3

H.—l4,

of Major Pitt, Nelson Artillery, formed the left column, and consisted of 945 of all ranks, composed as follows : Nelson Volunteers, 185 ; Thames, 170; Wellington, 200; Wanganui, 161; Wairarapa, 99; Canterbury, 79 ; Marlborough, 51. The right column, under command of Major Tuke, Armed Constabulary Force, consisted of 644 of all ranks, composed as follows : Taranaki Mounted Rifles, 40 ; Taranaki Volunteer Eifles, 46 ; six companies of Armed Constabulary Force, 449 ; 'A ' Company of Armed Constabulary Force, 109. 'A' Company was composed of men temporarily selected for special duty from all the companies on account of their size and strength, and formed a very imposing body. Two of the Armed Constabulary companies forming the right column marched under Messrs. Goring from Eahotu, and joined their column en route. Detachments of Armed Constabulary, sufficient to garrison these posts, were left at Eahotu and Pungarehu. The march of Major Pitt's column from Eahotu, and Major Tuke's from Pungarehu, was timed so that their arrival at Parihaka should be simultaneous. The men carried two days' rations and forty rounds of extra ammunition. A supply of ammunition on pack-horses accompanied the right column, while an ample reserve remained in the blockhouse at Pungarehu. The left column crossed the road to Parihaka, and moved round through the bush to the north side of the settlement, while the right column moved by the road. A strong body of Volunteers, under Captain Hammersley, Canterbury Eifles, was posted where the bush approached the road, to guard such points as might be used by the enemy to threaten our communications, and a chain of sentries posted. Another body of Volunteers, under Captain Watt, Wanganui Eifles, was posted in support in a strong position about half a mile from the settlement. The spare ammunition was left in charge of the support. Communication was maintained between the columns, and soon after the advanced guard of the right column approached the settlement the skirmishers of Major Pitt's column were seen crowning the range of hills which runs along the north side of Parihaka. The Constabulary occupied the high ground along the western side, and quickly the settlement was enveloped by the troops. But, before this, it had become apparent that no armed resistance was intended. The Maoris, to the number of over 2,200, were assembled in the marae, and sat closely packed and in perfect silence. The Hon. Mr. Bryce, after addressing a question to Te Whiti through Mr. Butler, directed the Eiot Act to be read, which was done in the marae —in English by Major Tuke, and in Maori by Mr. Butler—at 10 o'clock a.m., and the Maoris were informed that an hour was given them to disperse. Before the expiration of the hour, on the bugle-sound ' Advance,' the cordon of troops closed rapidly in and occupied the outskirts of the settlement. At 11 o'clock, as the Natives made no motion to disperse, the 'A' Company of Armed Constabulary entered the marae, and, the Hon. Mr. Bryce having summoned Te Whiti to deliver himself up without effect, I directed Major Tuke to arrest Te Whiti and Hiroki, which was accordingly done, Hiroki coming forward voluntarily when called upon. Te Whiti and Tohu were taken in an express to Pungarehu and confined in the blockhouse, their custody being intrusted to Captain Davidson, Taranaki Mounted Eifles, which corps returned to Pungarehu to be stationed, and subsequently did excellent service in escort, patrol, and orderly duty. In the afternoon Hiroki was also sent to Pungarehu, and confined in the guard tent. A strong picket was posted on Fort Eolleston, overlooking the Parihaka settlement, and a small battery constructed to cover the field-gun of the Nelson Artillery, which was placed in position on the following day. All the approaches to the settlement were guarded, and the main body of the troops withdrawn to pitch their camps, being distributed as follows: —Head-quarters camp, under command of Major Tuke, Armed Constabulary, on the west side of Parihaka: Constabulary, 381; Taranaki Rifle Volunteers, 46 : total, 427. Major G-oring's camp on the north-west side: Constabulary, 177. Major Pitt's camp, on the north and east sides, on hills overlooking the settlement: Nelson Volunteers, 1 85 ; Thames Volunteers, 170; Wellington Navals, 112: total, 467. The camps of Captain Hammersley, nearly a mile to the west of Parihaka, and Captain Watt, half a mile to the west, were occupied by 478 Volunteers of all ranks; some of these Volunteers had been brought forward to Parihaka in the morning, and returned to their camps in the afternoon. The Natives continued to sit silently in the marae during the remainder of the day; and on the sth of November, and several subsequent days, no active measures were taken for their dispersion. The troops made themselves comfortable in camp; and on the hill occupied by Major Goring, overlooking Parihaka, a strong stockade was erected. For some time after the arrest of Te Whiti the Natives assembled and sat for some hours in the marae daily, not appearing to have an acknowledged leader. " On the 7th notices were posted in the settlement directing Natives not belonging to Parihaka to return to their own places. The Natives did not comply ; and on the following day the whole of the whares were searched for arms, and over 220 guns of various descriptions were taken, and some powder, shot, and caps. Several wheelbarrows were also found in the settlement which had been stolen from Constabulary road parties ; also some telegraph wire. Other settlements throughout the district were visited by cavalry patrols, the whares searched, and all arms and ammunition confiscated. "On the 10th Titokowaru and other leading chiefs were arrested. On the succeeding days Natives not belonging to the place were picked out and sent under escort to their own kaingas ; and by the 21st nearly 1,600 Natives, including men, women, and children, had been despatched under escort of Armed Constabulary to their various settlements. The Wanganui Natives were embarked at Opunake and taken home by sea. Te Whiti, Tohu, and Hiroki were lodged in the New Plymouth Gaol on the 12th. " On the 15th the whares which had been occupied by the Wanganui Natives were destroyed by the Constabulary ; and on the 19th and 22nd a few more whares were pulled down. Meanwhile a road had been laid off by Mr. Hursthouse, leading inland from Parihaka, and work had been commenced on it by Constabulary. As order was gradually restored, the number of Volunteers was diminished by degrees, by corps being sent back to their various districts ; and on the 18th of November the last of the Volunteer force employed in the field —namely, the Nelson Volunteers, under command of Major Pitt— marched from Parihaka to embark at Opunake for their own district. "I cannot report too favourably on the exemplary conduct of, and good feeling displayed between, all branches of the colonial forces while in the district. Major Pitt, commanding Volunteers, rendered special service by the excellent discipline maintained throughout his command, and the reliable way in