A PRISONER IN CAPTAIN HAMERSLEY’S CAMP.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2702, 16 November 1881, Page 2

A PRISONER IN CAPTAIN HAMERSLEY’S CAMP.

The special correspondent of the Auckland “ Herald” got into trouble in attempting to get into Parihaka, and he gives the following amusing account of his adventure “ About 4.301 was told the coast was clear, and I could go where I liked. I went down to Pungarehu, got more tobacco, whisky, and chocolate, and started for Parihaka. About half-a-mile from it, at 10.30 p.m., I was challenged by a sentry. I said, “ Can I go up the road p” He said,!'* I will take you to the Lieutenant and ask.” The Lieutenant immediately ordered my arrest. He was a Picton man, and I believe could not have known I was a reporter, but the report sent in to Colonel Roberts next day ran —“ I saw he was a reporter, and therefore (sic) I lodged him in the guard-house.” The guard-house was the dewy turf. My captors are in a ludicrous state of undiscipline. Five sentries have been disarmed already, whatever that means, and now they are hunting for “ that boy ” B who has strayed away, and is wanted to guard me. They have stirred up all the tired wretches, but they none of them know their numbers, and the Boss ”(I don’t know his military title) uses most profane and indelicate language, but they allude to me as “ this gentleman here,” so I must not abuse them. B ’s mate has just been sent off to find him, and tell him that if he don’t come back he will be made a prisoner of, and the boss adds plaintively, “ So shall I, in losing the run of him." A regular Dogberry of the volunteers says there will be to pay soon. I agree. Another man is counting the prostrate forms, and can only make out 15, and wants 17. They seem really to believe me a spy. Dogberry counts again three times, and pronounces the number to be 17. Three times more he counts, and someone says, “Te Whiti has spirited him away.” At last he discovers my guard lying actually next to me. I wanted a blanket, andtherefore (you will understand me) asked for a corkscrew. A man promptly volunteered to open my whisky, and he brought a blanket without any asking. Next morning I was taken down to wait where the Wellington Navals were dipping for water. Then the captain sent for me— I think his name was Hamersley—and asked what I did in bis camp. I replied that I never was in his camp until brought in. I ought to have been sent back, he said. I was discharged, but 1 meant to have some “kai,” and there was none, not even a billy. I went out, and took a lot of sprouting potatoes from an open pit, and we cooked them also. I picked up a salmon tin and boiled water, and had chocolate. We had no salt. Then I found out that the Wellington Navals were near, and gladly went to them. They were more rational people. We set to work to kill pigs, and soon Maori ovens were made, and I left, feeling sure of a good dinner. I have since learned that the Maoris freely offered Colonel Roberts any quantity of “ tucker,” and that it was refused. Can you wonder that they are indignant at our rifling their pits and taking their pigs ? But we wanted our breakfast, and I tell you a night in the cold air with a log for a pillow makes one feel weak and fain t. When I got back to the Wellington Navals to dinner, I found they were to be sent shortly to the rear. They had no idea it was for killing pigs, but it was. I cannot imagine why the food so freely offered by the Maoris was not accepted. There is no use saying the men had “ received orders ” to carry two days’ rations. They should have been compelled to carry them. Besides Pungarehu was only about two miles off —a good carriage road, two stores, and unlimited quantities oi bread, butter, beef, and groceries. In the afternoon (it is Sunday I am speaking of now) I got some coffee, condensed milk, butter, and lobsters, and went to the N elson men, near Parihaka. My friends there had got nothing but bread, a very small quantity of sugar with dirt in (fortunately not much) which they thought was tea. I went out and stole about fifteen potatoes and humped them along the dusty road, They did bless me. I wish I had some tea and sugar. I left them about 9 p.m. on Sunday lying on the slope of a hill without tents and no screens of brush-wood, nothing but water proof sheeting and blanket.