THE PREMIER AT PARIHAKA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10362, 17 May 1895, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT PARIHAKA.

, A LIVELY MEETING. (Per United Phess Association.) Opunake, May 16. ■ The Premier visited Parihaka to-day, and was .warmly received by the Natives with songs of welcome and music. Wi Parata (formerly •in the House and a member of a Ministry) received him, and conducted him to the house of one of Te Whiti's sons. At the outset Mr Seddon objected to the exclusion of the Key. Mr Hammond, who had been denied admittance in conssquence of the remarks he was reported to have made at^Fatea against the visit of the Premier to Parihaka. After soms little discusMoa, in which the Premier . pointed but that Mr Hammond was wanted simply as interpreter, he flrouly requested that he should be admitted. Te Whiti backed down and Mr Hammond was brought in. TeWhSti then welcomed the Premier, but said that in consequence of legislation and law he could not welcome strangers as he would wish or Recording to the style of his parents aud forefathers. If ths Premier had anything to say, then he ms ready to receive ib. Mr Sedciou offered salutations to all assembled without distinciioa. They were all friends under the surne Queen, and there was one law far both as servants of the (Jueen. He cosisidered it his duty to visit the Natives in both islands, and having on his return from Auckland received at New Piymontb. an invitation to visit Parihaka am) the Natives of the West Coast, which he cuuld not at that time accept, he had now come because he had said he would do so. His word was as good as his bond, being the word of the Government. The welcome accorded to him he did not take to be personal to himself, but as to the servant of the Queen and Prime Minister of the colony. It had pained him to hear that legislation and law h&d prevented Te Whiti doing all he would have wished to do, and if the laws were defective it was proper to arrive at an understanding, so that jn sties might, be done. He spoke for Parliament, and said that neither the present nor pass Parliaments had wilfully wronged anyone—Europeans or Natives. If a misunderstanding had arisen the Native 3 had been as much to blame as Europeans. He kaew the ■ law, and if Te Whiti had a doubt about any point, he would be glad to. give him an explanation Te Whiti: lam not quite clear. There have bean fault* on both sides: . ' The Premier: That is what I have said. Te Whiti : What will the remedy be ? The. Premier: That, time will disclose. It took seven dajs to make the world. Te Whiti dramatically put off his coat and threw it on the floor, and said that his coat having befea torn ofi it would not take seven days to kill him, he would have perished with the cold where he was left by the law. The Premier eaid if he would have patience he would know before he (Mr Seddon) left where he (Te Whiti) was. '. . ..'; Ta Whiti then put on his coafc and resumed his seat, and the Prsmier, referring ts his question, said when Europeans took off their coato it showed they meant to fight. ; To Whiti said i'o was inside position which eared the earliust («a) 4 Aftnr some chaffing ■ remarks between the two Te Whiti returned to his coat metaphor and asked where was the justice of stuißog a man and his coat, and the Premier said if Te Whiti would express his grievances and would speak to him. as .his position demanded he should be. spoksn to. He would show jTe Whiti the respect ha.was entitled to. Ho was there to listen, and wished to listen to Te Whiti or to anyone of tho Native race. He asked that with a view of doiag what wan beat for both races, and a? he was there as the i-eprepcntativa, the head of the Parliament of the country, it was the duty of. the Natives to give him their hearts so that thera might be no mistake made in future. Te Whiti said Parliatoeot had tarn his coat. At this stage the Natives made an objection to the interpreter, and a Native was tried as interpreter, but was nob a success, and after a littie farther talk there was an adjournment for lunch. A giwat lunch wsa served,, the Prereisr and party aud a considerable number of Europeans being entertained. There were bakp-s and j;oi dances by Te Whiti Natives, Tohu's followers all .'through having been conspicuous by their abseuea. | After a couple of hours interval the interview was resumed, the Premier stM-ing that if anything was to ba said he wished it to be said shortly, for he had to get ovar bad roads before the blackness came on. If Te Whiti had anything to say, he would reply on bshalf of the Government. Waitara (Te Whiti's son) asked the.Premier to ctaiy all night, but this Mr Seddon regretted his engagements would not admit of this. After a pause, Mrs Simon nrged that if the Natives had any grievances they should open their hearts. If Te Whiti's coat was torn, the Premier was not bow to mend it. Te Whiti, however, accused her of being in collusion with the Premier, and said she had better not interfere. If there was anything to say, let. ths Premier say it, because he (Te Whiti) b.ad nothing to say. The .-Premier asked if anyone else had anything to say? < A N&tive said there were only two naen in the house to speak—To Whiti cud the Premier. The Premier replied that ha had no grievance, and, if tile Natives had nothing to say, it would bo pleasant for him to go and Bay that he had seen the people aud found that they were hospitable, happy, and contented ; that Parihaka wis the ouly place in New Zealand whore the. Natives had no grievance, and that rumour had been false, for b.e had heard there were many grievances, and was glsd that all they bad to say to him was to invite him to stay all night. . Te Whiti: What was the grievance you heard of? Tiie Premier referred to Te Whiti's own com-"; plaint that law and legislation had done him wrong. However, he thought good would come of his visit, for he had seen enough without learning anything. ! Te Whiti: That is it. After a pause, Wsitsva said that if the Premier had said all he had to cay they hud. ' The Premier said: I sbonM be very glad to be able to go back and say Te Whiti in hia presence was iJuiab. Te Whiti said the Premier had come to Parihaka and had nothing to pay. The talk was then finished and the interview terminutfid. Later the Premier went awossthe village to his house in renpenso to a message that Tohu would be glad to sac him. Tohu received him on a dais in an upstairs room of a frame house of modern style, and after salutations the Premier said he considered he would not have betu doing his duty as head of tha Government if he had not come when Tohu said he wanted him. Tohu, in reply, said that while the Premier was i great man at the head of the Government he (Tohu) was the great man of his people. He ackod who had iuvited the Premier to come to Farihaka. The Premier said he had come with Mr Smith, M.H.K. for New Plymouth, satd Mr Smith, who was present, aaid that for months past Te Wltiti and his people hsd been asking when the Premior would come, and he had sent word to the Premier that ho was expected. i Tohu said he had not invited anyone, but if j the Premier had anything (o Bay he would be glnrl to heor him. ' The Premier bad only to say he was glad to ! see so mn.ny of the Native race gathered together and enjoying themselves. Tohu said the position be took up was that the litnd was Te Whiti's and the world belonged j to him. j The interview then terminated and the psaty i left Parih&ba shortly before dark.