INTERPROVINCIAL

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 541, 20 September 1881, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL

[from our own correspondent.]

Wellington, September 19

A New Zealand Times correspondent telegraphs from Opunuke, under date September 17 :—"The speeches of Te Whiti and Tohu at the Parihaka meeting were very wild in tone, and we seem to be on the verge of war, but hope it still may be averted. The future is, however, very doubtful, and the result can scarcely be guessed. The Natives have fenced on CUown lands, but no arrests have been made, the Government being very forbearing. This quite accords with information that has reached me privately. At a late hour last night an unusual bustle was being displayed at the barracks at Wellington, and the rumor this morning is that every available man will be immediately despatched in the Stella. It is too early an hour ,(8 a,m.) to ascertain anything official, but what has leaked out from various quarters is very circumstantial as to affairs having taken a serious turn at Purihaka. One report is that shots were ac ually fired last night. I venture to predict that if war break out it will be of a much more serious nature then most people imagine, and it will be found that there is a well-defined understanding through most of the tribes of the North Island. Christchuech, September 19. An alarm on the electric fire bell at Addington goal this morning turned out to be a mistake. It occurred through the wires being crossed by men shifting lines to new poles. The probability of a Maori war is causing some excitement in town.