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Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 213, 7 September 1900, Page 8

The "King" has an interesting illustrated article on the trouble m Ashanti. "When Sir Francis Scott and his victorious troops entered Prempeh/s capital,'' says the writer, "it was found that the wily King, or some of his confederates, had hidden a large quantity of treasure, and also the golden stool of Ashanti, which is regarded with feelings of veneration and superstition by the native tribes. Until he has taken his seat on this stool, no chief, be he ever so powerful, can reign over the kingdom. Since the British occupation and the exile of the deposed Prempeh to the coast, the Kumasi tribes have been faithful and obedient. They have given no trouble, and under the direction of Captain Donald Stewart, C.M.G., the Resident of Kumasi, that place has been completely transformed—barracks, cantonments, etc., have sprung up, roads and telegraphs have been constructed, and an era of prosperity has set in. But yet at heart the Ashantis have always believed that one day that hidden symbol of royalty would bring them back their king—or at least another ruler — who could be solemnly placed on the sacred golden stool. Every endeavour on the part of the British officers to discover the hiding place of this treasure has, so far, proved unavailing, and the few Ashantis who knew anything about it have preserved the most discreet silence. What has now happened can largely be only matter for conjecture. It "is certain, however, that Sir Frederick Hodgson, who was journeying to Kumasi with his wife and a numerous sxiite, by some means heard where the stool was hidden, and thereupon sent a force of constabulary, under Inspectors Arnritage and Leggett, to take it. The search apparently proved fruitless, and the natives by some means came to hear of the movement. The powerful tribe of Kumasis —some of the ex-king's staimchest supporters —at once organised opposition against any attempt of the white man to wrest from them their loved stool, and thus at one stroke to shatter their Joyed- hopes of ever having their own king. The sequel -is soon told. Kumasi was invested, and fighting occurred between the natives and the force sent to recover the stool, in in which the British lost about thirty, in killed, wounded, and missing."

Jones —There's no telling what a day ma3 r bring forth. Brown —That's so! A fellow may toe rich to-day and married to-morrow.