WAIROA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 40, 30 December 1863, Page 3

WAIROA.

[PROM OUR OTOf COIiRESPOXDEST.] December 2Gth. I have nothing of any great importance to report ut this time. Tho principal amusements hereabouts on Christmas Day were racing, jumping; and. singing Christmas incdodios, at whieh the men enjoyed themselves as well as they possibly could. I need scarcely say that it was a dull enough Christmas i'or some of them, especially to those who were absent from their wives and families, and who probablv at this time last year enjoyed the happiness of having their wives and children round them, and sitting by a snug fireside, but who are now obliged to be soldiers and live in tents of nn inferior quality; and be drenched to the skin, tho rain descending like a second delude, and then rise in tho morning still* and cramped; all tjiis for liberty, the a day, and finally, the fifty acres of land, of which T have heard many of them complain that it will bo doarlv bought. Trott, whom I alluded to in lily last, is still remaining in the Galloway Kodoubt, a prisoner. Au oilicer with whom 1 was in conversation vester- I day intorms me that he is to be tried by court martial, ! and will most likely be flogged. Jam worry that silch ! a scene; should have to occur here. There lias not j been one single case of floggiitg at the Galloway | Kedoubt since if. has been erected, which speaks well j lor the conduct of the men, and which it gives me , much pleasure to mention. A medical gentleman informs me that there had ! been two cases of flogging at the Upper Wairoa j Kedoubt soiii l short time ago, and in each cwo the i offenders received fifty lashes. Could there he no j other punishment invented in the room of flogging, i and cutting up a man's flesh in such a cruel nml in- | human maimer r* Kvery person will agree with me thai Hogging is the most barbarous way a man can be punished. After he hits got his complement of lushes he is then put into hospital, where he cannot very e;isily lie down owing to the severe pain of ids back, which has been in a manner fleshed; thin injures him both bodily and mentally, and in some cases is the means of shortening his days. There is tho canteen in one corner of a redoubt, wlwro a man win get drunk, and in the. other is stationed the angle, where he is to be tied and Hogged. It would be a good job it both of these could be done without. On Christmas Day a few gentlemen belonging to the A\ airoa went down in tin; direction of Taupo, for the purpose of viewing the races and the several amusements which were to come off amongst the Maoris in that locality. They were all mounted, and started in the morning about ten o'clock, and passing through Xatu's settlement, and other gullies and ravines, together with some dangerous swamps which are between hero and Taupo, they reached Jonathan's Castle, where, on entering, they found that he had been entertaining somo new guests. Jonathan and his fair lady recommended these into our heroes' hands as prisoners, stating that they were rebels, and had come to his place the night before, and that they were also among the party of rebels that Captain Jackson fell across. The party, which | consists of two men mei three women, ure known by some ot the AVairoa people, and belonged to the settlement of Te Urangaheuheu, in the "\Vairoa district. "When they were taken prisoners they had in their possession three tomahawks and one spear, jot whieh limy were disarmed, and marched up to the I Galloway iiedoubt by our heroes, where they were | lodged in the guard tent, and a sentry placed over ! them. Jt seemed rather curious, but it is a fact, that I they seemed rejoiced when they got into the tent. ) It is the opinion of all who have them that they ! are very thankful to be taken ns prisoner?', where ; they will at least be fed. As I observed, they had all the appearance of hunger and starvation,' from ( tiieir countenances. One of tho party, who w;ls an | old man, seemed downcast and melancholy ; in fact : it was touching, almost to every one, the pitiful I appearance they all showed. I expect they will bo I sent to Auckland, where tho rest of the Maori j prisoners are. Jonathan appeared well pleased when j they were taken away from his place. I The detachment of the lfjth Regiment, which was | stationed here for threo mouths p;ud, left here on ( \\ednesday, tor the front. They are succeeded by a detachment of the -13rd t who appear to bo a respectable. body of men, and have come hero with a good reputation.

[Wo quilt' agree with mir correspondent in depveeatinf* the list; of the degrading punishment of flogging on every occasion, and llie crime of the individual to wlir.m ho alludes is deserving of ;i far heavier pen:Uty than " fifty lashes." Outrages accompanied with attempts on the life of thoo who endeavour to prevent tliom, are becoming hut too common anions pome of tli-; desperadoes who have found their way into our WaikaVj rugimonttf, and nothing but a stem example will put down this lawlessness. For the credit of the honourable men of whom these regiments are composed, such causes of offence mu.st. he at onee removed. JJy the articles of war such crimes are punishnblo with death.—-Kn. N. Z. 11.]