Native Affairs. THE PARIHAKA MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1559, 24 September 1881, Page 22

Native Affairs. THE PARIHAKA MEETING.

(from our own correspondent ) Wellington, September 19bb. Although persistent cffortß are being made in certain quarters to work up a Maori '•scwo," I still adhere to my opinion that there U nothing serious in it, ko far at any rato. In support < i thid vie"/ 1 in&y quote telegram 3 received to-night by the Government, which have been courteously placed at my disposal,

1 The? are from three Independent sources, In every way trustworthy. ' One says: "A well-known fnandly chief who was at Parihaka meeting says Te Whiti's speech was not warlike in character, and that there will be no fighting on the part of the Maoris. There will be fencing, planting, and talking, but bo fighting. No guns will be used. He estimates the number at Parihaka meeting at 1000 full-grown men and 240 lads. The second says : " There is nothing fresh at Pungarehu. Three Natives arrived from Parihaka to-day. They were surprised at the report of threatened hostilities, and told me that a party of Ngatiawa were returning to their homes to-morrow." The third telegram runs thus : " There is nothing particular. The Natives said this morning that Te Whiti had explained last night the real meaning of his address delivered on Saturday. He said he did not mean to fight, and warned them to be very cantious, and not to bring the power of the Government on them, and to be sure not to be the first to strike a blow, but to carry on the work ; and he cautioned them not to give a literal meaning to his speeches until they were explained."