NATIVE INTELLIGENCE WAIKATO.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4402, 4 October 1871, Page 7

NATIVE INT ELLIGENCE WAIKATO.

An instance illustrating in a melancholy way one phase of the native character has just occurred at tlio settlement of Rangik.ihu. The widow of Wikiriwhi, one of the sufFviicys in the canoe accident mentioned some time back, had been m a very despondent state ever aince. She was anxious to rejoin her deceased husband, as she expressed it ; and, finding that nature was tardy in roinoving her from this world, she expedited the woik by poisoning herself with bluestone. Natives use large quantities of this ding in tho wheat-planting season to steep their seed- wheat in, and her messenger found no difficulty in purchasing the desired commodity. The dose made the unfortunate creature violently sick, when her relatives became aware of what she had taken — too late, however, to save her life. The Tlinmos Athurther says :—" There appears to bo no change in the position of the natives at Ohinemuri. Hemi i'uru, who vent up theie on September 11, took a letter from Air. O'Keelle to Te Hira, chiefly relating to the telegraph. A meeting of the piinuipal men was held, and in the discussion which [ensued it is said that Te Hira was very moderate, but Tukukino was a3 violent as ever. Pimi, on proceeding to get over to Taiiranga, was searched by orders of I Tukukmo and Keiehi. He was, however, quite prepared. There was no use appealing I to the natives that the message was a private one of importance. Puru had a courier bag, which the nativ*s searched, and kept till he came back. They a\ao searched his clothes and saddleflaps, but Puru had secreted tbc letter in a shawl which lie had round his neck." The well-known chief of Kapanga, Pita Tanrua, died on September 13 at Beeson'3 Island, and his body was brought over to Kapauya, accompauied by a large number of i natives. This chief was remarkable for his i constant loyalty throughout tho war, and for his attachment to the Church of England, which he enriched by the freo gift of a valuable plot of land at Kapanga, upon which a new church is now about to be built, Tho deceased was very highly thought of by Sir George Grey, who knew the sterling worth of Pita's character, and .appreciated it, and by all the old residents at Cororaandel he was much esteemed. A. very numerous gathering of natives from all parts of the province may be expected to assemble at the funeral, which has been postponed for some time in order to give them time to attend. . A settler at Ohinemuri was brought up before a number of Maori magnates, and formally tried by them for stealing a box of paints, An interpreter was appointed by tho self-nomiuated judges, and the prisoner was afforded every facility for defending himself. He was found guilty and ordered to pay 30s. and co3ts, the latter item being 43. charged for the summons.