THE NATIVE CRISIS.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 90, 14 October 1881, Page 2

THE NATIVE CRISIS.

♦ [By Telegbaph.J |unitbd pkess association.) Nelson, This Dat. At a parade of the Artillery last night, botween 50 and 60 were present, and all offered their services in case they were required, and unconditionally. The Artillery, Nayals, and City Rifles, have now offered their services, with the exception of one man. Chbistchubch. This Dat. It is reported here that Colonel Lyon and Colonel Packe have suggested that the Lytteltin Naval Brigade should volunteer for service at Paribaka, but that the hitter did not think the inducements offered were good enough, and refused.

A Taranaki correspondent of the Wacgonui Herald writes : — "The programme to be adopted by the Government is freely canvassed, and, by those who should know, stated to be as follows : — As Boon as sufficient Constabulary are collected at the camp, the volunteers in the district will be held in readiness to protect the settlements, and the A.C.'s will arrest the fencera, if they persist in fencing. An armed force is to enter Parihaka, and if Te Whiti and Tohu do not give sufficient assurances that, from this time, no more annoyance is to be given to the settlers, they will be arrested, no matter at what cost. Everyone i 8 confident there will be no fighting, except perhaps fisticuffs, and it has been gleaned from some

reliable men that Parihaka is not, or the> back settlement, protected in any way, or prepared for warfare. All this is stated to be done beforo the next meeting of Te Whiti, viz., the 17th inst. I can only say that these gleanings have, to me, the true ring of truth." A special telegram to the same paper, dated Okato, llth October, says:— " There is universal activity at the various oamps. Gordon (?; has recoived tha appointment of Adjutant. Numerous promotions among the non-commißsioned officers are spoken of. It is very evident that a decisive step, to test whether the natives mean fighting or not, will bo taken within a few days. The natives still protest that they will not carry resistance beyond using stioks and stones."