AN INTERVIEW WITH TE WHITI

Temuka Leader, Issue 1542, 7 August 1886, Page 3

AN INTERVIEW WITH TE WHITI

TE I WHITI A JXNATIC, AND CLAIMS TO BE GOD. ■ Wo hate been ’supplied with information concerning Te Whiti and his preei • • .'Views which «ill be of interest to th* public; as showing clearly that Te W. i still tries JO delude his followers, or U really a monomaniac. A reverend gentlf - man visited Peribaka during the N-t native meeting, and remained in f t; settlement foiTthree days, being desirous of ascertaining what To Wbiti-ism really means. The gentleman we allude to is « Maori scholar, and understands the native character thoroughly. On the first day of his visit Te Whiti received him with marked kindness, and entertained bin with his free; hospitality. On sitting down to dinner, our visitor told Te Whiti it was his custom to ask a blessing before pariaklog of food, and after war'h to return thanks lo the Giver of all go id, and he was about to say grace, when T« Whiti stopped him, saying, “ You cai not ask a blessing-of anyone but me.” The following dialogue then ensued Visitor: Wbat do you mean 1 Te Whiti; I say, if you w«m a blessing, you must ask me—l am Gsd. Visitor; I will not ask you for a bles - ing in that way, but when our meat is over I will return you thanks, according to the European custom, for your kindness in entertaining me. But I wilt not take any food unless I ask a blessing from God. After a few more words, To Wi i t remained silent, and our visitor, cm>iiruiog.it into giving consent, asked '

blessing. After dinner was over, our visitor rose, t and said he desired to acknowledge T< Whiti’s kindness to him, but as Te Wiiiti •■aid he was God it would not matter if he (the visitor) epoke in, Greek, Maori, or English, as God could understand all languages. Ihe visitor then addressed Te Whiti in English, before the assembled natives, thanking Te Whiti for his hospitality, ■ and complimenting him on the excellent food- that had been placed before tbe Europeans and the native chiefs. Hs said that Te Whiti would admit that the * natives had derived much that was good from the Europeans, and the sumptuous dinner —consisting of fowls, roaat beef, ■fruit, jellies, etc.—was an evidence that the natives were not slow in. appreciating the European dishta. -After the rev, gentleman had spoken ■ . for some time, Te Whiti began to look foolish, as hr, of course, could not understand what was being said. At last one of the aged chiefs interrupted the speaker, -by asking why-he spoke to To Whiti ; n ; English, when Te Whiti could not under- : Btttnddtv !

The reverend gentleman exclaimed, “■Ah*! I knew Te Whiti was not God,

nod this proves it. Of course, he does not understand what I say, and I will 1 now speak to him, as I would to any other Maori, in his own language.” This completely nonplussed the prophet, who became exceedingly sulky, and would hardly apeak for the remainder ef tie day.On the following day, our]visitor aaked Te Whiti if he was gome to address the -natives, as he wonld Hke to hear him speak. In fact, he had come a lone way on account of baying been told that Te Whiti bad something good to say to his people, and be would not likejtojgo away r- disappointed. ' Te-Whiti replied that he did not intend to speak, and showed very keenly tbat .be bad-not recovered bis equanimity from the contretemps of the preceding day. It also came to tbe reverend .gentle* : man’s knowledge that Te Whiti bad been ** saying spiteful things to tie effect that the clergyman had only visited Parihaka ' as a spy, and not as a friend, and desired td “ sponge ”on Te Whiti. On hearing tlrs, the clergyman insisted on paying for every meal he had had, and his example was followed by several native i chiefs who were also visitors, Te Whiti -took the money from the clergyman, but declined to accept it from the native chiefs.

On the third day, finding that ie WHiti did not intend to speak, the reverend gentleman was making preparations for taking his departure, when a number of chiefs came to him and

asked him what his opiaioa was of Te Whiti, They admitted themselves that ■ J they were beginning to have their doubts concerning Te Whiti’# professions. The clergyman told them that, as TejWhiti had accused him of being a spy, he would ’ not give the natives his opinion of Te Whiti, for it would only give the latter an opportunity of speaking apitefally. but if they liked he would draw them a picture. He said { “Your potatoes at home are sprouting ; they are getting long ■ 'sprouts and are turning yellow. Pre- ’ - gently you plant them, and after a time, when they should be ripe, you dig them up and find' no roots—they are all leaves —and you feel that you have wasted your time/

The natives understood that’this was applied Whiti, and since then there haj? been a depided doubting amongst the natives as to the genuineness of his alleged supernatural powers. (Jnr visitor then left f feeling that Te Whiti was one of the greatest humbugs or fanatics of the News.