LATEST NEWS FROM THE FRONT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2377, 15 November 1881, Page 3

LATEST NEWS FROM THE FRONT.

[fbom a oobbbsfondbnt.]! PUNGABEHtT, November 15. To-day the beginning of the end commences by the march of tho Wollington contingent to Opunake at eight o'olook, where they embark on Tuesday on the Hinemoa for their several homes. The service of the volunteers has been, as stated by the Native Minister, a bloodless one, and yet shots have been fired and blood has been spilt in the short period of servioe. Eevolvers are ticklish weapons to handle and too much care cannot be taken, as I know by experience, in handling them. Three accidental discharges have occurred ; one 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 revolvers are unloaded, and ho had unloaded his, as he thought, of all the chambers. Unfortunately one ohamber was overlooked, the result being a wound incapacitating the sufferer for a time. I visited Bahotu on Saturday, and found the Wellington Navals in splendid order. On the night before they had enlivened the post by a theatrical performance, whioh passed off most Buooessfully. Captain Buck, commanding the camp, slated that he had never been with suoh a well-conducted body of men in camp. On Saturday twenty-six Maoris were arreßtod, making a total of sixty up to date. To-day the Waikato and Taranaki Natives will be identified and put under control. Hoani Pihama, Mete Eingi, and TJtiku, of Bangitikei, entered Parihaka, to persuade the people to leave it. 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, hut little result is expected. I learn from the Natives that some say they will provide drays for tbe European woman I referred to from New Plymouth with tho Taranaki Bifles. Butler and Messengor went to the whare on Saturday and asked if she would go. As usual, in matrimonial circles, there were tears. But the husband told her to put on her boots, and she left, being under tho charge of the Taranaki Bifles. The Taranaki Cavalry arrived from Hew Plymouth yesterday. Sunday was quiet in camp; oburch parades were ordered, and in Captain Hammersley's battalion they marched to the ground headed by the band of the Wellington Guards, where the servioe was read by Adjutant-Lieutenant Durham. Many strangers visited the camp, and it seemed strange to see men walking about unarmed, while numbers of ladies were walkingorsittingabout the pah. Of thosetaken yesterday, the most notable are Tainui and Haowhenua, Titokowaru's great fighting ohiofs. The Natives still hold to Te Whiti, and say they will follow his teaohing. They expeot him to release himself in some miraculous manner, and say thoy will await his return. Mr Bryce will have a word to say in this matter. The City Bifles fired a friendly matoh v Wairarapa on Saturday morning, winning by 41 points. It is probablo that the Nelßon and Canterbury volunteors will leave on Friday next. There is no sickness of oonsequence in the camp. A report has appeared that Te Whiti was ill-used in Pungarehu in the matter of food. On excellent authority I can state that it is untrue, and that he was visited daily by an interpreter, who attended to all he could wish. A stockade ia being erected for the Armed Constabulary, and will accommodate four hundred commanding Parihaka. 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. 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 last words to them, to be stedfast. Yesterday, as eaoh man was picked out, he uttered the same refrain. The power Te Whiti has 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 bewitched. Mr i Bryce has tried every moans to induce the . fanatics to disperse. Mote Kingi, Hone Pihama, and Utifci are influential chiefs, but

their words were thrown away. The 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 he would then send them all away, but it is impossible to treat with these people. It is said that before the arrest last year there were 250 new double-barrelled guns in thepossession of the Maoris, few, if any, of which have been colleoted. Moreover, in 1879 I Baw numerous Maoris in Hawera with new revolvers of the Government pattern. None of these have been collected. Kerehama was one of those taken yesterday. He has been in charge of the Native guards on the fences sinoe the first fencers were arrested. He attempted a speech, but was cut short by Mr Bryce's order. By destroying tho settlement the people must disperse, but there are large crops in cultivation which must be looked after, and some arrangement must be made for the people to remain and attend to them. Forty-seven women of Wanganui were selected and sent to the whares with the prisoners. All the women were brought out of the pah, and identified. There were 680 women and 275 ohildron of ail ages. Utiki advised them all to go homo.

[PBBBB ASSOCIATION TBLBGHAM.J WELLINGTON, November 15. Tho Government have received the following information :—Mr Bryce is about to complete the selection of the Ngarauru Natives. The great diflloulty arises ia getting their wives to join them. Prior to despatching them to Wanganui, the houses of the Wanganui Natives bavo been picked out and destroyed. It was hoped the Maori women would come forward and pick out their property, which had been carefully preserved, but they have not done so.