The Premier and Te Whiti.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 92, 21 May 1895, Page 2

The Premier and Te Whiti.

At Parihaka on Thursday last, when the Premier and the visitors were aU seated in the meeting room of Waitara's house, where the reception took p]ace, Mr Gray, of Oka to, being installed as interpreter, the Premier said before they proceeded, he wished to remove a misunderstanding injustice to the Rev. Mr Hammond. He had heard that orders had been issued not to admit Mr Hammond on account of something he had been accused of saying at Patea. When he (the Premier) was at Patea, there was no interpreter, and Mr Hammond had kindly acted in that capacity, and what bad been attributed to Mr Hammond as his own thoughts and words were only the words of the natives there, which were expressed in interpretation by him. "What Mr Hammond said had been recorded, and this statement could be proved. Mr Hammond was the friond of the Maoris, and keeping him out that day from the meeting wan an affront to him (the Premier). Therefore he hoped they would remove the instructions if such had been given. He had spoken, and hoped his words would be given effect to.

Charlie Waitara, son-in-law of Te Whiti, and proprietor of the meeting bouse, said that that house did not know the truth or otherwise of what the Premier said, but the offensive words were in the paper. The Premier : " I have spoken, and my words are correct. The question is: Is Mr Hammond to come in here ?" Mr Hammond told him he intended paying a visit to Parihaka, and had informed him he was barred. Te Whiti: There is no need to ask such a question ; it is in the newspaper. Te Premier said that his version of what Mr Hammond said was correct, and told them to send for Mr Hammond. Waitira said he had a few vords to say. The newspapers containing the objectionable words had been received by them before the arrival of the Premier, and they took it for granted that the remarks imputed to Mr Hammond were true, especially as several natives had said they had personally heard him make them, and, holding such opinions, they did not think he would expect any invitation. Mr Hammond was then sent for.

Waitara said that in the past there were many grievances caused over wrong interpretation, and hoped that any interpreter who did not do his work right should not be allowed to act in the future. The interpreter who was selected to act that day was one of those of whom they had to complain, and he hoped he would be more careful on the present occasion. The Premier said Europeans made speeches, and their longnesran quicker than their minds. When tbey read something they did not wish to say, they blamed the reporters. Perhaps the natives, in like manner, made mistakes, and blamed the interpreters. Te Whiti said the foot of malice baa carried the bad message quick. He was not aware that this difficulty would 1 ave cropped up. Any evil in it would return to the Europeans back again. The traditions bequeathed to him from his ancestors, and which he held most sacred, were to accord hospitality, and extend a welcome to the stranger. By means of the law, he had been stripped of part of that which his ancestors had left him, and therefore he could not welcome the stranger as he should wish. He would leave the matter to be discussed that day to be introduced by the Premier. The Premier: Salutations to you all, without distinction. Natives and Europeans all the same. We are all of one mother, and under the rule of one Queen. I am the servant of the Queen, and as such consider it my duty to see all the natives, from one end of the colony to the other. I visited the far off natives first, because their wants were greatest. After my last visit to the North, when I arrived at New Plymouth I was asked to come and see Parihaka, but it being the festive season of the year, I thought it my duty to spend it with my family. I then promised I would visit Parihaka before the next session of Parliament. Having given my word, it was a bond, and, in keeping it, am here to-day. The welcome which I received I do not take as a personal welcome, but one given to me as the servant of the Queeen. It is well known that there is no rase on the face of the earth so hospitable as the Maoris. It had therefore pained him very much on hearing the words which foil from Te Whiti, that difficulties had arisen which prevented him carrying out the hospitality left him by his forefathers. If the law is defective, the proper thing to do is to discuss that law. The law bas not wilfully wronged either European or native. I admit that misunderstandings have arisen, but the natives have been as much to blame as the Europeans. I know the law. Dees Te Whiti know the law ? If he does not know the law, or is in doubt about it, I will give him any explanation on it.

Te Whiti: Has the native race received n > injustice ? The Premier: I have asked, it Te Whiti knows the law. Te Whiti: Never mind that. The Premier had said that the law had not done wilful wrong. Did that mean that no injustice had been done to the natives ?

The Premier said that no wilful injustice had been done. Te Whiti said the distinction drawn was not clear to him. There was, no doubt, fault on both sides. The Premier said there had been faults on both sides.

Te Whiti: When will they be rectified ?

The Premier said that time would do that. The world was not made in

a day. It took seven days to make the world. [A native in the background said that was wrong; it only took six days to make the world, and the seventh day was for rest.] Te Whiti, who evidently was not pleased with the vagueness of this reply, v got np in anger; and, stripping his coat off, said his coat was torn off him (referring to ihe land being confiscated). He then threw his coat on the ground, and said that before the seventh day which the Premier referred to for restitution or rectification would come, he would be perished with the cold. What, be asked, was his position now ? The Premier : Have patience and I will show you. Te Whiti then picked up his coat and resumed his seat. The Premier said that when Europeans wanted to emphasise their remarks they availed themselves of gestures and actions, but when a European took off his coat it meant that he wanted to fight. Te Whiti: Yes; it is the inward passions which cause the outward actions.

The Premier said at their time of life it was a mistake to get into a passion ; that was the work of young and foolish men.

Te Whiti agreed with this, but he thought that if the Premier had similar causo he would get into a passion, aud take his coat off too. The Premier said that when he was a young man he used to take off his coat, and those he took it off to generally remembered it. Now, as the snow (pointing to the gray hairs on his head) was getting on the mountain top, wisdom came with it, and he never took it off. Te Whiti apparently took his coat off to show there was warm feeling inside, and, to make himself cool took it off the out_ side.

Te Whiti said he was not a boy, neither was the Premier, and levity was not applicable. Th( Premier said they would speak as me iof age and experience. Before he could give any explanation he would want to know on what Te Whiti wished to be enlightened.

Te Whiti told Te Wheta to stand up, and then, taking off his coat again, put it on Te Whetu, and asked if it would be just that the coat needed for his protection should be taken off him and pur, on anothfer man, whereby he would perish from the cold. [This again referred the confiscation of the land.] The Premier, through faulty interpretation, did not grasp the meaning of Te Whiti's reference, and descended to jest remarking that it was a bad fit for Te Whetu. If, he said, Te Whiti would explain any grievance which existed, and would speak to him as his position demanded he should be spoken to, he would show them the consideration they were entitled to. He was prepared to listen to him or any other native who had any grievance to lay before him. It was their duty now to speak freely what they had in their minds, so th&t mistakes might be avoided in the future. Te Whiti resented the tone assumed by the Premier. He had welcomed the Premier as a stranger to Parihaka, and was prepared to receive him as sash. The Premier had got a wrong interpretation of his (Te Whiti's) meaning, and he declined to continue the discussion *mder the interpreter. Honi Hiko, who understood English, complain 3d that the interpreter was allowing ii *.e Premier to speak too long sentences without translating, and then so condensing it that the sense of it was lost.

Hone Hiko ihen undertook fche interpreting, but his knowledge of English failed him and the Premier had to object to him. At this stage an adjournment was made for lunch.

Later in the afternoon the natives re-assembled in the meeting-room, Mr Gray being reinstated as interpreter. The Premier said if anything was to be said he would like it to be as short as possible, and his reply would be the reply of the Government. The road was bad, and he would like to get out before dark. Waitara invited the Premier to remain in Parihaka for the night. The Premier said he had previously made arrangements which he must keep, which prevented his accepting their hospitality. Mrs Simeon then appealed to Te Whiti if there was anything troubling him to make it all freely known to the Premier and he would heal up their grievances, but if the Premier did not know what was troubling them how could he do anything to help them.

Te Whiti told her to sit down and not interfere. She was the friend of the European, and she had nothing to do with them.

Mrs Simeon gaid: You are wrong. My heart wishes to see justice done to the natives, and I advise you what is best 10 be done now that the Premier has come.

Te Whiti again declined her interfering, and said if the Premier had come to Parihaka to say anything he had better say it, as he (Te Whiti) had nothing to say to him. The Premier then said, following European custom, if Te Whiti had nothing to say, then he was prepared to hear what anybody else might have to say to him. An old chief replied there were only two to speak—Te Whiti and the Premier.

The Premier said he was pleased to find they had no grievance. It was the only place in the colony where the natives had not a grievance of some sort. Rumour had again been wrong, as he heard before he came that they had many grievances. As they had nothing more to say he would order the horses.

Te Whiti asked what grievances had he heard of, and who had talked of them. The Premier said he had heard from Te Whiti that law and litigation had done thorn wrong.

Te Whiti said who first mentioaed the law. The Premier: You did.

Te Whiti: That is wrong. Let the matter drop. It is only childishness continuing. The Premier said many people had tried to prevent him coming, but he had promised and determined to come. He had seen enough without hearing anything to enable him to judge that good would come from his visit.

Te Whiti said if the Premier had finished he would like him to stay for the night as it had got so latt. The Premier said it gave him pleasure to find there was no complaint, and that in his presence Te Whiti was dumb.

Te Whiti asked what was meant by that.

The Premier explained that Te Whiti had nothing to say. Te Whiti said if he asked him to come it would then be for him to speak, but now who has to say anything. The Premier said let him answer the question. Te Whiti said the Premier has come to Parihaka and has nothing to say. Me mutu (let it be finished). The Premier then visited Tohu's place, and after the greetings were over Tohu wanted to know who had sent for the Premier to come to Parihaka. The Premier replied Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., was responsible for his visit. Tohu disclaimed any knowledge of such an invitation.

Shortly afterwards the Premier left for RahotUj he gtayed for the night. .-■'"-'"