NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 30 September 1881, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

WSn.LiKOTON,* 4 September 19. The monthly meeting of Natiyes was held at Parihaka on Saturday last, vrlien a large number assembled, in all men, women anJ children between two and three thousand. There were also several Europeans present. The proceedings commenced about 9 a m. by a feast being spread, and ail were invited to partake of it. It consisted of bread, beef, and pirk in great abundance, with a plentiful sup* ply of tea. Over seventy bullocks were killed for the feast. &.t about ten o'clock the feasting was finished, and the Natives began to assemble in the wbar. 1 . The erstwhile Native prisoners were congre* gated in a group together, being decor* ated with thjree white feathe-s on their beads, and on Te Whiti taking up his usual position to address the people he slluted tHe^prisoners"witn words of wek come, Te Whiti delivered a long address with more than usual earnestness, and his words were listened to with rapt attention by the Native? ; indeed his power of eloquence was so great at times that he wrought upon the feelings of his people to a high degree, and they were intensely excited, although they were profoundly still. Te Whiti spoke as follows : — This is the September meeting, but it is unlike other September meetings. The aspects of things are changed. Hitherto I have carried your (the Native) troubles on my back. I have done this as long us I can, but now you must act for yourselves. The trouble in reference to the land is not of the present time. It belongs to the past— the olden times. The Govern" raent say the land is theirs, and I say it is mine. I do not speak of the small pieces here, but I speak of (he whole of the world. Ido not care for the Gover* nor or the King, and I now say to you carry on everything yourselves for yourselves until the trouble is aver. The pakanga (war) commenced at Waitara ; then there was the ploughing ; then there was the fencing, and then you were taken prisoners. That time is all past, and the Government have returned you here. You must not be taken prisoners again: I see nothing but trouble, trouble, trouble before me. Talking has been going on for years, but it has come to nothing. There are not so many ways of doing things as formerly. We were alone here ; we were by ourselves ; now we have enemies all around us. The land question is ail settled ; it is settled now. Pakaoga (fightW) has not been all settled ; it is not settled now. Pakanga (6ghting) has not been all settled ; it is not settled now. The fighting has been hanging over you for a long time. The king and the Government are close to you, but don't be alarmed. The fighting must come } they say it must go on. It is not you who are the cause of all this ; it is those who are around us ; if my hand is wrong today my thoughts are wrong. What I have said to you at former meetings was correct ; we have talked about Atua at them ; we have talked about the land ; but this day I say we will talk about fighting, nothing but fighting. All I said formerly was right ; I left nothing behind ; I am the land, and all the people are in my band. All the evil which formerly existed in the land is upon us. From the time of Israel there has been fighting in the land— fighting Bgainst the Government and agninst the king. All our talk to-day is of fighting, and nothing is now left but to fight. The peace that existed is passed away ; there is no peace now. You haye tried to keep the peoce, but were not allowed. Whatever you do be not boastful, for the Atua looks on at all your doing. Tbere will be no teaching to-day, for all is trouble around me, and all the talk will be of fighting, for nothing but fighting will put what is wrong right. All that I said before was on account of the land which is dearer to us than life, but the stranger has come and settled on it, and we are driven off what is our own. The evil of the world is loose now amongst us, and there is nothing to stop it but to fight. Let the Government and the King and the people listen to the words of this meeting ; let them take heed what I say. Let them go from the land ; let tiiem cease to bring their evil to us, for so sore as they do will that great tribe melt away ; Ido not say whether it will be by guns or anything else, bat that great tribe will melt away before you. This meeting alone can settle the matter between the two tribes. Go, go, all of you, and look upon me as your protector. Take your arms, and the blessing of the Atua will be with you. Although this meeting may look ins significant in the eyes of the Pakebas, still we are doing what is right in our defence ; I am disquieted and vexed with to-day's work, for it is merely the talk of my lips. Go you all on with your land work. All will yet be straight. When I said formerly that tbere would be no more fighting it was the Atua who made me utter the words. The sufferings of the prophets and the apostles were great, and our time is now come when suffering mirst be broadcast over Ihe land. What

I am saying fo«Jay is for the ears of all the people ; it is only tak to -day, but I send for the p-ikanga (war) on tho land to-day, on to the land aobl by tho Governor. li' when pakanga (wat) goes on tn the bind, they strike you with a ston?, strike them with a stone. Likewise if thoy hit you wiih their hnnd% strike you thus yourselves. If Mwy bring guns, take your guns likewise If the pakehas come and say it is the Governor's land, and lift hinds fo defend it, strike them down. There are my words* Tbey are the worl"* Atua puis into my nnuth.