NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3492, 20 June 1879, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

[By Telbgbaph.]

[SPECIAL.]

NEW PLYMOUTH, June 19.

I The special reporter of the Press Association states that there were 800 Natives present at Parihaka. They had a large quantity of food, and all seemed content and happy. The wot weather prevents them from moving about. Feasting took placo on Tuesday. Te Whiti epoke first, and waa listened to very attentively and continually applauded. The following ia a literal translation of the first speeoh of Te Whiti : lam the man who stopped the rains out of heaven, and flooded the lands with fighting. lam the man who spoiled the land in the place I chose to do it. If any man molests me I will talk to him with my tongue ; that is the weapon with which I will fight. Whoever believes in evil women cannot be one of my followers. I will cast him out. The time is fast approaching, even now at hand, when all will be ended, the heavens shut 5 all things enacted now on earth, people, nations, and tongues under _ my feet j all theso things will be givon me. All men war against me, the heavens will come down and the water be disturbed and muddy. You will not see it clear. Your great earthquakes will be in divers places. Men will bo shaken and will stoop to me. All the sayings of the Prophets of old will now be accomplished. I will rejoice and bo exceedingly glad because the end is near. In old times God and Satan worked good and evil. It is God and I who work all things. The man standing before you now is Satan and God in one. My work is now nearly accomplished. I will not address you at any length thia time. Many walk in dark and turn to evil. Let him go in his evilwaya. Those who choose light, let them walk thero. Keip what I say in your minds and cherish it ; do not lot it Blip from your memory. I have been crying like one singing in the wilderness, calling sinners to repentance j come to me and be saved. So long as you remain with me no man shall harm you. The mighty shall laugh at you because you are poor and lowly-mindod, but wait till you see them humble themselves and bow to our feet. I will look after and protect you. It rejoices my heart to see you all come in time to thia happy place. I, Te Whiti, will stop war for ever. Thia is the laßt generation of tha world. Te Whiti continued in this strain for a considerable time, stating that this world belonged to him, and calling himself Jesus Christ, and saying that if Government wero to send large forces to Parihaka, and take him and crucify him, that after three days he would rise again. He said he would not offer any resistance to the soldiers whon they came, .but/, .would gladly let them crucify him. Pte boasted that the Government was determined to continue the survey on the Elains, but said that he would not fight. Then e stated that he had received a telegram from Sir G. Grey on f Jan. 17, in which the Premier proposed to send a Commissioner to investigate the claima of the Natives to the confiscated land, and invited Te Whiti to employ a lawyer to look after his interests, Government paying all expenses. He said his answer was that the matter had been delayed too long, that the end of all things was at hand, the Court and Commissioner included. ' In addressing the men who ploughed the land Te Whiti said : " Go, put your hands to the plough }do not look back. If any should come with guns and. swords, do not be afraid; if, any smite you, do not smite them taok. J If the lions tear you to pieces do not be- dijj>Cßr: .-.tf-.SibM ■■

couraged ; another will take your place, to continue the good work. If evil thoughts Bhould enter the minds of the settlers, and if they fear a repetition of the scenes wbioh happened during the last war, and they should fly to town, do not enter their houses, nor take any of their goods or oattlo, my eye is over all. I will detect the- thief, and the work of evil and the punishment will be like that which befel Ananias. Therefore do the work appointed to you.;; do it without fear or trembling." Te Whiti bhen addressed himself to the newspaper reporters, who ho saw present taking notes of what he was saying :— " When I speak of the land, the survey, the ploughing, and such' matters of little consequence, the reporters" peneils fly with the speed of the wind? but when I speak of the word of spirit, they say this is the dream of a. madman. They are so intent in accumulating wealth that nothing appears of interest except what is in some way connected with the acquisition of wealth. The storekeepera who aucceeded . in acquiring wealth by short weight and inferior articles, and numerous way3 of picking and stealing known cnltjr to the initiated, these are the men who steal the land off the Maori, andi acquire flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle * men who would take the bread out of. tho mouths of the widows and the fatherless, and acquire riches by so doing. They are alii looked on ns gentlemen of property, while humble seekers after the truth are passed by unknown and unheeded. The time is- at hand when the gods will rot their ships ia their harbour. Then tlfe merchants wilt wring their hands in despair when they see all their acouiaulations melt away like the morning mist before the rising sun. The speech was not delivered all at once, but at different intervals when other Natives were not speaking. John also spoke, but his remarks contained nothing fresh. The meeting broke up in the usual way. The idea of any intention on the part of the Natives of having a general rising appears to have been altogether groundless. Not a word about fighting was uttered. Te Whiti leaves the consideration of the lands and worldly things to his people. The Europeans present were very kindly treated. The Government steamer Stella arrived in the roadstead this morning at 11 o'clock. She encountered very bad weather, and was compelled to take sheltor at the Croixelles. HAWERA, Junk 19. Katcne on Tuesday visited the Waihi stockade, and counted the number of men stationed there. He is evidently getting information. He said that he had a great liking for Waihi of late. It is a pity that an order could not be issued to prevent all friendlies from visiting that post on any pretence. Mr Mackay has gone to Parihaka on private business, wishing to get the signatures of some Natives to some Wanganui leases. Mr Thomson, who is thoroughly acquainted with the Natives on the Coast, has been sent by Sir G. Grey to interview Te Whiti at Parihaka. The settlers hope for peace, but rather than have a patched-up truce they would undergo tbe hardship of a sharp severe war. Many talk of ruehing headlong into war, but the sorry experience of the last war at Te Ngutu o te Manu, where poor Von Tempsky and many others wore left by untrained men in a wild spot, should be a sufficient warning. As tho deputation represented to Mr Macandrew, in Hawera, it would be better for the Government not to make any aggressive movement until thoroughly prepared. The latest from Parihaka is that Te Whiti is not awed by our armament. It is said that redoubts are built round Parihaka. The Maoris are not to fight, Te Whiti says, because it would be impossible for the Pakehas to fight the Maoris, if the Maoris take no notice of them and show no fight. WELLINGTON, June 19. News received by Government to-day in regard to the Parihaka meeting is generally to the effeot thatTe Whiti' s influence is on the wane, that many of his followers are disgusted at the non-fulfilment of his prophecies, and alarmed at the warlike preparationa being made by the Europeans, in direct contradiction of Te Whiti'a promises of peace j that a revulsion of feeling is taking place ; and that Titokowaru's tribe have openly declared their determination not to fight the Europeans, but to make common cause with them.