THE A.C. CAMP AT PUNGAREHU.

Patea Mail, 28 October 1881, Page 4

THE A.C. CAMP AT PUNGAREHU.

A Taranaki correspondent who has recently visited the camp reports as follows : STRENGTH OF THE CAMP. The total strength of the camp at present is 420 all told. This includes six officers, one sergeant-major, and nineteen sergeants. On Friday last, a reinforcement of fiftynine men arrived from Opunake. They consist of recruits who wore recently landed at Opunake from Wellington. Another detachment of sixty men arrived at Opunake on Saturday, and will probably be sent on here in a few days, so that the total strength of the camp will then be about 500 men. THE PARADE. On Sunday morning I witnessed the inspection parade, and they appeared to be a fine soldierly body of men. Captain Gordon, who lias been appointed adjutant, lias been drilling the men lately for six hours a day, and this constant drilling ba s already bad a beneficial effect. The Maoris watch the constabulary at drill, and imitate many of the exercises with exactness. I saw some Maoris go through a number of evolutions with great gusto. THE FENCES. I went down to the fences, which the Maoris have maintained for so long. The first fence is only a few yards from (he camp, and a guard of Maoris keep watch there night and day. About half-a-mile further away another guard of Maoris is stationed at the second fence. This is situated close to the Parapara settlement. The Maoris are mounted, and they follow the A.C. orderlies wherever they go. THE CAPE EGMONT ROAD. The Cape Egmont road, which was commenced some time ago, is not being constructed at present, but it will be completed, no doubt, during the summer. Although the Maoris object to the Constabulary making roads, they are not too proud to use the roads after they arc made. On Sunday, the natives with thirty bullocks and drays laden with flour passed through the camp on their way to Parihaka, and they found the advantage of having a good metalled road all the way from New Plymouth. TE WHITI IN HIS OWN CIRCLE. A well-known native authority has sent a Wanganui journal the following translation of one of Te Whiti’s recent speeches to his own people at Parihaka :—I am for ponce ; let the lions rage, I am still for peace. I will go into captivity, and the lions will dwell upon the land, then there will be no more war. What matters it : my object is accomplished ; peace reigns. lam willing to become a sacrifice for my object. The pakehas trouble themselves ; they cannot understand my heart. If I am willing for peace, and sacrifice myself for this, is it not well ? All I say is, you, the pakehas, are robbers. I cannot contend with such. Christ did not ; but was crucified for the sins of the woild. He is God. I will be a God too. I sacrifice myself that peace may be. In after years it will be soon and known, and I will be lifted up, though I am no more on earth. Oh, hard-hearted people, lam here to be taken ! Take me, for the sins of the Island ! Why hesitate ; am I not here ? Though I am killed, I yet shall live ; and though dead, will yet live in my object, which is peace. The future is mine, and little children will answer, in the future, when questioned as to the author of peace, they will say, Te Whiti, and I will bless them.”