PUNGAREHU.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4019, 15 November 1881, Page 2

PUNGAREHU.

Yesterday afternoon.

To-day the beginning of the end commences by the march of the Wellington contingent to Opunake at eight o'clock, where they embark on Tuesday morning on the Hinemoa for their several homes. The services of the volunteers have been, as stated by the Native Minister, a bloodless one, and yet shots have been fired and blood spilt in the short period of service. Eevolvers are ticklish weapons to play with. Three accidental discharges have occurred in one camp, that of A. Dixon of the Wellington Navals, resulting in the bullet lodging in the leg of the owner. In this case the volunteer had been relieved from guard, and unloaded his revolver as he thought, but unfortunately one chamber was overlooked, the result being a wound incapacitating for a time one of the best shots of Wellington. I visited Eahotu on Saturday, and found the Wellington Navals in splendid order. On the night before they had enlivened the post by a theatrical performance, which passed off most successfully. Captain Buck, commanding the camp, stated that he had never been with such a well conducted body of men. Iv camp on Saturday twenty six Maoris were arrested, making a total of sixty up to date. Today the Waikato and Taranaki natives will be identified and put under the control of Honi Fihama, Mete Kingi, and Utiko, of Rangitikei, who entered Parihaka to persuade their people to leave it. It is understood that Mr Bryce sent for them to i give the natives an opportunity to avoid arrest. They were in the pah for some hours, and addressed the people, but little result is expected. I learn from a native source that some say they will provide drays. The European woman to whom I referred left for New Plymouth with the Taranaki Eifles. Buller and Messenger went to the whare on Saturday and asked if she would go As usual in matrimonial cases, there were tears, but the husband, told her to put on her boots, and she left, being under charge of the Taranaki Eifles. The Taranaki Cavalry arrived from New Plymouth. Many strangers visited the,camp yesterday, and it seemed strange to see men walking about amongst unarmed opponents, with revolvers on their waists, whilst numbers of ladies were walking or sitting about the. pah. Of those taken yesterday the most notable are Tiriri and Harowhenua, Titokowaru's. great fighting chief. The natives still hold to Te Whiti, and say they will follow his teaching. They expect him to release himself in some miraculous manner and say they will await his return, but Mr Bryce will have a word to say in this matter. The City Eifles fired a friendly match versus the Wairarapa on Saturday, winning by forty-one points. It is probable the Nelson and Canterbury volunteers leave on Friday next.

A report lias appeared that Te Whiti was illused in Pungarebu in the matter of food. On excellent authority I can state that it is untrue, and that he was visited daily by an interpreter, who attended to all he could wish,

1 Lateb. This day, 10 a.m. Mr Bryce was active yesterday, and \ besides the forty-nine Wauganui natives j arrested, five of the sixty-two I reported \ yesterday were sent to the guard room, ' the remainder being ordered into Pari* haka. They went there, but those who j removed the fences returned to their post; ! they seem like people under a j spell, and they constantly repeat ( Te Whiti's last words to them to be -j steadfast. Yesterday as each man was ; picked out he muttered the same refrain. The power Te Whiti has over the native mind is most extrdoniiuary ; even Hone Piharna is nervous, and although desirous for his people to return to their homes, he half fears ho is bewitched himself. Certainly Mr Bi-yee has tried every means to induce the fanatics to disperse. Mete Kiugi, Hone Piharna, and Utiki are influential chiefs, but their words were thrown away, their reply was simply, ,c We have only one master and will obey him." The Native Minister intended! to get the women to join the prisoners, and he would then send them all away, but it is impossible to treat with these people. In the afternoon, yesterday, the whares of the Wanganvi natives were pulled down by the A.C.'s. Pour living and fifteen cooking huts were destroyed. When some sixty of the A.C. company get on to a rope something must go. It is said that before the arrest last year there; were two huudredaud thirty new double-barrelled guns in possession of Maoris, few, if any, of which have been collected. Moreover, in 1876, I saw numerous Maoris in Hawera with new revolvers of Government pattern; none of these have been collected. Kerehana was one of those taken yesterday. He has been in charge of the native guard on fences since the first fencers were arrested. He attempted a speech, but was cut short by Mr Bryce's order. By destroying the settlement the people must disperse, but there are large crops in the cultivations which must be looked after, and some arrangement must be made for the people to remain and attend to them. Kereopa, the well-known man from Waitotara left Parihaka yesterday. It would'be well if he was as secure as Borne better men, although their ranks are being thinned daily. Inside the settlement all is quiet. It must have been galling to them to see their houses being destroyed. Whilst thanking Mr Bryce for his courtesy, I am at a loss to understand why special correspondents are .so unnecessarily kept in the back ground. Whilst the whares were being pulled down, sentries were placed at a bridge some hundred yards from the scene of action to stop everybody. I sent my card to the officer in charge, but the answer was that he must obey orders. I cannot suppose Mr Bryce would meddle in such petty details, and, therefore, some one else is to blame. In time I shall be able to throw a little light upon the whole management. The Wellington men arrived at Opunake at 3 o'clock yesterday, and embark at daylight. The Hinemoa is expected to arrive about 8 o'clock in Wellington, and will return for the Thames contingent, which marched at 8 this morning. The behaviour of all Volunteers has been excellent, and their services will doubtless be properly appreciated by their fellow colonists., >e The Nelson, Canter? bury, and Marlborough corps leave on Thursday., The stockade at Parihaka is being rapidjy pushed on. It would be well to. leave the Armstrong gun there, and give Nelson another. The, Latest. .47 women of Wanganui have been selected and sent to the whares with the prisoners. All the women were, brought out of the pah and identified. There were 680 women, and 275 children of all ages under 30. Utiki advised them to all go home. : " [ '

(Press Association's Special.),