PARIHAKA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6237, 12 November 1881, Page 5

PARIHAKA.

[BY TELEfIKAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Hawera, Friday. THE DISARMING ON THE "WAIMATE PLAINS. The Wanganui Cavalry have taken all the arms and ammunition from the various kaingas on the Plains, including Oeo, which is Hone Piliama's settlement. They have thus secured eighty stand, and about one hundred pounds of powder and many thousands of caps. When the corps went to Wiremti Mannia's place they demanded access to his trunks, but of one box he had lost the key. However, oue of the Wanpanui Company produced an axe, and was about to burst it open, when, trembling, the old chief produced the key. The box, amongst other things, contained £170 in notes whicli of course was returned. This disarming is taking all the conceited bombast out of the natives. Major Atkinson has been at Manaia all the week, so as to be ready for any emergency at this end. Mr. Brycc and Mr. Rolleston have also been most active and painstaking. One friendly native named Ngati was so awed at the disarming, and expected visit to his own whare, that he determined to save the cavalry the trouble, and place his favourite gun in safe quarters, so at two o'clock yesterday morning, W. D. Martin was aroused from his slumbers. He went to the door armed, there lie saw what he was prepared for, an armed Maori. He was about to have the first pop with his revolver, when fortunately, in the dull light, he recognised his dusky /viend and neigbour, Ngati — who wished Captain Martyn to take possession of his arms. This is a sign of the times, but still many Maoris — the great majority —still have faith that Te Whiti's plan will come out right, and they will have; their lands returned to them; but judiiinj.; from all points " the potato is cooked'' in more senses than one, and the Native Department with all its mysteries and native bouncc are ill their last throes. Happy for all, they die in peace, and not in the horrors of war.

THE DIFFICULTIES OK THE PRE-

POSITION.

fr.y TELEGRAPH. —FROM A CORRESPONDENT] PiwgareHu, Friday, 5 p.m. Now that Te Whiti, Toliu, Hiroki, and others have been taken, there is a general disposition amongst every one here to consider what is to be the next step. Nobody knows what is passing in the heads of Mr. Bryce, Mr. Rolleston, or Major Atkinson, but other people can see as far into a milestone as they can. Now that the leaders have been taken, I apprehend that the object of the Government is simply to break up the Parihaka settlement, and to disperse the natives to tlieir own places. But this is not easily done, when opposed by simple passive resistance. It is like firing cannon balls into mud fortifications. Amongst fifteen hundred or two thousand inei!, women, and children, how are you to tell where each belongs to? If you ask a native what his name is, the reply will probably be, "Kirimangu " (Blackskin), or "Kirima" (Whiteskin), or some such fancy appellation as that. If you ask them where they belong to the answer will be, "Parihaka.'' All the time he will be surrounded by people who know all about him, but not a word will they utter. I confess I am somewhat puzzled, and I believe Ministers are in the same predicament. Great is the power of inertia ! Profound are the subtleties of the Maori mind ! It may take a long time to do the work. Ministers are trying to make the natives as uncomfortable as possible in Parihaka by surrounding them with soldiers and preventing ingress or egress. Parihaka is under the range of hundreds of rifles, and is commanded by an Armstrong gun. This would render any Europeans uncomfortable. And yet the natives take the whole matter with cool philosophy. The women get the I food and cook it; the men, like the " coster" | whom the constabulary in the "Pirates of Penzance" sing about, "love to lie a-basking in the sun while the children frisk about in innocent unconsciousness in the marae. The roadmaking lately started by Ministers is another idea to make the natives uncomfortable. It usually lias that effect, for I have known of settlements being deserted when a party of road-makers came near. But here the natives "keep on never-minding." How to deal with Maoris in such circumstances is a most complex problem. Constabulary dutymust be done, and if tliese Maoris will not "move on," they must, I suppose, be "run in." It looks as if to disperse the natives Mr. Bryce would be driven to adopt measures which probably Ministers would regret to have to resort to. And yet the kainga at Parihaka, which has been a permanent menace to the settlers of the Wi st Coast for many years, must be broken up.

[BY TELSGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPOXDENT.]

Pungarehu, Friday, S p.m. THE MOUNTED RIFLES SEARCHING FOR AKMS. The Taranaki Mounted Rifles galloped off this afternoon and ransacked five pas for arms, going nearly as far as Opunake. They found the pas nearly deserted, save by a few terrified old women. About thirty guns were taken, and some ammunition. LOOTING. Precautions were taken to prevent men looting, and no doubt exists that some greenstones, &c., were carried off. This is quite on a par with the general inattention to detail one observes. The Maoris believe the constabulary removed things from Parihaka during the search for arms. Pungarehu, Friday, 7 p.m. THE MORNING'S EMPLOYMENTS. Nothing was done by the constabulary this morning. On my arrival at the Parihaka camp, everything was quiet, and the men were engaged in collecting firewood, and it was expected that a roadmaking party would have been ordered out, but beyond grinding up spades and picks, nothing was done in that direction. PUNGAREHU CAMP. Mr. Bryce has now shifted his quarters to the camp at Parihaka, and Pungarehu camp has been left under the command of Captain Davidson, of New Plymouth Mounted Rifles. A number of constabulary were engaged tills morning in building a redoubt on the sea side of Parihaka. DRILLING. The volunteers in the various camps were drilling early in the morning, and appear to have become thoroughly at home in their camp life. MORE PRISONERS TAKEN. During the afternoon an arresting party of constabulary were paraded and marched into Parihaka, with the view of taking more prisoners. Brookes, of the Alexandra Cavalry, who was stationed at Manaia, arrived this morning to identify several of the chiefs present who belong to the WaDganui tribes. In all 26 prisoners were taken. Of these 23 belonged to tribes living at Wanganui, the remainder being connected or living in the neighbourhood of Parihaka. No resistance whatever was offered, and the natives who were assembled in the marae looked on with the utmost indifference. The principal men taken are Te Whetu, Rangikokera, and Ngahuia. The former was one of the first batch of prisoners taken for fencing operations. Tho prisoners were then marched to a wliare on Fort Rolleston, where a strong guard was placed over them, and they will remain there until to-morrow. The arresting party were then ordered to return, and on reaching camp were dismissed for the day. This movement finished the operations for the day, and it is not expected that nay other prisoners will be taken. BANDS. The Armed Constabulary and Wellington Guards bands that have arrived at the Parihaka and volunteers' camp respectively, enlivened the proceedings during the day. A DEATH AT PARIHAKA. Before leaving Parihaka I noticed that the Maoris were digging a grave in the cemetery, and on inquiry was informed that one of the natives had died on the previous evening. SEARCHING FOR ARMS. The New Plymouth Rifles made a sudden start irom Pungarehu this afternoon. Their esfcination is believed to be Rahotu, and f, . y have gone for the purpose of ""i, nn o tllc wliares for firearms and ammunition. p , . miscellaneous. linV,?F, XT Jol . ms ton and Dr. Diver, of WelVf* aV ? ' return t0 Wellington in the course of a <In.y or two* «I,JwL?7 ea w er t ?"n ay was threatening and showery. Rain fell at four o'clock in the afternoon. During the evening the weather cleared up. ° Te Whiti, Tohu and Hiroki are still in custody at Pungarehu,

BY" TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, Pungap.eiiu, Friday, 7.55 p.m. THE PRISONERS. No difficulty arose to-day when the prisoners were arrested. The Armed Constabulary party marched in about 2 o'clock, and their work was done about 4.50. The prisoners here have the same rations as the Armed Constabulary, except Te Whiti and Tohu, who are given luxuries such as butter aud tobacco. I asked Colonel Roberts this morning why the sentry would not let me accompany the Armed Constabulary yesterday when they went to make the road, and he said the men had no instructions to prevent anyone, and that his (the sentry's) statement to the effect that no reporters were allowed to follow, was entirely untrue. PLAYING WITH REVOLVERS. I feel convinced you need expect no startling news if any one is shot. It will be some volunteer playing with his revolver. A MAORI FUNERAL. A Maori was buried to-day in the graveyard, under Fort Rolled ton, and the men (pakehas) crowded round in no very reverent way. The body was put in the earth close to the edge of the staked enclosure, and then stakes were driven in round the grave. Viewed from above, the cemetery would resemble a piece of honeycomb, and the oldest graves in the interior could only be visited by climbing over the stakes surrounding the newer graves outside. THE VOLUNTEERS. The volunteers believe tliey will soon be given the option of returning home or stopping to help to make roads. The Wanganui contingent have been sent to Manaia, it is believed because they slew both pi»s aud geese, while the Wellington Naval Brigade, who slew only pigs, [remain at Rahotu. MISCELLANEOUS. Mails, after a fashion, and post-marks on letters indicate extraordinary circuitous journeys. Newspapers, except the Taranaki Herald, are absolutely unknown. Everyone is intensely eager to know what the colony thinks of this demonstration. The weather is fine, except one heavy shower about 4 p.m., and no sickness that I know of.

[iiT TELEGRAPH. SPECIAL COP.KKSPO.NDE.XT.]

Wellington', Friday. WHY THE NATIVES WERE ARRESTED. Only one telegram was received to-day from Mr. Bryce, who reports the arrest of 25 Wauganui natives, ou their refusal to leave Parihaka when ordered. THE PLAN OF THE ROAD. In reference to the new road now being made at Parihaka, I may explain that it will not run, as generally supposed, in almost a direct line from Cape Eginont through Parihake to Stratford. Ou the contrary, the plan is as follows :—Some little distance behind Parihaka a road will be cut, running parallel with the constabulary main road along the coast. This new line will be continued southward till it strikes direct the road from Opunake to Stratford, and north probably until it reaches the camp at Okato. The direct road from Cape Egmont to Parihaka will then be continued eastward, and through and past that village until it strikes the new north and south line behind Parihaka, to which I have already referred. It will be seen on reference to the map that this will give complete strategic command of Parihaka from all sides,' and entirely isolate it from the surrounding country. With aid of the new redoubts, now under const I'uction, very few men can dominate district.

! M.AJOR KEMPJ I have further information regarding Major Kemp's attitude from a gentleman who had an interview with him only a day or two ago. He confirms my previous account, and assures me that Kemp lias sent no fewer than four messengers to Parihaka to persuade the Wanganui's, who are among the visitors there, to return to their homes. Topia has done the same as regards the Taupo tribes. Kemp now expresses a hope that Government will arrest his disobedient followers. On being asked what he thought of the arrest of Te Whiti and the occupation of Parihaka, Kemp replied, "Of course Government were quite right. What else could they do ? They could do nothing else." All the stories about Kemp's sympathy and good understanding with Te Whiti, are utterly untrue. The communications sent by Kemp to Parihaka were simply his commands to members of his tribe to leave Te Whiti, and return home as already mentioned. THE RETURN HOME. It is still quite uncertain when the volunteers can be allowed to return, but there seems no probability of this being for at least another fortnight, and perhaps longer.

MR. BRYCE'S CONDITIONS OF SUBMISSION.

Hawera, Friday. It is stated by the Hawera Star that one of the conditions in Mr. Bryce's letter to Te Whiti was that the natives should show their submission by themselves pulling down the fences they hail erected. MAJOR ATKINSON'S SEARCH. The Alexandra Cavalry made a further search to-day for arms on the Plains. Major Atkinssn accompanied them. In Taikatu and Omuturangi pas about 50 stand of arms were found, including several Ferry carbines, one double-barrelled flint gun, and several Enfield rifles. Taikatu Pa is one of the most defensive positions on the Plains. Only a few old women were found in the pa, and they were loud in protestations that there were no guns. Fresh tracks of horsemen were seen. In all, S4 stand of arms and 561bs. of powder have been seized on the Plains, as also a quantity of percussion caps. The arms and ammunition were generally coucealed in boxes. Major Atkinson was the first to enter Taikotu, which is said to be the stronghold into which Titokowaru was wont to retire when hard pressed by the Europeans.