ASSEMBLING OF NATIVES AT PARIHAKA ON THE 17TH APRIL, 1882 (COPIES OF TELEGRAMS RELATIVE TO THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1882 Session I, G-03

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1882. NEW ZEALAND.

ASSEMBLING OF NATIVES AT PARIHAKA ON THE 17TH APRIL, 1882 (COPIES OF TELEGRAMS RELATIVE TO THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Bieutenant-Colonel Robeets to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. Opunake, 13th April, 1882.—Hon. Mr. Bryce, Wellington.—Seven Natives from Omuturangi, with two dray-loads of pork for Parihaka, arrived at Opunake this evening. The Natives had a pass signed by Captain Good for Hone Piharna. I had them stopped on account of their having supplies for Parihaka, and told them that I would not allow them to proceed without your authority. —J. M. Robeets, Bieut.-Colonel.

The Hon. Mr. Beyce to Lieutenant-Colonel Robeets. Wellington, 13th April, 1882. —Colonel Roberts, Opunake.- —Toil are perfectly right. Natives must be prevented from taking supplies to Parihaka, which would give an excuse for reviving and attending the monthly meetings. I have no objections to carts going to the Parihaka Block for supplies, as there is a superabundance there ; but taking supplies to Parihaka is in every way objectionable, and must be stopped. Please have this explained to the Natives with the carts, as it is not unlikely that they may wish to get potatoes from Parihaka. —John Beyce.

Lieut.-Colonel Robeets to the Hon, Mr. Beyce. Pungaeehu, 14th April, 1882.—Hon. Mr. Bryce, Wellington.—Natives who were not allowed to go to Parihaka with pork said that they would be ashamed to go there with empty drays, and would therefore not go for potatoes. —J. M. Robeets, Lieut.-Colonel.

Lieut.-Colonel Robeets to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. Pungaeehu, 16th April, 1882. —Hon. Mr. Bryce, Wellington. —No news. Shall be at Parihaka to-morrow in case of anything taking place.—J. M. Robeets, Lieut.-Colonel.

Lieut.-Colonel Roberts to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. Paeihaka, 17th April, 1882, 8.50 a.m. —Hon. Mr. Bryce, Wellington. —Natives held a hurried meeting in the old marae at dawn, and some of them were heard from the camp addressing the meeting, but before Major Goring could take any steps to stop it they dispersed. About eight hundred were present. Food was not taken to the marae, but they had it shortly afterwards at the whares. Messenger was at Parihaka yesterday, and neither saw nor heard any indication of a meeting. Messenger is now in the settlement trying to find out what took place. —J. M. Robeets, Lieut.Colonel.

Lieut.-Colonel Robeets to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. Pabihaka, 17th April, 1882, 9.35 a.m. —Hon. Mr. Bryce, Wellington. —Natives assembling in marae, distributing food. Have stopped their doing so, and have had it carried away. Have sent to Newr.ll Road for sixty men, and twenty-five from Pungarehu, in case they should be required.—J. M. Robeets, Lieut.-Colonel.

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The Hon. Mr. Beyce to Lieut.-Colonel Robeets. Wellington, 17th April, 1882.—Lieut.-Colonel Roberts, Parihaka. —Carry out my last instructions with respect to the stoppage of Parihaka meetings without hesitation. I entirely approve of what you have done.—John Beyce.

Lieut.-Colonel Roberts to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. Paeihaka, 17th April, 1882, 1.50 p.m. —Hon. Mr. Bryce, Wellington. —Detachment from Pungarehu and Newall Road arrived. Whares now being pulled down. Natives informed that it is in consequence of holding a meeting against your orders. Will destroy about a dozen whares round old marae. Do you wish any arrests made ? —J. M. Robeets, Lieut.-Colonel.

The Hon. John Beyce to Lieut.-Colonel Robeets. Wellington, 17th April, 1882.—Colonel Roberts, Parihaka.—Yes, arrest adult male strangers, if present in numbers. —John Beyce.

Lieut.-Colonel Robeets to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. Paeihak:a, 17th April, 1882, 3.52 p.m.—Hon. Mr. Bryce, Wellington.—-Have destroyed twelve whares round the marae ; had everything removed out of them first.—J. M. Robeets, Lieut.-Colonel.

Bieut.-Colonel Roberts to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. Pungaeehu, 17th April, 1882, 7 p.m. —Hon. Mr. Bryce, Wellington. —Strange Natives—that is, Natives from different settlements within the Parihaka Block —began to leave as soon as we commenced pulling down the whares, and, as a number could not be arrested, I thought it better not to act. Some of the strange Natives had passes. It would be well not to allow passes about the 17th. The men from Newall Road camp remain at Parihaka to-night.—J. M. Robeets, Lieut.-Colonel.

Lieut.-Colonel Robeets to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. Pungaeehu, 17th April, 1882, 7 p.m. —Hon. Mr. Bryce, Wellington.—Messenger satisfied, from conversation with Natives, that they held meeting owing to reports that you were not in office. — J. M. Roberts.

Lieut.-Colonel Roberts to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. Pungaeehu, 18th April, 1882, 10.50 a.m. —Hon. Mr. Bryce, Wellington. —Natives very sullen. No signs of further meeting to-day, as very stormy and wet. They have carried away the things taken out of the whares destroyed yesterday.—J. M. Robeets, Lieut.-Colonel.

The Hon. Mr. Beyce to Lieut.-Colonel Roberts. Wellington, 18th April, 1882.—Colonel Roberts, Parihaka. —Can you give me an idea of the number of Maoris present at the meeting yesterday who had passes, and by whom they were signed. —John Beyce.

Lieut.-Colonel Roberts to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. Pungaeehu, 18th April, 1882, 11.40 a.m.- —Hon. Mr. Bryce, Wellington.—Four Natives from Oruanui had passes from 6th to 20th instant, signed by Mr. Rennell, and eight signed by Hone Pihama.-—J. M. Roberts, Bieut.-Colonel.

Lieut.-Colonel Robeets to the Hon. John Beyce. Pungaeehu, 19th April, 1882.—Hon. Mr. Bryce, Wellington.—Mr. Carrington now returned from Parihaka, and thinks Natives will not hold another meeting, owing to the action taken by us on the 17th instant.—J. M. Robeets, Lieut.-Colonel.

Major Paeeis to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. New Plymouth, 22nd April, 1882. —Hon. Native Minister, Wellington. —An individual living atNormanby, who was lately dismissed from the service, furnished a telegram to the Patea Mail, stating that Mr. Parris had given the Natives leave to return to Parihaka. I deem it my duty to bring this under your notice, and to most positively deny that I have ever given any Native or Natives leave to return to Parihaka; but, on the contrary, have invariably told them that if they go without a pass they were liable to be arrested. I should not have taken any notice of it, but from the fact that the newspapers are copying it, and giving it a wide circulation, for want, I suppose, of other matter to fill up with.— R. Paeeis.

The Hon. Mr. Beyce to Major Paeeis. Wellington, 24th April, 1882. —Major Parris, New Plymouth.—The statement in reference to yourself and the Parihaka Maoris was first made, I believe, in the Wellington Times. I had little doubt as to the source from which it came, and the motives with which it was written. I believe I estimated the slander at its true value. Of course such statements are calculated to do harm, but it is one of those inconveniences it seems difficult to avoid.—John Beyce.

Authority : Geokge Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—1882,