TE WHITI, THE PROPHET.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 819, 26 June 1879, Page 2

TE WHITI, THE PROPHET.

[From the TaranaTci Herald.] , PAMHiKA has for years been a resort for the disaffected natives m New Zealand ; it has m fact been looked upon as a general receptacle for Maori vagabondage m difficulties, which was kept m order by a man whose influence has been obtained more by his mental superiority, and his reputation as a prophet, than from any distinction gained by hostile encounters. With the Europeans TeWhiti first came prominently to the front when the Lord Worsley was wrecked m Te Namu Bay, he being mainly instrumental m saving the gold from the steamer ; and generally on that occasion behaving remarkably well towards the passengers and crew. He afterwards became involved m the troubles of the times, and has since consistently held himself aloof, and gathered around him all the elements of inactive hostility to the Government and pakeha. Besides the incongruous lot he gathered at Parihaka, Te Whiti attracted natives outside it to visit him by holding meetings monthly— and a sort of " Parliament" every half-year. The great features of native meetings are the feasts; and Te Whiti has always taken care that the commissariat portion of his entertainments is' well attended to. These meetings have at last become an instutition amongst the natives, and regularly on the 17th March and the 17th September large assemblages of Maoris from all parts of New Zealand are to be iound at Parihaka. It is at them that Te Whiti holds forth, and those who have heard him, and who know the natives language, speak of his speeches as being eloquent and masterly display of Maori oratory. With such a gift, his mind well stored with Maori lore and information, obtained either by reading or orally from those Euro-, peans who had visited him from time to time, it is not suprisingTe Whiti should have obtained the power he now has over his people, and even over those natives outßide Parihaka who regulary attended his meetings. Year after year Te Whiti's power over ; the ; natives on .the West Coast has.been increasing and r year after year has his influence spread, until at last he has 'assumed a position dangerous to the State. The increasing influence has been no more a secret to past Governments than it is no#to the present Ministry, for the growing power has been repeatedly brought under the v notice of the Native Ministers during the past ten years by the late Civil Commissioner, Mr. ParrU. It is time, however, that Buch a state of things should cease, and that Te Whiti having challenged the Government to a trial of strength oh the question of the confiscated lands, the gauntle.t should be taken up, and whether the matter is decided by the tongue, or the more formidable " snider," it should be done at once and quickly. In reasoning with the Maoris, the Government must not be content to use words, even should they take the f >nn of threats, fulminations, proclamations, or enacted law. They must argue with them by deed, for the Maori is too well acquainted with falsehood, and too skilful an adept at bounce, not to know that the weak man may use that power as well as the strong. The Government must be prepared to do a thing before they say they are going to do it ; and they must carry out their promises, their threats, and their other declared plans and intentions. They must reason by acts and not by words ; for so long as the former are left unaccomplished, the Maori will consider those arguments incomplete.