NATIVE MEETING AT PARIHAKA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3419, 26 March 1879, Page 3

NATIVE MEETING AT PARIHAKA.

[SPECIAL.]

WELLINGTON, Mabch 25,

I Te Whiti's annual meeting was held on March 18, when about 3000 Natives wero

t -resent ; bufc ifc was a decided failure from he Native point of view, Te Whiti saying the xpeefced one had nofc arrived. Up to tho ►resent his cardinal doctrine has been to

preserve peace on the West Coast, and the pative Minister, fearing lio might bo driven fcowards the party which desires violent

pneaßureß, determined to pay him a visit [before leaving Opunake. However, Mr Sheehan wrote to Te Whiti, stating he was {coming to see him, not to talk businoss, but ias a matter of porsonal respect, in recognition !of his strenuous efforts for many years buck to preserve the peaco of the West Coast. Tho only obstacle to such a visit, Mr Sheehan said, was the presence of tho murderer Hiroki, who, he observed, had been allowed to take part in To Whiti's meeting, and he wished Te Whiti to understand that if Hiroki was thus allowed to act, he (the Native Minister) would at once return his letter. Te Whiti read this to his runanga, who considered it reasonable and right. Hiroki was accordingly placed under somo restraint, and not allowed to obtrude himself.

Mr Sheehan was well recoived on arrival, and the first day's meeting was spent in verbal fencing between tho Minister and To Whiti, each trying to got the other to begin. Three hours were thus spent in sparring in tho presence of 3000 auditors. The result was decidedly in Mr Sheehan's favour. The meeting was adjourned to noxfc morning afc nine o'clock, bufc in fche interim Te Whiti's people loudly expressed dissatisfaction with his conduct, saying thafc now fche expected one had como, tho only thing Te Whiti had fco do was to ask him what he had to say, instead of tolKing to him himself. This feeling waa so strong that upwards of 1000 natives leffc before the proceedings commenced next day, and the placo of meoting was accordingly only hall: filled. Afc fche opening of fche proceedings, Major Brown announced that tho Government had appointed Rauapere, To Whiti's elder brother, and a higher Chief, to bo a Nativo Assessor, he liaving previously been Chief of fche Government Police in the settlement, in which capacity he had acted so well as to justify tho promotion. The Native Minister then rose, and said liis visit was only ono of respect to To Whiti in acknowledgment of his efforts in the cause of peace. He felfc sorry for tho people's sake, not his own or that of To Whiti, that the previous day waa wasted without any substantial work bufc ho was now prepared to speak on one condition, that ho should be allowed to finish without interruption.

To Whiti agreed to this, and

Mr Sheehan said thero was not much to speak about, but thero wero two burning questions. One was Hiroki, tho othor tho Waimate Plains. As t ) Hiroki, ho had littlo to say. Hiroki stood charged with a capital offence, and nothing could relievo him of this, but standing trial boforo tho ordinary legal tribunals. For many reasons tho Government did nofc desiro fco attempt force to tako him, but his deliverance up to Justice was necessary, preliminary to any final settlement of questions between the Natives and the Government.

Te Whiti horo interrupted Mr Sheehan, and asked how would Hiroki be tried, and would any Maoris be on the Jury. Mr Sheohan roplied that tho law allowed half tho jury to bo Maoris. To Whiti soomed surprised at this, and asked would the Court como to Parihaka to try him.

Mr Sheohan said no. The Supremo Court only sat afc certain places at certain times. Hiroki must bo tried in the ordinary course. Referring to tho Waimate Plains, Mr Sheohan Baid tho land had beon confiscated 14 years ago as punishment for' the rebellion, Ho was only tho instrument of tho law in carrying out the completion of this survey, and on ita completion, tho old owners would be consulted as to the reserve to be mado for them. The Government would deal with them more liberally than it had dealt with othors, but tho survey must go on as tho land was taken with the authority of tho law, and Parliament had sanctioned it.

To Whiti immediately jumped up and asked who tho Parliament wero, and pointing to his pooplo said thoy were tho only Parliament he know, and they had not consented. Ho continued to talk in this strain excitedly for half an hour, asserting that tho Europeans had stolon the Maori lands under tho pretence of confiscation.

Mr Sheohan reminded To Whiti of his promise not to interrupt, but no notico being

taken Mr Sheehan quietly safe down and lit his pipo. When Te Whiti sat down, Mr Sheehan rose and said : " Whon I began I especially demanded to bo allowed to finish without interruption, and jJJ/T^/zed. You havo broken this condition, and I shall talk no further with you. Thon turning to tbo people he said I have said enough to mako my meaning clear. This work is being dono with the law, and thoso who oppose it do ao afc fcheir peril." The meeting then closed. Mr Sheehan afterwards spoke fco Te Whiti privately, telling him thafc typhoid fever had broken oufc amongst the Waitara natives, and warning him not to lot his people go near them. Te Whiti appeared much alarmed. Thero is no doubt that the more recent in-

torruption of tho survey has Te Whiti's f anction, as ho haa two reasons for countenancing it. In the first place he was deeply chagrined at being worsted iv the debate by Mr Sheehan, and in the second place, Titokowaru, who was present, and who is anxious for a moderate settlement of the difficulties, waa, after Mr Shoohan's departure, charged by the natives with taking Government monoy on account of the lands in dispute. Titokowaru indefenco denied this, and said Te Whiti was to blame for it all, because when the survey waa begun first, he went to To Whiti and asked if it was to be opposed. Te Whiti replied no. The presumption therefore is fchafc, in consequence of this statement, Te Whiti now feels himself constrained, in order to preserve his own influence, to lend himaelf to the violent party. It is quite certain, and should be remembered to Titokowaru's credit, that a section of the meeting was in favour of killing ono or more of the surveyors, but Titokowaru said he woidd nofc agree to anything of the kind. He had tried thatgame, and found it did not answer. All he would conj sent to was to put the surveyors across the river wifchoufc force or violence.

The statement mado that at Parihaka the meeting was a failure from a Government point of viow, is unfounded. If anything, it was too successful, as the Natives themselves say that this alteration in To Whiti's line of conduct is mainly due to his discomfiture in argument by Mr Sheehan. The statement that Mr Sheehan and party shook hands wifch Hiroki is absolutely false. Hiroki was in the body of the meeting, but was not permitted to take any part in the proceedings on Mr Sheehan B firmly demanding his surrender to justice.