INTERVIEW BETWEEN MR. R. GRAHAM AND TE WHITI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3517, 19 August 1880, Page 2

INTERVIEW BETWEEN MR. R. GRAHAM AND TE WHITI.

! Mr. R. Graham, of Auckland, accompanied by Wi Marsh te Rangikaheke, paid a visit to Parihaka on Tuesday, returning to town last evening. When they arrived there Tohu was finishing his speech. After the speech was ended, Mr. Graham was invited to Te Whiti's whare, and was introduced to the prophet. Mr. Graham said (addressing Te Whiti) : You saved vay life at the wreck of the Lord Worsley. I was one of the passengers whom you saved. Te Whiti : Yes, I recognise you. Mr. G raham said : Show me your right hand that I may be satisfied it is you. Mr. Graham and the prophet then shook hands cordially. ■ After a few minutes silence, Mr. Graham said : " You are called Te Whiti now, but I knew you in the old days as Eruiti," and adding, " You were so friendly towards the pakeha when the Lord Worsley was wrecked, and saved the lives of the Europeans ; how is it now that you are causing all this trouble with the pakeha ?" Te Whiti made no reply. After some further remarks on minor subjects, Mr. Graham retired to his whare. A short time afterwards Patara came and visited Mr. Graham, and entered into conversation with him. Mr. Graham asked Patara why Te Whiti was causing this trouble '? Patara replied : Oh, it will all come right. Wo shall continue the fencing. First the men will go, aud when they are all taken, the women will take their places, and when they too ai-p. made prisoners the children will go to the fences. After that Te Whiti and Tohu will go themselves to the fences, and will be taken prisoners. Patara also compared the Government to Satan, and said their works were the works of Satan. He said : Do you think if we intended to fight we would allow all our fighting men to be taken away ? We have no intention of lighting. Mr. Graham also freely conversed with other natives, and they were all confident that Te Whiti would bring them out of all trouble. They were determined to abide by the counsels of the prophet to the end. Having seen the principal chiefs at Parihaka and obtained a clear insight into their feelings, Mr. Graham took his leave, having obtained a most friendly reception.

There are about GOO New Zealand entries, at the Melbourne Exhibition, as compared with 583 at the Sydney Exhibition. Dr. Hector has reported to the Commission that the entries received up to the present were distributed as follows: — Auckland 42 exhibits, Thames 39, Gisborne 1, Napier 32, New Plymouth 5, Wanganui 17 Wellington 89, Blenheim 5, Nelson 35, Greymouth 3, Hokitika 10, Christchurch 105, Timaru 3, Onrnaru 6, Dunedin 123, Invercargill 50, and Queenstown y