G.—7

Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

INTERVIEWS BETWEEN THE HON. THE NATIVE MINISTER AND TE WHITI (REPORT OF, AT PARIHAKA, IN MARCH, 1879).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives, with leave of the House. Major Brown, Civil Commissioner, to the Under Secretary, Native Office. Sir,— New Plymouth, 22nd July, 1879. In compliance with your request, I have the honor to make the following report of the interviews that took place between the Hon. the Native Minister and Te Whiti, at Parihaka, in March last. The first interview may be said to have had no result, as Te Whiti aud Tohu kept to mystical language, which the Hon. the Native Minister told them he could not understand, although he could understand ordinary language. On the following morning, the Hon. J. Sheehan having received an intimation that Te Whiti was prepared to meet him again before the people, Mr. Sheehan went over with his party. Te AVhiti still avoided saying anything plain or definite ; the Native Minister therefore offered to speak, if Te Whiti would listen to him without interruption, which is usual; and the request was acceded to. The Hon. J. Sheehan then demanded that Hiroki should be given up, to be tried by the Supreme Court for the murder of McLean. This request was refused by Te Whiti, who said that the Supreme Court might go there and try Hiroki under his directions. The Hon. the Native Minister then explained the action that the Government were going to take on the Waimate Plains, the survey of which had gone on in conformity with the intimation he had given to To Whiti before it commenced. But, before the explanation had proceeded far, Te Whiti—who had evidently lost his temper —poured out a violent torrent of words, utterly drowning anything that the Hon. Mr. Sheehan could say, and accusing the Government of stealing the land and of being tire murderers of McLean, and not Hiroki: saying that he did not care for the Parliament that met in Wellington —that those who came under him and met at Parihaka were the Parliament of New Zealand, and would decide everything. I never saw a Native speaker, in an argument, so wanting in the usual courtesy to the other speaker, or who so completely lost his temper. When he stopped for want of breath, or of matter, or both, the Hon. the Native Minister informed him tlrat, as he had interrupted and would not listen to him, he would not now know what he intended to say ; and this concluded the discussion, and closed the meeting. It was reported to me that Hiroki was present among the people on the first day, and he would be probably present on the second ; but, if he was present on either occasion, his presence was ignored by the Hon. J. Sheehan and his parly. I have, &c., Chas. Brown, The Under Secretary, Native Office, Wellington. Civil Commissioner. By Authority: Geobgb Didsbtjby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB79. Prim 3d.]