RETURN OF THE P.S. 'LUNA.'

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3971, 14 May 1870, Page 4

RETURN OF THE P.S. 'LUNA. '

The Government p. s. ' Luna' arrived in harbour at 9 o'clock yesterday morning from j lier cruise, having on board the Hon. D. McLean, Native and Defence Minister. It had been Ins intention to proceed up the Piako Ciock, but this idea was abandoned, as the uiajoiity of the natives had gone up to Ohmenuui. \r. McLean, however, met j a number of leading chiefs and principal men of the Ngatimaru tribe, and discussed with them some matters of importance connected with the goldfield, and the extension of tho telegraph. The chiefs expressed the moat friendly feelings, and promised to aid the telegraph in every way in their power. Much sympathy was expressed for the chief Taraia, whose death is hourly expected. He is iogarded ia one of the "men of old," whose influence has always been paramount to that of tha chief-, of later times, and he lias generally been friendly in his bearing towards Europeans. At his death, which is believed by his countrymen to be imminent, there will probably be a great tangi. The ' Luna' also visited Manaia, and thence wont to Cabbage Bay, where the chief Te Moauanui and several other natives were met, who were assembling for the anticipated tangi over Taraia, Te Moananui expressed the pleasure occasioned by the visit of the Hon. the Native and Defence Minis, ter, and promised to continue to aid the Government in every way in the maintenance of liw and order The Thames Advertiser of yesterday, re "erring to the expected death of Taraia, says ;—; — "We learn that Taraia Ngakuti, the aged chief of the Ngatifc amatera, and 'the last of the cannibals,' had made up his mind that he would die last night, and as in this mattei's natives generally cairy out, so to speak, their intention, we quite expect that Taraia isnowdead. Inrauk, Taiaia stood very high — indeed, we doubt if there are now four natives who in birth and warlike fame are his equals. He has been always recognised as the groat chief of the Thames, just as Pofcatau was the great chief of the Waikato. He was a very old man, numbering probaby nearly a hun/lred yeai s. His youth aud manhood were spent in cruel wars, and in terrible deeds of blood, such as New Zealand will never see a^ani. It was Le who, with his warriors, held the last great cannibal feast in New Zealand, at the Thames, when hundreds of heads were stuck on poles after an inroad upon the Tauranga tribes. He might have been seen frequently at Butt's Cornei-, sitting in the sun, looking on at the busy life of the Europeans, which had changed the very face of the land where he had formerly reigned with more than royal power. His death will cause a great sensation amongst the natives in both islands of the colony."