PARIHAKA CAMP.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 930, 21 November 1881, Page 2

PARIHAKA CAMP.

Sunday, 13th Nov., 1881. On Tuesday evening, after we had managed to get oar quarters comfortable, and the men were beginning to settle down, we received orders to shift camp next morning. The reason, I believe, was on account of the medical men objeoting tc the water of the stream being used fot drinking purposes, as it ran through Pari' liaka Pah and received the offscourings oi the place. Accordingly, at 8 a.m. Wednesday, all hands wore paraded, and it was a very pretty sight, at the sound ol the bugle, to see every tent disappear like magic, arid a quarter of an hour after' wards the batallion was on the move, We pitched camp about a quarter of a nule further down the road on the banks of nuother stream, Since then we have been kept constantly at work, and Btriot military discipline enforced. The following is the routine of the camp: Beveillb, 5.30 a.m.; breakfast, *1 a.m.; dinner, 12 noon; tea, 5 p.m.; tatoo, 9 p.m.; last post, 9,30 p.m.; lightß out, 10 p.m. Drills; Squad drill, from C a,m. to 7 a.m.; batallion drill, 9 a.m. to 12 noon ; recruits drill, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.; company drill, 3.30 p,m. to 4'30 p.m. You will see from this that our trip is not all play as many expected it would oe before we started; but tho men do not complain, and do their duties cheerfully. Guards and picket keep the meu on night duty at least one night out of four. On Thursday afternoon, after drill, I obtained leave, and went to Pungarehu in hopes that I might see Te Whiti and the rest of the prisoners. "We are only allowed to leave camp in parties of ten under tho charge of a non-commissioned officer, and with side-arms on, Pungarehu is very prettily situated, about four miles from the sea-coast, right opposite the Cape Egmont Lighthouse, and on the main road to New;-Plymouth. The blockhouse stands ou an eminence in the centre. It is very strongly fortified. There are two stores, besides the Government store, canteen, and two billiard-tables, which, I am. told do a roaring trade'. I was notable to see the prisoners as they were in the blockhouse with a strong guard over them, and no one is allowed access to. them. Hiroki is in a tent by himself, h&ndouffed to the tent-pole; four men are in the tent with him night and day, with arms loaded, and strict orders, in case of any attempt to escape, to bring him back slid or alive. Hiroki does not seem to trouble, himself about his situation; he converses freely with his guards, and often plays draughts with them, While I was there news came of Titokowaru's arrest at Parihaka, together with seven others; so I took the opportunity of telegraphing it to you. We hear very little neivs in the camp, and look for nouspapers in order to know what is going on. On Friday evening wo had a little diversion in the camp, The captain of the day had indulged rather too freely with Mr James Hennessey's cordial, and wan suffering from a slight touch of tho "blue devils," He made it rather rough for some of the sentries on night pickets, coining suddenly on their posts and letting drive at them with his drawn sword—os he said—to show thetn how to come to the head parry, I saw some of their rifles in the morning, and the stocks were all cut, aud notched. However, ono of tho Masterton boys who was on sentry go soon fixed it, He challenged him, and, finding tho officer had forgotten the countersign, he fixed his bayonet, and promptly ran him into the guardroom, where he was kept ill durance vile until tho morning; sinee then he has been under medical treatment. On Saturday morning there was a narrow escape from a fatal accident. Captain Young's servant was cleaning his rovolver in his tent, not knowing it nas loaded, and by some chance fired one barrel. The bullet went through the side of the tent, but, by good luck, the men were all on parado for batallion drill, otherwise some one would certainly have been shot.

This morning we paraded under - arms lit 11 o'clock, marched to the batallion parade ground, square formed and prayers read by the Adjutant. The remainder of the day is left to ourselves, aud I am taking advantago of the first opportunity since my last letter, of writing to you, The Taranaki Rifles left this morning for home, and it is rumoured that we shall get marching orders this.week. I telegraphed to yon the unfortunate accident that happened young Peters of Carterton. He was running a race across the campground which is very uneven, and by some means or other splintered his hip bono. He was Bent down to Opunaki in charge of one of his comrades, aud thence to Wellington Hospital. In spite of all the hard work during the day the men find time to engage in athletic sports in the evening. The Wairarapa boys have beaten the whole camp at running, jumpmg, putting the stone, &c. Private Gilbert is still the life of the camp ; every company endeavours to get his presence to enliven their tents in the evening till "lights out." He has been formally knighted and presented with a medal, so you will remember on his return to Masterton that he is now known as Sir Pryor Gilbert. I have not the least doubt that you are far better posted lip in Native news than I am, as the only information we obtain is through the medium of " orders." Talking of orders, I have the misfortune to he 0110 of those unfortunate individuals termed orderly sergeants. If there is one bugle sound out of the many in the repertoire of the British Army that will never be effaced from my memory, it is the orderly sergeant's call, Morning - , noon and night, it is continually going, as sure as you sit, down to get a meal, to write a letter, to read a book, away it goes, and if you don't hurry up at once, you have our stern Sergeant Major dressing you down, I have only been out to attend to it three times since I started this letter. In my next I think I shall be able to tell you definitely when we shall leave for home. I am afraid it will be sooner than most of us wish. The men are begiuningto ton brown: in fact some d thorn with a shawl round them would pass for Maoris, The head-dress provide.! by a paternal Government is not calculated to preserve a person's complexion, The Balmoral cap affords no protection to the face and the skin is peeled off the most of our foreheads. The constabulary dress is very comfortable. They wear grey Crimean shirts without any coats this warm weather, and when paraded together took very well, I was astonished to find stores and clothes so cheap up here, cheaper than they are in Masterton. We had a visit the other day from three old friends, who are now in the district. Messrs Allen and Seed late of the Bank of New Zealand, Masterton, and Mr Sanders who was with Briggs and Co. I inspected the arms taken from the Natives the other day. There are over 200 pieces of every description from the old flint lock upwards. I have just this minute heard that Dixon of the Wellington Navals now at Rahotu shot himself through the leg last week whilst carelessly handling his revolver. [The above letter has been a weok en route,—E.D. W.D.|