WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue XVI, 5 November 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

LFrom our own Correspondent] Friday night.™ The Government have received absolutely nolhiDg in the way of news from the front to-day. It ia understood that tbe advance on Parihaka it to take place early to-morrow morning, and that about 1800 man, icclodicg Constabulary and Volunteers, will take part in tha affair. It ia further reported that each man will carry three days provision! with him so a3 to be prepared for conticgenciea, as the march into Paribaka may not bo followed by a march out in a hurry, but more probably by a aomiwbat protracted occupation of that place. No one yet knows what tha Natives will do. A Maori who had reosntly been at Parihaka was asked yesterday whether the Natives wotild fight. He shook his head and said "No, too maay soldiers now." As I hare 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 deoided oa a novel and somewhat ingenious modo of defence, namely, that the whblt of the inhabitants of the settlement, men, woman, and children, intend to strip themselves nak*d, cover thoir bodiss from head to foot with grease, and surround Te Whtti in a closely packed mass witil tbe vhw of rendering his capture difficult. This is merely a ilif ht variation of the idea I mentioned in a rtcent telegram, and those who are well varsed in Maori ways think it very probable that this plan will be tried ; if so it will be b« rather a puzzle to our men. A Volunteer corronnondent of the Post telegraphs to-day • « follows :— " At Rahota whence lam now sending this meßßtge the redoubt is situated on the site of an old native fortification and besides being naturally a very strong pesi. tion has been made douWy bo by the dafenaive works which have been erected. It is situated some . nina ...or ten. miWa from Opunake and about five miles from Pangarehn. Owing to the Inrge number of men under arms here and at Pungarehu tha csmps present an animated appearance. Both officers and men are kapt bosily employed, aa in addition to tha preparations rendered necossary by the constant arrival of fresh r inforcfmen'B,ihetrcops are freslyexerciiel in drill and military manoeuvres. Fraqnent reconnaissances take place, and at tbe time I am writing (9 a.m.) a party of sight A C.'s have just started for a scouting expedition towards Parihaka which lies within six or seven miles of this statioo. The Wellington Guards in about an hour's time are to b« despatched as a skirmishing party towards the coast which is situated about three or f oar miles from the Camp. The men ara all in capital spirits and are looking foward eagerly to tha expedition of Saturday Rain baa been falling slightly to-day but not sufficiently to impeda operations. A very vagae idaa saems to prevail generally as to the exact situation and extent of the district in whioh tha present native difficulty prevails. I may explain that the "disturbed district" is at tha extreme western point of the Egmont promoatary ruaning inland about fiva miles to the Parihaka village which is situated nearly due < east of Cape Egmrat, and nearly due wast of Mount Egmont. tha latter being tan or 12 miles to tbe raar of the village, and the railway from New Plymouth to Hswera running south behind the mountain lengthways. Tha disturbed district may be aaid to extend from Stoney River in the north to Opunake in the south. The total extent of the disturbed locality may be rouphly stated as not exceeding about 40 miles in length by tea in breadth. It may ba well that it aaou'd be widely kpownhow very small and insignificant is tbe area of the disturbed district and bow completely it is hemmed in and surrounded by populous European settlements. I understand that the Reaident Magistracy of Danedin vacant by the retirement of Mr Simpson is to ba filled up by the transfer of Mr Carew, R.M., from Lawrence. Mr Csrew'a place will be taken up by Mr Nugen4 Wood, R.M., now of Ashburton. It is not yet settled who will be appointed to.

Ashbnrton or who will succeed Mi ofaaw at Wellington. Several names are rrentxoned as probable. " I heer that thtre is a complete "block" on the Taranaki wires with telegraph messages. The operators have had to work 24 hours at a stretch, and last eight 20,000 words cf p'rees tnessagea w*re put in besides Governrnent and private tel€grani3. Slost oi the , Vclnntec-rs Bend one or two tek'gramg to their friends every niplit. This adds se»iously fo the block. Tee Government are makicg efforts to grapple with the difficulty.