TO-DAY'S NEWS FROM THE FRONT.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 111, 8 November 1881, Page 2

TO-DAY'S NEWS FROM THE FRONT.

DISCOMFORTS OF LIFE Itf CAMP. ADMIRABLE CONDUCT OF THE VOLUNTEERS. [prom our special correspondent.] Punqarehu, This Day, 9 a.m. Heavy rain continues, and the position of the troops is not a comfortable one. The Wanganui native 3 have crossed the river Waitotara, which runs through Parihaka, to their own wharcs. The Armstrong gun is placed on the hill overlooking the meeting place. A redoubt will be thrown up. The volunteers are in good fpirits, and it is satisfactory to hear songs of all sorts as one passes the different tents. The sentries have a rough time of it, and the officers on picket no enviable work this wet weithor. Their chain of sentries extend along broken hills and gullies, and the duty of visiting these entails considerable toil. Of course, in such weather, tents come to grief occasionally. About noon the canteen tent oAlapsed, causing considerable damage; and shortly after the tent occupied by Captain Young and Lieut. Blundell, of the Wellington Guards, succumbed. The last-named officer had been on picket all night, and had turned in for a nap. Later on tents arrived for the Nelson battt'ion, and the site of the camp was changed to a hill-side on the left of Parihaka. There can be no doubt the volunteers have been tried and found willing aud enduring. It must be stated that on Friday night they were paraded at Rahotu at 8 o'clock, to see that every man was completely equipped. On Saturday morning they breakfasted at 4, paraded at half-past, and marched at 5, arriving at Parapara about 7. They were halted for a short time, when Major Pitt advanced with the Nelson men, and the Thames volunteers took up a position on the hills overlooking Parihaka from the left. To arrive at the locality ordered, the men had to go through rough scrub and bush, besides climbing the Maori fences, and this in heavy marching order. When " tho Advance" was sounded at 11 all closed in, but until past noon, a period of nearly eight hours, the volunteers were in marching order. In addition to this, the guards and sentries had to be provided for Saturday night, and all, I think, will admit that ourvoluuteers have behaved well and proved that the volunteer service is to be relied upon in case of emergency. I have kept trom mentioning how your correspondent was enabled to report the proceedings of the arrest as an eye-witness. After being refused permission to be near the scene of action— it being absolutely necessary that the proceedings should be reported for the satisfaction of the public— l succeeded, after considerable difficulty and toil, in getting into a position which gave a complete view of all the movements. This position might have been easily conceded at first. Te Whiti, Tohu, and Hiroki are still in the Pungarehu blockhouse, and will proceed via Opunake to Wellington by the Hinemoa, which is expected to-day. A strong escort will accompany them. The natives have read the recent proclamation. Should the tribes not separate it is probable that their chiefs will be arrested. The substance of the proclamation, which is in Maori, is that all are to return to their own neighbourhood, and those natives who have claims on confiscated land must leave the settlement of it to the Government. It is not likely that the natives will disperse voluntarily. [association's special correspondent.] pungarkku, this dat. The weather has now cleared up. The men in the different camps are engaged in putting things shipshape after the boisterous weather of yesterday. Nothing fre3h has transpired at Parihaka. Early this morning a notice was posted in the pah calling on five tribes and other visitors who have assembled there to disperse and leave for their respective homes. Messrs. Bryce and Rolleston left this CAmp at 6 o'clock this morning for Parihaka. The prisoners are still here. Hiroki is kept in a separate tent from Te Whiti and Tohu, aud is bound down at night. There are only fifty men exclusive of the Mounted JRifUs now stationed here. It is expected come action will be taken this morning.

Tim Day, 1130 am. Soveral natives whom I saw at Parihak» this morning aro now passing through for their own homes. The Constabulary are now searching tho whares for arms. The hill in front of Parihaka is crowded with men witnessing the movements of the A.C.'ij.