to the Maoris' hostility by arresting Te Whiti and Tohu. Parihaka was also the refuge of Hiroki, a Maori who had killed one McLean, a member of a survey party at Moumahaki. An armed f body, comprising 959 volunteers, who had come from Thames," Nelson," Feilding, and other North "Island" fo\vns".~apd"/630~^members of -■ the Armed Constabulary, " were engaged in the movement to invest the pa. . ' " Call to Surrender Colonel J. M. Roberts was in charge of the force. Mr. Bryce also took part in the operations. Mr. McGloin was a member of "A" company of the Armed Constabulary under Captain W. E. Gudgeon. The men comprising "A" Company were served with revolvers, and were given instructions-to use themjf they' Saw any Maori" attempting, to Use a tomahawk or gun. The situation as the force-marcfted from Pungarehu to. Parihaka on"November 5, 1881, was exceedingly delicate, said Mr. McGloin, and no one knew the moment hostilities would commence. Tha volunteers and several companies were directed to surround the pa and take Tip " their stations on the hills overlooking the village. "A" Company was led to a the entrance of the marae, and a gun was posted near the gates. This Maoris were quiet, the only movement 6n': their. •' part being the skipping games of a jUijipji ber of young., girls..y , — i '/ 1 Mr. Bryce, Colonel. andMajor Tuke stepped up tp the front of the marae, and Mr. Butler] ' the Minister's'- secrStary, read the Riot Act, and a proclamation calling on Te Whiti and Tohu to surrender. Ten minutes were allowed the '- Maoris to respond, and in the meantime not a word was spoken nor a movement made. Te Whiti was not at first -> in view, but Mr. C. W. Hursthouse, a Government surveyor, who accompanied the Minister, saw him sitting ; in a- vfhare and pointed him out to "Colonel Roberts. Mr. McGloin saidi "A" .'.Company was then given the order* to. ,march toward the whare where Te .Whiti was sitting. Submitted Quietly to Arrest ' L The marae was packed with Maoris, and it was difficult to avoid .tramping on them. Major Tuke led the company into the pa. -Addressing To Whiti, he said, "If you don't come out. we will conle in and take you." Te Whiti re- j marked that if the horses of tho mounted men outside came into the marae they would trample on the people. The order was given to advance anci take Te Whiti,.A constable, named Hugh Willis, stepped forward and entered the whare. Tohu was found in another whare. a few yards 'away, and Willis pushed thern both out. Ihey then submitted quietly to arrest. The quest was not completed, for tha murderer Hiroki had not been located. Major Tuke called out. "Hiroki, Hacremai. Where are you 1 Hiroki was at the far end of the marae, and he voluntarily stood up and came forward. Mr. McGloin considered that Hiroki had such faith in Te Whiti that ho thought Te Whiti's influence would protect him from arrest. Hiroki was handcuffed and was led away a prisoner, to be afterwards tried and hanged at New Plymouth. Te Whiti and Tohu were taken round tho country to show the Maoris that tho power of their leaders was broken, and after a period of nominal captivity Te Whiti and Tohu were released. Tho fears of the investing force at Parihaka that they would meet with an armed resistance were practically groundless, for tho search disclosed only a few old flintlocks. Mr. McGloin served for ihreo years in the Armed Constabulary, and afterwards took up land in Taranaki. For the la?.t 26 years ho has lived in the Waikato.