NATIVE MEETING AT PARIAKA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 971, 30 March 1870, Page 8 (Supplement)

NATIVE MEETING AT PARIAKA.

[fbom our special correspondent.]

The important meeting at Pariaka, so long anticipated and prepared for, has at length assembled. It will be remembered that the head chief at this place is named To Witi, who has gained a great ascendancy over not only the Taranaki Natives, to whom he belongs, but also over tho Ngatiawa and Ngatiruanui ; it is eveu said that his opinions are regarded as of some weight even at the headquarters of kingism — Tokaugamutu. The 17th of March was the day announced on which the gathering would take place, and the talk to commence on the ensuing day, and finding that ordinary visitors were not forbidden to invade the seclusion in which Te Wiii has hitherto surrounded himself, I took the opportunity ulforded of paying a visit to this celebrated place aud see the more celebrated chief and prophet whose influence for good or evil is now so great. It may give a clue to Te Wiii's character to observe that on the wreck of the ' Lord Worsley' at To Nainu, he was mainly instrumental in saving the gold, aud generally ou that occasion behaved remarkably well towards the passengers and crew. Since that period he has become involved in the troubles of the time, and has consistently held aloof from the Government and gathered to himself all the elements of inactive hostility to the Government and the pakeha. Iv fact it may be said of him, as of David of old, lie gathered unto him all who were in debt or difficulty, and salted the incongruous mass into something like a patriotic gathering. Paraikain fact has b^en looked upon as a general receptacle for Maori vagabondage in ditficulties, kept in order by a mau whose influence was obtained by mental superiority and his reputation as a prophet than from any distinction gained by hostile encounters with the our soldiery. No clear idea has hitherto been given of the whereabouts of this celebrated refuge. If the reader will take a good map of the coast which includes the mountain, and measure from the Town of New Plymouth twenty-eight miles along the coast in the direction of Opnnake, he will reach the wreck of the 'Marchioness;' seven miles from this in the direction of Mount Egmont will give the site of Pariaka. It is just within the edge of the forest, and on the banks of a river which empties itself iuto the sea near the Harriet beach. 1 found on my arrival five European visitors : I noticed the Civil Commissioner, Mr. Parris j Major Brown, M.H.R. ; Mr. T. Kelly, M.H.R., and a few others. The site of the village is reached by passing through several abandoned and a few new forest clearings. The news of the arrival of the friendly natives and the pakehas was soon passed on, and on turning round one of the small hillocks and coniiug in Bight of the village, a truly picturesque sight presented itself. One of the mounds near the entrance of the village was crowded with men, women, and children, dressed in gay colours, and under the direction of a master of ceremonies, who dispensed with dress as an incntnbrance. They burst out into one harmonious and continued shout of welcome. The only resemblance I can call to mind that gives an adequate idea of it is the fall of a heavy surf on the beach, so sustained was it, and so perfect the harmony ; it was again and again repeated, and was gradually softened down, and died away. At a signal, as we dismounted, the whole mass rushed within the enclosure of the village, and again the vast volume of sound burst on our pleased ear, while our eyes were entertained with the kaleidescopic view of the mingled colonrs of the ever varying mass, as it swajed hither and thither under an admirable leader, who had taken great pains by the aid of charcoal to make himself look like our early visions of the author of evil. Oar surprises were not ended — the whole population seemed to retire to an elevated positiou at one end of the village, while the visitors remained at the other — between them was secured a small mountain of provisions of all descriptions. Now a kind of vooal concert took place, I suppose for our entertainment, which consisted of a kind of successive aud not inharmonious shouts, which must have been very trying to the chests of the performers. It formed a singular picture — at our feet lay the whares with their groups of inhabitants in the distance, the singers or shouter.s performing with great gusto and apparent enjoyment, and a most magnificent view of Mount Egrnout in the far dislauce. The ceremonies of welcome having ended, the important matter of dividing the food was taken in hand. As I said before, a small mountain of provisions lay before ns, consisting of some 2,000 kits of potatoes and kumeras, 100 kits of apples, about the same of karaka kernels — the whole crowned with a layer of dried shark and fifty dead pigs. A committee was formed, and after some consultation one of the principal men with a staff of office, I suppose, called on all the tribes, striking the mass with his stick and naming some for each. Subsequently another ceremony was performed before it was actually measured off, and when finished, each tribe took in charge their specinc portion — fires were soon lighted, and the feast commenced before the food was half cooked.

On Friday, the 18th March, at 2 p.m., the korero commenced, of which the following is a digest of what was said.

TEWnrTiroseand commenced the businessof the meeting by Btating that the questions for tho consideration of the people assembled, were three in number — namely, the Government, the King, and the prophets — all of whom, he said, had got iuto confusion and disorder, which must be remedied and a better state of things established. He said he belonged to both the Government and to the King, but the ruling of both was bad. As to the prophets, he must emphatically condemu them, as they had been guilty of perverting the truth. One he referred to personally — Tamati Teito — who he considered was an idiot (porewarewa).

It is as well Lo mention here that Te Whiti (who was one of the few who embraced Hauhauism) has reoently been studying the scriptures, consequently he scarcely uttered a sentence at the meeting without quoting from the bible. His imperfect knowledge of the scriptures, together with the secluded life he has led for the last ten years, has filled his mind with notions that are exceedingly primitive.

Te Whiti then asked the Civil Commissioner to inform him what were the intentions of the Government with regard to Tito Kowaru and his people, and when they were to be allowed to return to their own district.

Mr. Parris replied that Tito Kowarn was living with his people quietly, and no one was interfering with them ; but as regarded their returning to their own district, he could say nothing about that.

Te Whiti then asked what was doing in Te Kooti's case, and whether hostilities would be discontinued.

Mr. Parris replied that he could not inform him npon that subject.

Te Whiti : If it is to be peace, it must be peace for all — all have sinned — let all be forgiven. Mr. Pareis then explained to Ta Whiti that if he really desired to spo peace and order restored in the conntry, that the first duty incumbent npon him (Te Whiti), was to purify his own district, which having done he would then be free to advise others.

Te VVhiTI then asked : What is there for me to do in Tarpnaki more than I have done ? For tv,-o yeais weapons of war have been laid aside, and yon (Mr. Parris), have been making roads and building flax mills — what more do you want ?

Mr. Parkis told him he wanted to come to an nnderstanding about making a road through the district, and wanted Te Whiti's people to do the work the same as William King, Hone Pihaina, andManaiu'b people were doing iv their districts.

Te Warn here, suddenly rose, and warned the meeting to be cautious lest they should be left without land, and become as illegitimate children. Then, turning to Mr. Parris, he asked if the road was all he wanted, and did he not want a great deal more than was necessary ? He thought Mr. Parris was concealing his thoughts from him. He (Te Whiti) wanted a mill himself. Mr. Pa rkis l-eplied that he was afraid to talk about mills before the road was made, and then urged him co give a direct answer whether he (Te Whiti) would agree for the road to be made, and for his people to make it. Te Whiti said he would ; and continued : Take the people with you — make the road — take them to town j let them have access to everything, and if they steal or get drunk mind you don't imprison them. The road and the town are both alike — your's and mine. Although this speech, to all appearance, was favourable to the Enropeans, the natives, who accompanied Mr. Parris, considered it was ironically meant and not sincere. It was delivered in his usual obscure and mystical manner, which has left some doubt upon the mindo of the hearers as to what he really meant with reference to the road. Tho friendly natives who, also, heard him are of opinion that nntil the Ngatiruanui tribe are more settled down and cease to wander about from place to place, that little will be done to settle the question satisfactorily. He is shrewd enough to know that as long as natives belonging to other tribes use his district as a place of refuge, he must be careful how he makes uureserved concessions to the Government. After some other subjects had been spoken of the meeting broke np, and Mr. Civil Commissioner Parris, and the natives who accompanied him left, and returned to town, where they arrived on Monday evening, 21sfc March. On the evening of March 23, Mr. Commissioner Parris received a letter from one of the chiefs, named Piripi Kiore, which has been placed at our disposal for publication. Knowing that more than one meaning is often to be taken from a translation, we publish a copy of the original letter in Maori with translation attached, which evidently conveys the meaning that they understand that the road is to be made. The following is the letter referred to :—: — 1. Maehe, tau ariki. 2. Maehe, taa o te reme. 3. Maehe, tan o te wakaora i nga tupapakn. Ko tenei ratea te ra kotahitanga o te kingitanga raua ko te Kawauatanga me nga rangatiratanga i te ao katoa, kotahi tinana, kotahi wairua kotahi wakaoi-anga. He kupu kotahi tenei no enci tokotoru no to ra tenei o Parete raua ko te Whiti i tv ai i to raua marae i Pariakaka i wakaowatitia tenei o raua i to raua marae tapu i Parihaka ki runga ki nga tnmuaki o te iti o te rahi na ko tenei wakaoawati na te tapu o nga tapu c kore c whati whamake me ona wakmupuranga. Tenei ano tetahi kua tukuua a Te Whiti i te ruri kitei te ringa o Parete me tona motu waihoki, ko Parete kua tuku ite Taone ki aTe Whiti. No te kotahitanga tenei waka o wakaaowati. Ka mutu tenei. Tenei ano tetahi, na ka herea c ah an nga hihi ote ra o te maratna, na ka turia te takutai o te moana. Na kia rongo mai koe mehemea kahore tenei c mohiolia c koe mau c vi ki au, maku o haere atu kitei te tari, maku c raea ki taku c ruea ai. Kai Parete, na Piripi Kiore. [translation] I 1. March the year of the Lord. 2. March the year of the Lamb. [ 3. March the year for a general reconciliation. This day is the day for nniting and joining as one tho King, tha Government, and all chieftainships ; to bo as one body, one spirit, one administration. This is one word ol" those three, of this day of Parris and Te Whiti as thc:y stood in their garden, or enclosure, at Pariaka, and took the oath, both of them, in their sacred garden at Pariaka, in the presence of the elders of small and great. This oath, sacred in itself, will not be broken, but will flow on aad produce growth. This is something else. Te Whiti has given the road into the hands of Parris, and, also, the island, and Parris has given To Whiti the town (access to the town), by this oath of allegiance. That is all of that. This is something else. If I were to tie (to stop or oppose) the rays of the sun and moon, the sea coast would become obstinate (a fignrativo expression intended to convey some obscure meaning of the writer). If yon should not comprehend what this means, ask mo when I arrive at your office, and I will explain what I mean. To Mr. Parris, from Piripi Kiore.

Taranaki Militia. — Mr. C. D. WbUoombehas been gazetted au ensign in the Taranaki Mnitia, his commission diting from 7th February, 18/0.

Editorial. — We understand that Mr. Ilonry Anderson is at present editor of the Auckland Evening Star.

Friendly Peeling of the Maohi King.— The Maori King is reported to be drawing his people into his own country, and to have invited the Ngatirankawa, in order to have them out of the way should Te Kooti endeavour to make back to Patetere.

Resignations of M.H.R.'s. — Messrs. Burns and Cargill, both of Otago, have resigned their seats in the General Assembly.

Supplying Akms to the Natives. — It is announced in the Government Gazette that a reward of £100 will be paid to any one giving such information as will lead to the conviction of any person guilty of the capital offence of supplying arms and ammunition to rebels, under the 23rd section of the " Arms Act Amendment Act, 18G9." A reward of £50 will be paid to any one giving such information as well lead to the conviction of any person of a felony or misdemeanour under the following sections of " The Arms Act, I860," that is lo say, sections 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 3G, 38, — or any amendment or alteration thereof. The above rewards will be paid only after conviction. The informant's name will not be divulged without his own consent, except where it is necessary that he should give evidence in Court. In the case of accomplices giving information leading to conviction, a free pardon will be granted in addition to the reward.

Escape fkoji Drowning. — One of Mr. B. W. Stafford's sons, a lad of about six years of age, while engaged in fishing iv the Maiti River, fell into the water, and was nearly drowned.

Confiscated Lands. — We understiind that it is the intention of the Patea aud Waifotara settlers to memorialise the Government to sell all confiscated land, together with Government and native reserves, to hona fide settlers. We aro of opinion that the Go vern'menc could not do anything better calculated to maintain peace iv these districts. It is the desire of the settlers that land so disposed of, should be in blocks consisting of from 100 to 200 acres, and this to settlers alone. We are sure that if the Government would tako this action, it would draw many settlers to the district, and would do rmch to add to itsperm,anent security. — Wanganui Herald.

His Honor Me. Justice Richmond. — The following estimate of Mr. Justice Richmond's character we take from the Wellington Independent'. — "Amiable in a high degree, unselfish and au",ii«' , '■f'Wg, he is natnrally impulsive and h apt to allow his gonerons disposition to be milu n uucd by those in intimate connexion with himself. His conscientiousness would preserve him from their influence in any case judicially before him, but in a matter not on record, especially if it is politically flavoured, ho advocates their cause as his own ; their parry is his party and their prejudices form his conviction. It was this tnisdirecced enthusiasm which led him to commit the Colony to tbe Waitara war."