The Prophet and the Warrior in Gaol.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1863, 28 July 1886, Page 2

The Prophet and the Warrior in Gaol.

Te Whiti, Titokowaru and eight of their co. patriots have been caged in the Wellington gaol, and will be confined there until their trial at the Supreme Court sittings comes on in October. They will thus be three months in gaol awaiting their trial, and, according to the present prison .regulations, they will be just as rigidly treated as if they had actually been convicted and were serving their sentences. No doubt these men, if convicted, deserve exemplary punishment, but while they are awaiting trial it is manifestly unfair that they should be dealt with as severely as if they were already convicts. Yet such is the case with respect to all unconvicted prisoners—Europeans and Maoris alike. Te Whiti, Titokowaru, and their subordinates will have a bad time of it for the next three months. Hard and insufficient food, no tobacco, and twenty hours out of the twenty four in solitary confinement, will certainly prove hard linea to the prophet, the exfighting chief and their eight followers. Perhaps Te Whiti in his solitary cell will find time to " evolve from his inner self consciousness ” a fresh batch of prophecies more wonderful than any he has made before while Titokowaru may be able to think out all the stirring incidents of a book abont all the robberies, bouse burnings, murders, and acts of war in which he distinguished himself up Tauranga way some sixteen years ago.