NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 121, 11 June 1881, Page 4

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

(from our own correspondent.) Pungarehu.

Many natives are collected together at Parihaka, in expectation of the return of the Maori prisoners from Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Hokitika, and much food is accumulated for their reception. Those released from the two former places were landed from the Hinemoa, at Opunake, on Saturday. The whereabouts of those imprisoned at Hokitika is a matter of doubt among those already landed, as they state that they were told that Mr. Parris would return in the Hinemoa for them, and that they would not be landed till next week ; whereas your correspondent saw the Hinemoa pass Parihaka, on her way to New Plymouth, on Saturday ; and the telegrams from Dunedin say that the Stella left that place for Hokitika a week ago to fetch the prisoners. The Stella will probably land them in a day or two. Those already arrived at Opunake proceeded immediately to Wiremu Kingi's place at Opua, and will proceed immediately to Parihaka. It was proposed among themselves that they should wait until the arrival < f the Hokitika prisoners, but the final decision come to on Saturday evening was that they should go directly to Parihaka. Food was taken to them from Opunake on Saturday. At Pariliaka all credit is given to Te Whiti for his foresight in having said that two years would elapse before their return, and also for his assertion that Ihe law courts were inoperative as regards the prisoners, which remark they i . nsider fully borne out by the return < f those sentenced to two years' hard l.ibor. No credit is given to the Government on the score of leniency. Te Y:hiti's house is not yet finished in iho interior portions, but the floors fno nearly all laid, and scrimming and ] a>>ering is being proceeded with. A

considerable amount of European delicacies have been purchased by the Ngatiawa tribe, and conveyed to Parihaka for the opening feast. The pastry cooks of New Plymouth have been sought out, and confectionery purchased ; and a story is current at Parihaka that on Tohu desiring to taste some of these Pakiha delicacies, and a pie being placed before him, he was considerably chagrined to find the contents, nothing but kamokamo, only vegetable marrow^ of which he had plenty at Parihaka. A native woman was accidentally shot near Parihaka, by some one in pursuit of pheasants, one of the shots striking her near the left eye, and the other slightly penetrating the left arm. The wounds were very insignificant, and very little notice was taken of the affair by the natives, except an expression of opinion that it was unwise to shoot in the neighborhood of their cultivations, which are alive with natives. The shootist heard or saw nothing, but when told of the fact, acknowledged that probably the shots came from his gun. Modern chokebores, even moderated, have a very long range, and should be used with care, near to any settlements or cultivations. The sportsman is not one of the officers or men of the constabulary now stationed at Pungarehu.

The lighthouse is nearly finished, and will soon be ready to receive the beacon. It shows up very conspicuously, and is seen from a great distance! The cottages for the lighttenders are models of comfort, and contrast with the raupo whares in which the officers and men of the Armed Constabulary are lodged. As 200 acres are reserved from sale close to the Pungarehu station, it is to be supposed that a permanent post is to be there established. These 200 acres are sown with grass by the A.C., and having provided for the wellbeing of the A.C. horseß, perhaps something may be done in the way of looking to the comfort of the officers and men. Suitable buildings should be erected, and blockhouses provided. The works for the protection of the Pungarehu station are extensive and elaborate, and the hill should be impregnable against any force or attacking weapons the Maoris can bring against it. Major Tuke has taken great painß with these earthworks and fortifications, and a description of the lines and their various angles is beyond the powers of your correspondent, who is not a military engineer. It is currently reported that a gentleman living near Normanby has offered the Government .£3O per acre for the lately abandoned station at Waihi, but that the Government have decided to retain the hundred acres at that place for the purpose of growing forage for the troops. In these days of retrenchment and reductions, it might suggest itself to some that less valuable land would do to grow oats and grass for the A.C.'s; the paddocks at Manaia or the two hundred acres at Pungarehu, for instance, and that these latter are better situated for the purpose, and in a position where the labor of the constabulary could be utilised for the purpose of farming them. Tour correspondent has it on the very best authority that there is no order issued actually forbidding the men of the various A.C. stations from going out after sundown ; but that they are simply required to ask permission before doing so. This is done in order to know what men are absent in the event of any slight disturbance outside the camps, and is but the return to an old order generally in force in former years, and as beneficial to the orderly men, in exonerating them from blame, as it is useful to the officers in detecting offenders. No man asking leave will be refused ; but if he is too lazy to ask, he has but himself to thank for his detention.