NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2369, 5 November 1881, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

[By Telkgraph.J [from the own correspondent the op “ PRESS. ”J WELLINGTON, November 4. The Government have received absolutely nothing in the way of news from the front to-day. It is understood that the advance on Parihaka is to take place early to-morrow morning, and that about 1200 men, including constabulary and volunteers, will take part in the affair. It is further reported that each man will carry three days* provisions with him so as to be prepared for contingencies, as the march into Parihaka may not be followed by a ** march out'' in a hnrry, but more probably by a somewhat protracted occupation of that place. No one yet knows what the Natives will do. A Maori who had recently been at Parihaka was asked yesterday whether the Natives would fight. He shook his his head, and said, “ No, too many soldiers now.” As I have often stated it is not believed that there will be any armed resistance on the part of the Maoris; on the contrary, it is reported that the latter have decided on a novel and somewhat ingenious mode of defence, namely, that the whole of the inhabitants of the settlement, men, women, and children, intend to strip themselves naked, cover their bodies from head to foot with grease, and surround Te Wbitiln a closely packed mass with the view of rendering his capture difficult. This is merely a slight variation of the idea I mentioned in a recent telegram. Those who are well versed in Maori ways think it very probable that this plan will be tried. If so it will be rather a puzzle to our men.

A volunteer correspondent of the “Post” telegraphs to-day as follows:—“ At Eahotu, whence I am now sending this message, the redoubt is situated on the site of an old Native fortification, and besides being naturally a very strong position, has been made doubly so by the defensive works which have been erected. It is situated some nine or ten miles from Opunake and above five miles from Pungarehu. Owing to the large number of men under arms here and at Pungarehu the camps present an animated appearance. Both officers and men are kept busily employed, as, in addition to the preparations rendered necessary by the constant arrival of fresh reinforcements, the troops are fully exercised in drill and military manoeuvres. Frequent reconnaisances take place, and at the time lam writiug (9 a.m.) a party of eight A.C. have i'ust started for a scouting expedition towards Pariiaka, which lies within six or seven miles of this station. The Wellington Guards in about an hour's time are to bo despatched as a skirmishing party towards the coast, which is situated about three or four miles from the camp. The men are all in capital spirits, and are looking forward eagerly to the expedition of Saturday. Bain has been falling slightly to-day, bnt not sufficiently to impede operations. As very vagne ideas seem to prevail generally as to the exact situation and extent of the district in which the present Native difficulty prevails, I may explain that the “disturbed district” lies at the extreme western point of Egmont promontory, running inland about five miles to the Parihaka village, which is situated nearly due east of Cape Egmont, and nearly due west of Mount Egmont, the latter being ten or twelve miles in the rear of the village and railway from New Plymouth to Hawera, running south behind the mountain, lengthways. The disturbed district may be said to extend from Stony River in the north to Opunake in the South. The total extent of the disturbed locality may be roughly stated as not exceeding about twenty miles in length by ten in breadth It may be well that it should be widely known how very small and insignificant is the area of the disturbed district, and how completely hemmed in and surrounded by populous European settlements. I hear that there is a complete “ block ” on the Taranaki wires with telegraph messages. The operators have had to work twenty-four hours at a stretch, and last night 20,000 words of press messages were put in besides Government and private telegrams. Most of the volunteers send one or two telegrams to their friends every night, and this adds seriously to the block. The Government are making efforts to grapple with the difficulty. AUCKLAND, November 4.

It is stated that f the Upper Thames Hauhans sympathise with Te Whiti, and are tinctured with Ins fanaticism.

[press association telegram.] OPUNAKE, November 4.

Major Baillie and fifty of Marlborough Volunteers, arrived this morning per Stella. They march at once to Pnngarehu. The road between here and Stoney river has been closed for traffic, by order of Colonel Eoberts, to-day and to-morrow. WELLINGTON, October 4.

A special correspondent at Pnngarehu wires that he has visited Parihaka this morning. There are a large number of Natives there, Tohu addressed a large assemblage yesterday and to-day. He preached peace, and told the Natives not to be frightened. Several influential chiefs from other places are at Parihaka. No Natives have been out of the settlement for nine days.

Mr Bryce refuses to allow any Press correspondents to accompany him and the troops to Parihaka to-morrow.