LATEST FROM PARIHAKA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 73, 22 December 1880, Page 2

LATEST FROM PARIHAKA.

(feom oub own correspondent.)

Pungarehu, December 20.

From the fact that no mention was made of tbe .murderer Tubi&ta in either of the two speeches made by Te Whiti and Tohu on the 17th instant, it is to be concluded that they wish it to be understood that they simply ignore the matter as one with which they have no concern. Te Wharengax-o, father of tbe murderer, is at Parihaka, but keeps very close, and has been seen by very few. It is reported that had Tuhihata and his father sought shelter at Parihaka, that Te Whiti would have immediately sent them to Opunake, as he repudiates all law-breaking that is not strictly political. A report is current that Te Wharengaro threatens to take ten European lives if his son is killed, but your correspondent is of opinion that the "on dit "is of European origin. There can be no doubt that the old man is a bad lot, of a diabolical temper, which he would appear to share equally with his son. More of this in my next.

The sheep which were killed at Pungarehu, and for stealing which Wi Waikato is committed for trial, were feeding on the wheat when slaughtered. The constabulary say that Wi himself drove them on to the wheat from the road on which they "were feeding. This, of course, is denied. The Parihaka natives say that the unanimous decision of all at that place was, that any cattle or horses found on the wheat should be pounded, whether Eurapean or Maori property, and that any sheep or pigs should be killed. Had they killed ths sheep, and let them lie, the matter would bear a different aspect ; but, in any case, the offending native is well out of the way, as there can be no doubt that he is an exceedingly truculent and bounceable native, whose place is now ably filled by Kereopa, from Waitotara. Te Wharepa, who committed the murder at the Chatham Islands, is a Government man, and a half-brother to George Grey's wife, of Oeo. He was formerly in the Taranaki province, but the natives deny that he is a follower of Te Whiti, and deprecate the attempt made to trace all native criminals to Parihaka.

Tbe Egmont lighthouse is being rapidly brought on to the ground in segments, and the foundation of concrete is being actively proceeded with. Two handsome cottages are about to be erected for the lighthouse men, and a paddock fenced in. No. 4 company A.C., under Captain Newall, left Pungarehu for Ngakumikumi yesterday. They form the advance of a party of 180 mea, which are to he despatched to that place to finish the formation of the road ; the distance from Pungarehu being too great for the working parties to proceed daily to the scene of operations. About eight weeks will complete that portion of the road, when the men will be shifted to their old camp at Pukehinau, to complete the formation southward. Fifty men are left at Cape Egmont, under the command of Major Goring.