LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3237, 15 November 1881, Page 3

LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

(iSY TELEGRAPH.)

FROM UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION'S SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

Pungarehu, November 15. The services of the volunteers has been, as stated by the Native Minister, a bloodless one, and yet shcts have been fired and blood been spilt in the short period of service. Revolvers are ticklish weapons to handle, too much care cannot be taken, as I know by experience in handling them. Three accidental discharges have occurred in one camp, that of A. Dixon, of the Wellington Navals, resulting in the bullet lodging in the leg of the owner. In this case the volunteer had been relieved from guard, when all are loaded, and had unloaded as he thought all the chambers. Unfortunately ODe chamber was overlooked, the result being a wound incapacitating for a time one of the best shots of Wellington. I visited Rahotu on Saturday, and found the Wellington Navals in .splendid order. On the night before they had enlivened the party by a theatrical performance, which passed off most successfully. Capt. Truck, commanding the camp, stated that he had never been with such a well conducted body of men in camp. On Saturday twenty-six Maoris were arrested, making a total of sixty up to date. Yesterday the Waikato and Taranaki natives were identified and put under the control of Honi Pihama. Mete Kingi and Utiko of Rangatiki entered Parihaka to persuade their people to leave. It is understood that Mr Bryce sent for them to give the natives an opportunity to avoid arrest. They were in the pah for some hours, and addressed the natives but with little result. The European woman to whom I referred left for New Plymouth with the Taranaki Rifles. Mr Butler and Te Missoenyen went to the whare on Saturday, and asked if she would go, ard as usual in matrimonial cases there were tears, but the husband told her to put on her boots, and she left, being under the charge of the Taranaki rifles. Sunday was quiet in camp. Church parades were ordered, and in Captain Hammersley's battalion they marched to the ground headed by the band of the Wellington Guards, where service was read by the Adgedant, Lieut. Durham. Many strangers visited the camp, and it seemed strange to see men walking about amongst unurmed opponents with revolvers on their waists, whilst numbers of ladies were walking or sitting about the pah. Of those taken yesterday the most notable are Tirui, Haewhenua, and Titokawaru, the great fighting chief. The natives still hold to Te Whiti, and say they will follow his teaching. They expect him to release himself in some miraculous manner, and say they will await his return. Mr Bayce will have a word to say in this matter. The City Rifles fired a friendly match v. Wairarapa on Saturday, winning by forty-one points. A report has appearedthat Te Whiti was illused in Pungarehu in the matter of food. On excellent authority 1 can state that it is untrue, and that he was assisted daily by an interpreter, who attended to all he could wish. Mr Bryce was active yesterday, and besides the forty-nine Wanganui natives arrested five of the sixty-two I reported yesterday were sent to the guard-room, the remainder being ordered into Parihaka. They went there, but those who had been removed from the fences returned to their post. They seem like people under a spell, and they constantly repeat Te Whiti's past works to them to be steadfast. Yesterday as each man was picked out he muttered the same refrain. The power Te Whiti bas over the native mind is most extraordinary ; even Hone Pihama is nervous, and although most desirous for his people to return to their homes, he half fears he is betwitched. Certainly Mr Bryce has tried every means to induce the fantatics to dispense. Mete Kingi, Hone Pihama, and Utiki, are influential chiefs, but their words were thrown away. Their reply was simply, we have only one master, and will obey him. The Native Minister intended to get the women to join the prisoners, and be would then send all away, but it is impossible to treat with these people. In the afternoon the mliares of the Wanganui natives were pulled down by the A.C., and fourteeu living and fifteen cooking huts were destroyed. When some sixty of the A.C. company get on to a rope something must go. It is said that before the arrest last year there were two hundred and thirty new double-barrelled guns in the possession of tbe Maoris, few if any of which have been collected. Moreover, in 1879,1 saw numerous Maotis in Hawera with new revolvers of the Government pattern. More of these haye been collected. Kerehana was one of fthe men taken yesterday. He has been in charge of the native guards at tbe fences 6ince tbe first fencers were arrested. He attempted a speech, but was cut short by Mr Bryce'e order. By destroying the settlement the people must disperse, but there are large crops in the cultivations which must be looked

after, and sorte arrangement must be made for people to remain and attend to them. Kereopa, the well-known man from Waitotara, left Parihaka yesterday. It would be well if be was as secure as some better men, although their ranks are being thinned daily. Inside tbe settlement all is quiet, it must have been galling to the natives to see their houses being destroyed. Whilst thanking Mr Bryce for his courtesy, I am at a loss to understand why special correspondents are so unnecessarily kept in the background. Whilst the ivhares were being pulled down, sentries were placed at a bridge some hundred yards from the scene of tion to stop everybody. I sent my card to the officer in charge, but the answer was that he must obey orders. 1 cannot suppose Mr Bryce would meddle in such petty details, and therefore some one else is to be blamed, In time I shall be able to throw a little light upon the' whole management. The Wellington men arrived at Opunake at 2.45 yesterday and embarked at daylight, arriving about 8 o'clock in Wellington. The Hinemoa returns for the Thames contingent, which marched at 8 o'clock this morning. The behaviour of all the volunteers has been excellent, and their services will doubtless be properly appreciated by their fellow colonists. The Nelson, Canterbury, and Marlborough corps leave on Thursday. The stockade at Parihaka is being rapidly pushed on. It would be well to leave the Armstrong gun here, and give Nelson another.