THE POSITION AT PARIHAKA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 46, 18 September 1880, Page 2

THE POSITION AT PARIHAKA.

(PEOM OTTB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Pukehinatt, September 13.The daily telegrams from the camp will have informed many of your readers that although the fencing operations of Te Whiti have been carried on by a party of men and boys each day, they have lately; lacked the energy which previously characterised them. It would appear that they are not now so anxious as formerly to be taken prisoners, as their demeanor at the fence is a singular contrast to their boisterous behaviour a fortnight since* They now work under the direction of a leader named Berehoma, a Wanganui native. This man, when he sees that their curious structure' of stakes and green boughs is complete, gives the -word fcrf bhezn bo ittoT*' close hogebhe*. This they do, and stand in silence for a moment or ■ two, when they are told to return by the same native, and immediately retire 1 :' No speaking and no "hakas" enliven the proceedings, and the faces of those engaged wear a solemn, discontented, and ' moody expression. To-day Mr. Bryce returned to <samp« and the natives had probably heard of the fact that he was coming, for they collected together at the Parapara and erected a strong fence, and not content with that* \ they dug a deep trench across the road, so " as to make it impassable. It is astonish*';' ing how the natives acquire their informav tion, but your correspondent has. in some cases, found them well informed on Euro* ' - pean matters of which he himself has ' been ignorant at the time, but which have subsequently been found to. be as the natives have stat d. The Parapara fence had not been erected since Mr. Bryce'a previous visit, and before then had been .neglected for some tune, so they appear to have chosen the time when Mr. Bryce was expected to travel on the road to raise their obstructive fences, and thad emphasise their defiance. On Sunday morning it was found that • two of Mr. Quinlivan's horses had in the night broken down the fence which con* fined them, and strayed on to the wheat" field, where they were found by the natives and driven to Parihaka. The man in charge of the horses went to the village, and asked the natives to return them to him. This they refused to do, and on the interpreter' going to Parihaka subsequently, he was told by Te Whiti to go to Taikomako, who was the man told' off to keep horses off the wheat fields. Taikomako refused to deliver them up when applied to, but one of them returned on Monday morning, having probably broken loose during the night. The other remains still in the hands of the natives,' and so the matter at present rests. A curious story is reported from Parihaka. It is said that many natives were asleep in Tohu's whare one night last, week, when some were aroused by a voice outside calling "E Tohu,..E Tohu." Those nearest to Tohu woke him up, and the voice continuing to" call, he went out, and those within the whare heard him in conversation with some one outside, but as they spoke in a different tongue to the vulgar one, nothing could be gathered of the subject under discussion. After * time Tohn returned, and explained that a spirit from another world had come to speak to him, and urge him to conclude his work, for he had already been too long about it. Tohu to this answered^ '• Wait a bit;" but the spirit told him that as he valued his protection, he must conclude his work at once. - To this Tohu assented, and the interview closed. ' This story is believed by many, and your 'correspondent believes it — very nearly. Notwithstanding the quiet behaviour of the men who come to fence here, those fencing at the Parapara to-day were by no means so quiet. Mr. Hunt, who was on his way towards Pukehinau, soon after Mr. Bryce hai passed, was bnrneA i>aek by the natives, who refused to allow him to pass the fence. Captain Gudgeon with some of his men, who were returning from work, went to the spot, and the natives dispersed in all directions on bis approach. The fence was ' found too firmly put up to be destroyed without tools, and the ties were simply cut. Not a whole drain pipe is to be found within a mile and a half to the south of this, all having' been utterly destroyed by the natives. They have not m rely .been broken in two or three pieces, but they have been literally smashed to bits and pounded with stones till not a piece remains larger than one's hand. It would appear that Te Whiti will not be satisfied until he has worn out the patience and forbearance of his opponent, the Govern' ment. Your correspondent entertains grave fears that new and more serious acts of aggr. ssion and' defiance will follow, and that it will require all the forbearance and discipline which is so characteristic of the A.C. foroe to bring them out of the difficulty without bloodshed. Had the men opposed to the natives- a personal private' interest in the property they are defending it is to be feared that the provocation they receive would be too much for their self restraint.