LATEST FROM THE FRONT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 281, 25 November 1881, Page 2

LATEST FROM THE FRONT

(From our Special Correspondent.) Pungarehu, Thursday night. There is nothing of note to report. Rakura returned and ssked for a pass to Parihaka to bring away his buggy. Thi? appears to be a beginning, and doubtless moat of them will settle down to the inevitable and return to their old habits. Still thera is soma amount of .uncertainty as to the ultimate result of tbe policy. Upon the occasion of searching Motu's pah he said the Government had better kill him at once ; ano-.her a.aid they would a!l turu sailors, as' they cculd not live on the land, but in a short time when the feeling has settled down, the effect upon the natives will be moro apparent. Under instructions your correspondent leaves Parihak. to-morrow. In leaving fie camp, I hava but to say that grrat difficulty was experienced in getting the ordinary information for -which the public have a right to look. From the Native Minister I received iaformation whenover I asked it, but with ona other exception " Don't know" was tbe wa'c.wor-3. From Volunteers who were not mystery men, news that would be of interest, to many was freely accorded, and the ordinary courtesy was fresly extended. Iq the Constabulary command the line irn? so tightly drawn that officers were debarred from even asking a uewspaper co-respondent into thtir mess. The omission of such slight civility might pass unnoticad, but to be told that such a special law existed discloses the absence of a very general attribute amongst military men. A very desirable alteration has been made in the commissions of the officers, whereby they are now of right styled Captain, although it is a sudden rise from Sergeant or Sergeant-Major to Captain, thus passing over Lieutenants of long standing in the Volunteer force. Mr Wilson Hursthouse is gazetted Captain in the Militia, and doubtless this gives him authority when working with troops. A similar commi*sion is very necessary to the Defence Storekeeper, Mr S. C. Anderson, as from pergonal observation I have noted the advisability of such a step. He has, as usual, carried out everything to the satisfaction of all concerned. The special correspondents will have all dispersed to-morrow frem Parihaka except one from Otago, and it is to be hoped that no further need of their services may lie required in Native disputes. I have to thank them for their invariable courtesy during our sojourn together.