WELLINGTON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue XVI, 4 November 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON

[From our own Correspondent.]

Thursday night. There is very little news from the front today beyond mere record* of drill and preparation. Mr Bryce and Col. Koberts reconnoitred Parihaka to-day, riding close up to it, and the neighborhood with a view of obtaining all information necessary for maturing the plans of Saturday's proceedings. It is understood that these hare been most carefully and elaborately mapped out and prepared, but it is obviously desirable that the precisa nature of the programme should be kept secret, and it has not been divulged. It is not even known here yet what time ia the day the deciiive advance will be made on Parihaka. Some believe it will be at noon, but so far as I can learn it i? much more likely to oe as early as possible in the morning, in fact shortly after daybreak, ?o us to have the whole day before them. Various reports are current as to the probab'e nature of their reception, but the best informed judges still anticipate that the natives will merely collect and huddle together ia the maran refusing to budge, bat without attempting any violent resistance, in fact, that they will simply oppose vis i«ertie to momentum. In that case Mr Bryce's plans for operation will come iato forc«, aud these, as I have said, are a Stats secret. One tiling however I kear on good authority; once in Paribaka ho will not leare it ia a hurry, or at least if he doe3 not remain in person he will be represented by a very strong garrison. He is fixedly determined to complete his task this time, a*d I am inclined to think ho will do it. At the same time all tha best authorities persist in maintaining that there will be no " fighting " in the strict and sanguinary sense of tha term although there might be a sharp struggle and trial of physical strength. '1 he utmost precautions are being taken to have all the camp and stations in immediate telegraphic commnnic&tion in event of any collision. Xxtra instruments and operators are provided for that day, and most systematic arraueements have been made in order to avert disappointment. I should mention that as an embargo will probably be laid on the wires in the disturbed district on Saturday for Government use in Ruch a ca«e of grave emergency, it is not at all improbable that there may be tedious but unavoidable delays in getting through tho press news; however, the Government will have full and constant intelligence of what is going on, and will freely place it at the disposal of the press so fur as this can be done without prejudice to the public interests. This much I think I am justified in Baying. I should add that the result of to-day's reconnaissance by Mr Bryce and Col. Koberts has been to show that no difficulty lies ia the way of entering Parihaka, and so far the previous reports are fully borne out.