NATIVE OBSTRUCTIONISTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3493, 22 July 1880, Page 2

NATIVE OBSTRUCTIONISTS.

FULLER PARTICULARS OF THE ARRESTS.

It is a matter of geueral satisfaction that the notorious Te Whetu is taken after his lawless career. We have already stated that he was the native who murdered Brady, atWarea. Having once dipped his hands in blood, and the law having proved too feeble to mete out justice, the wily savage has become one of the most dangerous fanatics. He lately asked permission from Te Whiti to shoot some of the road party working beyond Werekino, but Te Whiti replied, '• If you shoot the Pakeha, you do it at your own risk ; I will not protect you."' This answer is characteristic of Te Whiti ; for, although he may be considered a fanatic, he is certainly not a blood-thirsty one. Te Whiti has preached peace all along, and he has acted out his professions, as there can be no doubt he has restrained many a meditated act of violence on the part of his followers. There is one thing noticeable with respect to the recent arrest — namely, the authorities have exercised a vigilant supervision over the actions of Te VVlietu, aud the moment he appears on the scene as an obstructionist, he and his party are immediately arrested. When Te Whetu was recognised among the natives, the order was immediately issued by Captain Newall to "arrest that man," pointing to the 111visaged and repulsive savage. As soon as Ie Whetu understood the nature of the command he shouted, " No ! no I" and tried to get away, but one of the A.C. named Harrison nimbly tackled Te Whetu, and with the assistance of one or two others, rolled the savage on the ground, aud unceremoniously handcuffed him. The remainder of the party were arrested without difficulty. One of the natives arrested on Tuesday, is a well-dressed young fellow named Bangi, of Kihihi, in the Waikato, and is well-known there. The natives about Parihaka state that they intend to continue the fencing for ten days, and they fully expect to be arrested. On Tuesday morning, natives were seen on the hillocks I overlooking the road near the camp, evidently on the look-out to see if the prisoners were j taken to town. The natives about Parihaka i are continuing their planting, fencing, Sec, as usual, aud argument is wasted on them. They say that Christ was crucih'ed and the prophets persecuted, and so it is with them. Tney are so thoroughly under the influence of Te Whiii that they will obey his instructions iv every particular. There is one point respecting the fencing, which it is not advisable should be overlooked. If the fencing across the road is not for the purpose of stopping traffic, but merely to protect the crops of the natives, it is a pity the Government did not cause a feuce to be erected on each side of the road where it leads through the native cultivations. Had that course been adopted the real object of the natives iv fencing would have been apparent, but, as it is, they can shelter themselves behind the plea that they were only protecting their cultivations.