TE WHITI'S SPEECH ON MONDAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3882, 4 November 1881, Page 2

TE WHITI'S SPEECH ON MONDAY.

The following is a fuller report of Te Whiti's speech on Monday, which has been forwarded to the iV. Z. Times .•— Te Whiti spoke twice and Tohu once, the speeches lasting three hours. They advocate peace, but a continual residence at Parihaka, and commanded their followers to be large of heart and steadfast. If a native attempted to escape, he would run into danger, and if he took a gun to defend himself, or seek to kill, he might as well shoot himself. They were told that no harm should come to them ; on the contrary, this day of attack upon them would prove their final salvation, and triumph over their enemies by peaceful means. The men were to rest quietly. Tohu said the present aspect of the native question would not change, and that the Europeans would still be alarmed and continue to muster at

Pungarehu ; but they were contemptuously spoken of, not as fighting men, but simply to guard the stockade and embankment. The idea of a shot being fired was ignored, and th«result of the excitement was spoken of as being thar the natives should live undisturbed on the land to the glory of the most fli^ 1 Go-i, who was directing all. The two points he laid most stress upon, were direct ions to : remain where they where in their present atj titude, and fearlessly await the result. All inquiries as to the means to the end would be futile, and the natives were told not to listen to the words of Satan — that is, the Government. It would appear that the present meeting was convened for the purpose of encouraging the natives, and also to collect all at Parihaka and keep them there. There is not the slightest likelihood of submission, and there are no preparations for defence other than a determination to remain altogether at Parihaka— men, women, and children. Tohu told them that not one of them should be hurt, and none should be arrested, because there was no reason for their arrest, with the exception perhaps of himself. The idea of the natives living on any other land than Parihaka is ridiculed by Te Whiti and Tohu, who said that this alone is the sacred portion of land for the natives. It may be in. the recollection of your readers that, some months ago, Te Whiti gave the boundaries of his sacred land as being at Okaeawa, which is about three miles north of Opunake and Wairongomai, a small stream four miles north of Parihaka, and it is to preserve this that he is carrying on his obstructive fencing. Inquiries made from the natives lead, however, to the supposition that he would agitate for other lauds, even if he got those indicated as his own.