(BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORKKSPONDENT.)

MR BRYCE'S NOTICE TQ TE

WHITI,

WJS&TNIiTON, tiiiadajr. The only intelligence received yesterday from tile front was contained in a telegram from Mr Bryce, who states that bo has sent 1 a letter to Te Wbiti, informing him that he (Mr Bryce) would visit Parihaka on Saturday, the sth November, to receive his reply to the ultimatum. Te W^iiti received the messengers courteously, but declined to take the letter, saying he had had enough of letters. When the con tents were explained to him he said, " Let him (Mr Bryce) come; he will find no forti fications." A rumour was circulated through the town yesterday afternoon to the effect that Te Whiti and his followers had quitted Parihaka, and had taken to the bush. Considerable excitement was cauaed by this report, as it wai^thought that if this was the case, the Maones surely meant fighting, aa they would not be likely to fight at Parihaka. Coupled with Te Whiti's statement that Bryce will find no fortifications at Parihaka, the report seemed to have some colour of truth. The Government, however, have not received any information on the subject, and the Premier does not think there is any truth in the assertion further than that somp of the followers of Te Whiti may be deserting their chief to save themselves from the con-/ sequences of remaining in rebellion. I understand that the three days' grace given by Mr Bryco for Te Whiti's answer is to prevent any quibble about the natives not getting a full fortnight to decide upon their course of action. INCONVENIENCES OF VOLUN TEERING. Tho calling out ot the volunteers does not appear to be an unmixed blessing. When the Naval Brigade was ordered to tho front tho Government offered facilities to their employe's, who wore memberß of the Bri gade, to go the front, and several took ad' vantage of the opportunity. To-day, how- j over, about twenty officials belonging to another corps have offered their services, and I am informed they will be accepted by a grateful Government. It seems from what I can learn that they had made up their minds to have a pleasant holi day without any risk of losing their situations, and it ia said, though I cannot vouch for it, that they will receive their pay all the same. 