A DORN

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10392, 9 May 1927, Page 3 (Supplement)

A DORN

WILLIAM LEE REES—IDEALIST. W HI? TRJUAi'UHS AND BIS- ' APPOINTMENTS. (By One Who Knew Him.) If by “Early Settler” we mean one who was in Gisborne in 1877, then .Ur. Rees has no right to the title, as iie first came here two years later, and even then might be. classed as ‘■semi-detached.” because afterwards ] IC moved to Auckland and then to -j. Napier. In all, lie spent over 25 j' v i years—-a third of his life—here, n Ion(f 7 her period than An any other district, / ' and during those vear s his wonder- ! , > u ' ful vision, enthusiasm, ability, uptir- ! ’'W• i,jg energy and warm affection for In M Poverty Bay accomplished much, so iie - ' piat his name is indissolubly linked’ •with the early history of this town.

HAPPY DAYS AT TE HAPARA. livcrv Gsborneite of the ’Bo's probably, at some time or other, visited To Hapara, then the home of Mr. and Mrs. AY. L. Rees. Church fetes and open-air functions in aid of any good cause were almdst invariably held in the garden. On these occasions, brakes, spring-carts and cabs (a term which covered a few magnificent growlers and a fleet of high, narrow, closed-in waggonettes) raced' through a two-mile-long cloud of Au>t,' conveying townspeople—often gratuitously—to the festivities. The garden gate was approached froth Gladstone Road by a narrow avenue, a quarter of a mile long, n green tunnel between alternate willows and poplars, and careful driving was nectssany to avoid collisions, especially when" it was a case of four-in-hands meeting.

Inside the second gate the scene mis gay and animated —booths lining thi> walks and drives; sometimes the land or an orchestra; tea-stalls; crowds visiting these attractions, strolling over the lawns or seated in the shady shrubberies; sometimes children’s sports or a costume cricket match, the air full of talking and laughter In the evening an openair concert—rows of seats facing the front verandah which served as a stage. Somet'mes dancing on tlic ton ids lawn: sometimes in one of the paddocks a great display of fireworks.

A FIREWORKS ‘-TRAGEDY.” . The most spectacular 'pyrotechnic tlmplay was staged one night by V. (;. Day and AY. E. Akroyd, then both recent arrivals from England. By

some mischance their c-areiul plans went a-gley, and, alter a quietly successful opening, the whole store of fireworks got out of hand. Catherine Wheels circled madly. The L'evil amongt the Tailors showered flames and sparks from a dozen different spots. Homan.Gandies blazed green, pui pie and crimson. 'Squibs and crackers exploded under the feet and in the faces of the crowd. The air was full of colored streamers and showers of .stars—a regular Aurora. The first outburst was greeted enthusiastically. The show was beyond anything ever seen' before. But when the rockets began hanging and snootier wildly just over their heads or sendinrr fierv snakes through the long, dry crass, the spectators" turned and rail for their lives. Women tainted and children howled with fright. Fortunatelv no-one was hurt, lhe only tragedy was that-the fireworks were all burnt out in that lurid ten minutes. ,• To Hapara garden, the morning alter a fete, was a sorry sight, strewn with torn paper wrappings, empty bottles (Tooldng as rakish as if they had held Faleriiian instead of lcmonado and raspberry vinegar), overturned benches and trestle tables. Flower-beds were trampled down, aibours broken, and—horror of horrors —tlm tenins lawn! Instead of smooth erreen turf, a sandy waste healing eruptions of stubble and torn-up 10 Mr." and Mrs. Bees were garden lovers. They quailed before the mute reproach of the green things which had trusted thorn. They vowed Never again,” and Mrs. Rees might upbraid her husband for being too readv to consent to snob a saterifice and exact a promise that it should St Kp™ «.i». And then next time--she herself would give permisSi ° n - HIS LOVE OF SrOP-T. Cricketers throughout the district and visiting teams played their matches in one of the paddocks _ where ■W'L.” laid down a n excellent pitcn and a verv fair fielding ground, levelling, turfing, watering, rolling incessantly, early T and late, with 1 help of his three young sons, Lnn- . coin, Arthur and Ted—the last barely in his teens. Tennis . flourish e vigorously, four courts being ail m demand when forty or fifty players assembled. it One of the most exuberantly happy gatherings was when Mr and Mis Rees invited all the school children and then, hating invidious distinctions. extended the invitation o any children. Games, a programme of ‘ sports with attractive prizes; an open-air feast with liquid ’ refreshments— mostly pink—cakes and tiuit galore—surely v memory of the party wifi be cherished by,some of those children of Cover forty yeai* ' 'ago. ; ‘ : i' ;-; '" ,

,/As this sketch is concerned chiefly with-Gisborne and only subordinate!v with Mr Rees, the facts of nis life elsewhere must be touched on as briefly as possible. These stand recorded in many books of reference. His birth, in Bristol in 1838; his mo-' ther widowed two years later; Dr. Ivees’s practice taken over by his Pl'otLer-in-iaw, Dr. Grace, father of “WAG.”, “G.F.”, and “E.M.”, the liirce. Graces of the cricketing world; -the indelible impression made on the yc-ung laths sympathetic heart by the terrible scenes witnessed in Ireland during the potato famine ol 1847-8 ; his voyage to Victoria two years later to join two older 1. trothers, one by that time a. fully qualified medical practitioner; with them building a slab hut- for Another and sister, getting any work that offered on goldfield or sheep-run • supporting himself and helping others;,' tramp.' nig ‘ immense distances, swimming flooded rivers; at one time earning £4 a day carting logs on a Govern! ment contract; attending Melbourne University, reading, writing, debatH ’g; articled to solicitors; reading for the bar; playing for Victoria against New l Sou tip Wales in the first intercolonial cricket match, while two cousins, AY. G. Rees (later to give his name to river and valley in Central Otago) and G. Gilbert played for New South Wales; under the influence of some earnest kindlv Congregatiqnaiists deciding that his gift of public speaking ought to he dedicated to evangelisation, throwing up his articles and becoming a Congregational minister, publishing essavs, pamphlets and his first novel: his da vs were not monotonous. In 1863 lie married the daughter of Mr Opie Staite. Mr and Airs Rees met for the first time in Melbourne, though born in the same Square in Bristol. Shortly after his marriage,

Air Rees resumed liis law studies and was called to the Victorian Bar in 1865. Briefed for a New Zealand case, he came to the South Island in 1886, and, after passing a more or less fomm! exam i,ee> ; -.-r heiove lie could appear in this Court, lie was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme* Court of New Zealand by Air Justice Chapman, father of Sir" Frederick Chapman.

HECTIC DAYS ON THE AYEST COAST. Those were the first hectic days of the rush to the newly discovered goldfields of the West Coast. Strong persuasion was offered to the AHctorian barrister to go there. Probably be needed little urging. Shortly we find him moving his household, consisting of mother and sister, as well as wife and two bairns, to Hokitika. Three exciting years followed. Events moved with dramatic swiftness. People made sudden fortunes —were as suddenly beggared. Untimely death lurked on the reek-strewn coast with its dangerous bar-harbors, and its encroaching ocean ; in the swift floods in the Eealey and other mountain torrents which had to be forded ov travellers; at the hands of bushrangers hidden in the forest a’ong the course of the Duller, the only track to Nelson ; in the hasty quarrels of the diggers; in the threatened clash between Fenians and Orangemen.

Fortunately, the last danger was averted; but buildings were burned, a great procession organised in honor of the victims of the “Manchester Murders” aricf rt cross erected to their memory in the cemetery, guarded night,and. dav Ivy an armed body of the malcontents. On the otherside, most of the loyalists were enrolled as special constables and patrolled the streets every night. Orangemen threatened to cut down the rebel cross in spite of the guard. And cut down it was one. wild .night when the guard had sought temporary shelter. GREAT FR/lENf) OF' SIR. GEORGE GREY. A "l’eat rush of 1 lisi ness was being dealt" with in Mr Rees’s office with its large staff. And in the couise of his work he was more or less connected with all thee excitements. Elected to the Westland County Council, he threw himself heart and soul mtc the work of furthering the mtereytv of the district. BuFthe radiance ol the future was clouding over. 1 cople began to dirft away. Mr Rees s sister married Mr EL K. Tyler. His mother died. The money which had poured into the office had been lavished in the. development of worthless claims. Another move was decided on and in 1869 the family moved to Auckland.. Stepping Tat once into a good practice, briefed in every important case,

j Auckland ' Provincial Council; later appointed Provincial Solicitor, Mr. Rees was brought into intimate relationship with Sir George Grey. A wonderrul friendship ■sprang up between the two idealists. On tho ab. olition of the Provinces in 187 G, Mr Rees was elected to Parliament as the Member for Auckland City East. About this time lie wrote “Sir Gilbert Leigh,” a novel dealing with tho Indian Mutiny and also with some of his own experiences in Australia. His successes in the Supreme Court, especially in the George Jones Jnr. libel case at Oamaru, and lus celebrated speech of twenty-four hours in the House, outmanoeuvring the surprise tactics of tho other side, made him well-known throughout New Zealand. ..BATTLING AVTTH BAFFLING NATIVE LA AYS. Influenced by Sir G. Grey’s desire that he should guard the rights of the Natives in disputed titles to land,.he moved to Napier in 1878 and shortly afterwards, in pursuance of the same course, settled in Gisborne. The Native Land Laws were a mass of baffling restrictions preventing open and legitimate dealings, while giving cover in their technicalities and imbiguities -to fraud, hard to firing to light and prove. Only a. man of great courage and most sanguine disposition could have flung himself almost alone into a threefold fight against the European owners of lands unjustly acquired, against Natives who wanted to repudiate perfectly fair contracts and against the contradictions and delays of the Statute Law. His object was to benefit both pakelui • and Maori. But, as usual in such cases, he was often regarded with suspicion and alarm by both parties. By amicable compromise, also, he often ended ruinous litigation to mutual benefit.

"DEES'S FOLLY.” 11l 1883 he arranged a friendly settlement of disputed titles between the original Native owners of the AYhgtaupoko block and Air. P. Barker, who had purchased most of the interests in it* tut could get no finality and no sure title in ti e Courts Air. Barker re-sold a part of the estate for a cash payment and an indefeasible title to the interests lie re- : tabled. Then the suburb ol AVhat-.ui-peko, so popular to-day, was surveyed, subdivided, loaded and thrown open lor settlement. But the lorm authorities Had little desire, and.perhaps no money, to build a bridge, so AiV. Rees remising that one was indispensable, spjtlined the river jit Reel Streit. Ho persuaded the Natives to provide some of the funds, but had ..eventually to contribute a great part cf the cost out of his own |)»'k(-t The bridge (known ns “Rees's Folly”—the public wondering ! how lie could ex ore t anyone to make a home among the thick manuka, so ;mr front the Post Office) was for I years only wide enough fry one vehi iCe from hank to hank. Later, the i authorities widened it on both sides jof the middle swing. When the presI ont splendid bridge replaced it. the j excellent state of preset vat-ion of the j piles and other timber" caused surprise.' Besides many beneficial arrange-

meats similar to that of tlie TVhataupoko block, local settlers had also cause to thank Mr. Bees for urging on the legislation by which they were able to convert their leaseholds into freehold titles. For years ho advocated a simpler manner of dealing with Native lands through a system of committees. He continually urged that a Commission should he set up to consider the whole question and take evidence throiighoiTt the North Island. Eventually, in 1891, the Commission was decided on, with Mr. Rees as chairman, and Mr. (later, -Sir James) barroll as a member. The report of the Commission was a valuable contribution towards the proper understanding of the need for reform. MR, REES A STRONG OUTER HARBORITE From the first Mr. Rees strongly advocated the construction of an outer harbor.. One of the prime movers in geti *ng Sir John Coode and other ennnerr marine engineers to visit Gishorn“ and report, he was eager to see the plan on which they were practically unanimous—a brcakwatei on the reef running out from Ivaiti—adopted and put in hand. He ;tt>peaicd to the public by letters in the newspapers, occasionally by leading articles, by, private letters and conversation, and at all gatherings. Backed bv a few sympathetic enthus--lasts, he wouldengage a ball. tiso a .meeting; and try .and make..

-■r.is ,iiid-fiiix- .-H!L‘ "U'f ■vTsnnroßrore-jns e\v*, o, Gisborne not many years . later • withf cargo ships lying her wha-iVes, prosperous exceedingly- 'the fiiLit c.ty in New-Zealand. IVFiTME MOVER FOR GRANT OF TAG W'H AR EEARAE. I Surely, I am. not the only pel son 1 alive to-uay who remembers those meetings—political, too, some or them, for Mr. Bees unsuccessfully stood for Parliament— perhaps McFarlanc’s Hall with its historic notices round the walls “Smoking, Chewing and Dogs are Disallowed , perhaps a 1-ttle up-country room where smoking was not ■uj.snllowcu and where through the bue haze, one might see persistent hecklers bei ing hustled out by stalwarts nnixous ! to hear—or even a stout interrupter I rolled'on the floor and used as a sola 1-y a c iupls o', s2.lt-cpnstitr.tcd guardinns of law and order placidly smoking and idern'y forbidding even groans from their vict.m. One question seemed invariably to suggest itself to. the audience: ‘•'Who’.s going to pav for the hall. - '” Hie lecturer would loftily dismiss the triviality and proceed with h:s prophetic rhnpsodv. Incredible as it seems, Mr. R.ees and a few kindred spirits so fired the community with their zeal that that handful of people—perhaps not numbering as many hundreds ns’ there are thousands here to-day—de-cided to take upon their shoulders a liability of £200,000 and build the harbor on Sir John Coode’s plan. Determined to get the harbor, it -was strange that the public never succeeded in electing a Harbor Board prepared to carry out the public wish. I have been told that Mr. Rees was the prime mover* in securing over 44,000 acres of land at Tauwhareparae as a .Crown grant for the endowment of the Gisborne harbor. But I have no evidence cf the fact.

The block was recommended by ColI Foi’ter, applied for in the House by I Aiiaii Alcßcnakl, member for the disj trift. supported and voted for by all I Air. Rees' friends' in Parliament. But I whoever moved in the matter, the i Harbor Board certainly did net. Air. j All-Donald's advertisement of intenI tion to apply for the endowment was brought under the not he of the Board Ihv one of the Board members in j At ay, 1833, and p- evoked an amusi ing discus lion. “Y here was it?” j “Was it o anv value?” “Should | they send a letter to Air. McDonald i afiP" oV ' ! 'ng of h s action ?’ UJtimate- | iv they decided that endowments ol I 44 01)0’ acres were not likely to fall ■ from the skies everv day and that ; they would wr'to approving of the j application. Until lately, Gisborne- ! it'r-s have paid, no Imrb-'r rates, thanks | to the rentals from Tnuwh a reparae. j AN UNEXPECTED SEQUEL. i 1 hi 1884, Tho Gisborne Harbor ■' Board Empewcr'ug Bill, drafted by Mr. Rees and c')n:inended hv him to Sir G. Grey ami other friends in the House, was » osentru hv the member : fer the d’stiict and became law. It • sanctioned the raising of £200,000 for the building o ,? “a deep sea harb r.” “a ha:’ or for ocean-going vessels." That night there was rejoicing in this town. Its usually dark streets were illuminated, and the

wish of the people to have an outer harbor seemed as good as fulfilled. But the Harbor Board used,,the mon-

- (7) to the rive*. Later, no fewer than seven Amending Acts had to be passed in about the same number of years to enable them to continue to use the money which had been granted for a different purpose. The unexpected sequel was a bitter blow, to . Mr. Rees, but he took it as a temporary cheek, not checkmate, and until he died continued his agitation for an outer harbor on’the site chosen by Six’ John Coode and approved by nearly every marine engineer since. In 1883, -on the invitation of Walianui, Mr. Rees and Captain Tucker visited him in the jealously guarded King Country to discuss the position of the Native lands. A STORM CENTER AT APIA. In 1886, briefed by Mr. Percy Mq,cartliur, Mr. Rees went to Samoa. He won bis case in which immensely valuable interests were at stake, But during the only ten days he ever spent in Apia lie became the stormcentre of events of world-Wide interest. Samoa was at that time under the joint protection of England, the United States and Germany. The last, however, asserted its dominance. The German flag had been flying for eighteen months instead of King Malietoa’s, and when Mr. Rees reached Samoa the one topic of conversation was the presence of the German fleet ,rumored to have paP el- s of annexation. A party of rebel natives were being feted and visited by Admiral and officers, the flagship’s. hand; playing ashore while Admiral Knorr dined with Tamasese the rebel leader. On the following Monday morning, said rumor, the rebels would come into Apia harbor, receive last instructions from the German ships, land, loot, sack and burn, and then the Admiral, in the name of law and order, would annex the group. GERMANS GLIDE OJJT OF HARBOR. Malietoa carnc to consult Mr. Rees, who vainly implored the British Consul to intervene to save British lives and property. He stud’ed the agree,merits of the three powers guaranteeing the protection of Samoa. In that of the United States was a clause not found in those of the other two—that, in the event of threatened hostilities, the United States would use its good offices to avert attack. Under this, lie persuaded the American Consul most reluctantly to hoist j Malietoa’s flag under the Stars and Stripes, and to inform Dr. Steubel. ’ the German Consul, and Admiral Knorr that Ivng Malietoa was under the protection of the United States. The German replies to these communications, as well as to Malitoa s announcement of the facts and his assertion of his rights, were not merely strong: they were violent. „ The rejoinders of Mr. Greenebnum and of Malietoa (as anyone, acquainted with “W.L.” might expect) were also strong and extremely pithy and trenchant. Then, on Monday morning, the war canoes of the rebels swept into Aina harbor, went to the flagship for instructions and were ordered hack to their camp. The German ships were hoisting anchor and preparing to leave when the Diamond’s guns were heard, saluting the Admiral’s flag, iAs the English ship came in the ' Germans glided out,.' There was feasfi ing and laughter in Apia that night. A REMARKABLE PROPHECY. ]„ 1888. Mr. Rees, on his w,ov to England, visited ‘Washington and was received liv the President, hut found that Germany had gained later by diplomacy what for the moment had been snatched from her grasp. In London he learned that England h a d withdrawn entirely from Samoa. lie wrote the whole dramatic story for the Nineteenth Century (Nov. 1888) endiifg with a remarkable prophecy that, when the Great War came, the broken pledge of German,) to a Native King would meet with just retribution, and that the nation would have hitter cause to regret the j leadership of the Kaiser, then newlycrowned and seemingly with a bn! liant future before him. The article closes with the words “When that day comes, Malietoa and Samoa will be avenged.” It was strange tout the first" German possession lost in tlie Great 'War should be Samoa, taken by our New Zealand Expeditionary Force before the end of August 1914. CO-OPER ATI YE COLO NISATION. Mr. Rees’ mission to England was to try to turn into fact a splendid vision of his mind. He and Mi Pere were entrusted with a quarter of a million acres of land in this district on which it was hoped to settle two or three .thousand families .from Great Britain, on the principle of what is now called “Group Settlement,” but which Mr. Rees, its first apostle, called “Co-operative Colonisation.” The money for such an Imperial project could well be expected from the Imperial Parliament. Payments for the use of land, for services, and for the use of money respectively would be made partly in cash and partly in shares in the. Company. Mr. Rees also hoped to establish business relations with the English a nd Scottish A\ holesale Cooperative Societies and to open direct markets between producing shareholders out here and purchasing shareholders in the Homeland, and so escape the menace of the trusts. Mr. Rees and Wi Pere went to London, Wi Pere being much py>turbed when he saw the shipping in the Channel, by the thought that all the people in' England were going away, just when lie and Mr. Rees had come so far to speak to them! Petitions from pqkehas and Maoris were presented to the House. The big world listened eagerly to Mr. Rees’ facts, theories and plans. Cabinet Ministers gave him attentive hearings. \ The House of Commons discussed the propositions. Several hundred crofter families were likely to be nominated and assisted by the owner of the Island of Lews. The British and Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Societies invite<r Mr. Rees to explain his ju’oposals. GREAT INTEREST IN THE SCHEME,. A most influential committee, including Lord Onslow, the Earl of Aberdeen and fifteen or twenty equally well-known men and women, with the Marquis of 'Lome as chairman,, was set up to help Mr. Rees in London. His hook on economics ‘‘From Poverty to Plenty” brought his mission still more prominently forward. He took an office at Westminster. Requests for lectures came from the most diverse quarters. One day he would address the leaders of thought or society, the next, perhaps a Radical Club in the Mile-end Road, a country debating society, or a vege,trian dinner-party. He attended the meeting of the British Association at Bath and read a paper on ‘Economics’ which aroused considerable interest. The newspapers throughout England r: ported every fresh stop taken 'in iiL campaig- and the New Zealand ••rev'c publish'd frequent cables about :ho interest b - * was arousing. OPPOSITION* TOO STRONG. Pa- tvVk: al’ this encouragement ,v ij : hi ijj c .••fe</eived there was a 1 so hi tWand cv.ypnued opposition. Anonvappeared -in the papers, attacking Mr. Rees and declaring •tkat 'tHG writers, knew, the land in question to bo worthless; and that.

settlers on it would starve. Air. Rees fought on, behoving decent unpossible. But the opposition was- toe strong and the Government dcclinee to consider the matter further. The blow, coming ait. r the strain and hard wont, was very severe, and Air. Rees looked ten yea is older on Its return to New Zealand in 1889. n.s own affairs had been neglected (except so far as they were bound n, with his wont for the community which had .ailed) and he lost T< Ha para. Leaving Gisborne and making .his home in Auckland, lie was returned again to Parliament for his old scat He was soon chosen as Chairman of Committees in the House of Representatives. His work in 1881 on the Native Land Laws Commission iirs been already noticed. In 1892 the “Life and Times of Sir George Grey” was published. This was almost ;r autobiography, for AIL. Rees and Ins eldest daughter who collaborated with him, living near Sir George were able to submit each chapter to him for verification or amendment of the facts stated, and to have access to his letters end documents. The year 1893 found Mr. Rees again engaged in fic”c-e pol.t cal controversy. He charged Air. Cadman, the Native Minister. w : th .acquiring lands from Maoris while in office, throwing down a challenge in the House' of Rep resente t ves that if Air. Cadm-m would resign his s~ut lie would do the same and test the feeling of Air. Cadmnn’s c<”*st. fluents b.v. standing against him in bis own elec-

torn to. Rocs was defeated by a small majority and then had to defend a l.bcl action on lies charges The jury found hint technically guilty and assessed the damages at one farthing. In 1894 he returned to Gisborne and did not leave it again until his death in 1912, except for short periods and a mure extended vis.t to England to conduct appeals to the Privy Council. AIRS. REES’ MODIFYING INFLUENCE. Th’s account, though not often mentioning Airs. Rees by name, is the story of her life from 1563 to 1912, as'she was associated with all her husband’s activities, frequently modifying his extravagance o! thought, and showing a . greater mastery of detail ' than he. After ' his death. a year before they ivoulci have celebrated their golden wedding, her life seemed over, but as the months passed her affection for young peop’e and flowers and growing things kept up her interest in life, almost, as it wore against her will. Six years Intci. she passed a,wav from a small world that loved her dearly.

jn many of the causes dear to h<s lie;ut aiui ior which he worked unur.nglv, Air, liecs nu t with kt-tie or j;o success. iiut lus failures were partly tne result «;/ ms over-sangu.i.e disposition which saw a tree in lull iruit when he planted a seedling, and partly due to the tact that he was a century before his time. For the world at large, he wanted perfect indusmel cj-opcr.it:uu bringing commercial and national peace. i< or the Jfiii pi re he wanted co-oper-ative colonisation, a peopling oi tne r.cj cn.pt;, spaces with pa,-porous happy citizens. For New Zealand tie wan red j ist <aws, a great iinure, liberty and progress not merely in .uealth lilt in ideals, knowledge and. vision. For Gisborne, brs.des the aims already referred to, ho wanted large parks and playing holds. lie persuaded the Native owners to dffei one hundred acres cf- Wa.ti fiill to tiie Uoiough Council at £‘lo an acre and fi tv acres on the Waikanae, near Childers Its ad, at C'oO an acre to the Sports Association —though that m iv not have hren the name oi the guardians oi games of the day. Neither offer was : cceptrd. In later yea s, he wanted the iwncrs ot bush sections to get the value of their timber instead of being forced to burn it: the owners of qv.arr.es to find a market for their metal; the local Councils to have stone for their roads and the liatbor of his dreams ; and he formed a p’an bv wliieh these parties could work together to mutual advantage.

SIR FRANCIS BELL’S TRIBUTE. For himself, he wanted to give happiness, to plan great things, and help to carry t.iem out yin which last attempt he beggared h.msell more than once), and to leave the world better than he found it. He was utterly lacking in the chief virtue of the comme;chi world. He had no money sense. With all his influence among the Alacris and his opportunities to enrich himself, he never accepted land or gifts from them. A prodigal giver, often in financial difficulties himself, he could make tortunes for ethers but when he earned a hundred guineas cn a brief lie would visualise a £3OO plan of s getting rid of it. Alost kindly yet a born fighter; often impatient of n habit of thought or a standard lower than his own, lie was greatly loved. I'y maiiv and disliked and feared by n'few. Perhaps his most outstanding i ra : r was that voiced by Sir Be’l; “One of the most unselfish and public-spirited men I have ever known.”

In October, 1890, the death was rer.orteu .io in \t nai.iito oi ie ivooti s mother, an old Aiaoiu woman named Heni. Thus the -ui.su,.viie standard* : “.She was the mother of toe notorious To Kooci, whose name is held in Poverty Bay as synonymous with all that is evil. The woman had a strange motherly infatuation lor tho former rebel and was so persistent in her praises of what she deemed his good deeds that she iiad for years become regarded as almost a:i outcast, it being no uncommon thing for her to inn e to sleep out in tile open air amongst the brutr and scrub and submit to many hardships which, she might have escaped by not boring and disgusting the other Natives with her praises of To ivooti. Her age was supposed to be 'i'J years. The tangi usual on the death of part'coder Natives will not ho troubled about in the case of poor old lies'!.” j It was at AViiarcongaonga that Te Ivooti first informed his followers that he was the Maori Aloses acting under Divine guidance to lead them I out of the house o'; hondrge. The ; hill leading up lrom the southern exj tremity he ended Ait. .Moriah and the < table ts of the new law he* wanted out jto his band ns two shelving papa * reefs nrotrudiiig from the summit of ! the hill, saying that it was decreed j that when he and they had subdued j New Zealand he was to touch these jio -ks with Aaron’s wand and the new; revelation would spring from the 1 earth.

MARTIAL LAW IN POVERTY j BAY. -EXCITING EXPERIENCES OF i EARLY BAYS. STORIES GRAVE AND GAY. i'P R 0 BERT "THEL WALL’S REMINISCENCES.; Tlie eldest pioneer of Gisborne, diving in the oiliest hoase biElt on blocks in Gisborne. Stich is the record claimed bv Mr. Robert Thclwall, who, despite iiis eighty-seven odd years, is still hale and lisarty and as active as the average -‘youngster” of half a century. To the'genial “Bob,” t’ntiier Time in his inexorable flight has dealt kindly, and his footprints have touched the veteran so - liglitiy that the traces are almost imperceptible. The universal idea of an octogenarian as ‘‘second childishness and mere oblivion, sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything,’’ is rudely dispelled by the appearance and physique of Mr. Thetv.nll. He rises tinny about 7 a.m., works on liis cTnld.en’s property of some seventeen acres at the lower end of Aberdeen Road, trundles the wheelbarrow with the best of workers, looks after the cows, digs the ground, cultivates, a maize patch, snd

■ luC-..> c«rhm KMot±-M vaj*.™ ******* rdDo carries out the general work on a farm. .now ■ aim ag.nn during the v.ct-lc he comes up town and puts in the nicernoon at'the bowling green, where oven now he is one of the best exponents cl the game in the Bay. On Saunclay he takes a whole day off, and is usually noticed in the town between 10 and 11 o'clock. The afterno hi secs him on the Gisborne Bowling ( bib’s green, and he goes heme ru tea. Alter the meal, Mr. Thclwall set-: off again for town and puts in the night at the pictures, for lie is. an inveterate ‘-movie fan.” It is nc.u-ly eleven o’clock before he again readies home, but on Sunday morning lie is up again bright and early, and carres out the farm work necessary for the day. Still at times lie thinks of the old friends of boyhood days, when life was one long dream of happiness and of excitement, o? the continuous watch against the treacherous Hauhaus and the midnight marches against. Te Kooti, of tlij clays in tlie township of Turanga when money was scattered like water, of the revelry at night. Nearlv all his old comrades, alas, are now amongst the number That from lii.s Vintage rolling Time has pressed Have drunk their cup a round or two before And one by cure crept silently to rest. As but natural, such thoughts come to the veteran, but a smile soon creeps over Ids features as he recalls the fun of the early . days. ■ ’Thy were good days, too,’’ said Mr. Thelw.T. ‘‘much better than the present tlinc-s. We had to work hard • rsaeawm KMSi PgjUM ■cayon **s*° "TP" a3iiiiißEi3aaßiaGaaßailSiili

and we get little money, but there was a diileront icoling abroad ttien. Friends then were true l'ri?nds, who would stick to one thiough th.ck and thin. Nowadays 'with all these laws and unions tilings arc d-lfcrent.'’ The march of civilisation has nor impressed Mr. Theiwall. BO VHOOD IN CHESHIRE. Mr. Theiwall was born in Farudon, Cheshire, in iik(), ami at the age ui sixtee n was af pi enticed to a farmer at Bor res Hull, on Lord Kenyon’s estate, Mr. Thelwr.il, sear., having to pay LUX) per annum for the privilege. At the conclusion oi three years lie was transferred also at £IOO a .year for three- years at what was considered the best farm in Cheshire, Hatton Hall, owned by Mr. Salmon. During this time r .nderpest broke out in Cheshire, and. hundreds of catlie were destroyed. Tilings did not look too promising for farming, and air. Theiwall, senr., was considering his son’s future when a. cousin named Sam Povdred, whose relatives still reside in Yvairoa, visited England from New Zealand, and, as usual in those times, poured forth gb win-r amounts of the new country into the ears of Robert Theiwall.

Sam Powdrell was home on a holiday, and when he left some months later, Robert Thclwall naturally went with him, the- two leaving by the sailing ship England towards the end of 1565. : _ ARRIVAL IN- NEW ZEALAND-; After a voyage of nearly 130 days the ship arrived atuAuekland, where the two, who were bound, for Napier, transferred to the , steamer Phoebe. The little vessel struck a gale on her way down and could, not call in at iho Hawke's Bay port, and anchor was not cast until well into Wellington harbor. After a few days there the weather eased, and the Phoebe left for Napier, arriving early in January, 1868. COMMENCING WORK IN THE NEW LAND. On arrival at Napier young Thelwall received an enthusiastic welcome from bis cousins, the Parker family, father and mother of Mr. W. Parker, now of Manga pa pa, who was, of course, then but a very small boy. After the rejoicings at the reunion were over, Mr. Thclwall commenced work with Messrs. C. Smale and W. Parker, erecting a bridge over the liver between Napier and Hastings. LEGACY LEADS TO LAND IN POVERTY BAY. While at work on the bridge, Mr. Tlielwall received word of a legacy of £IOOO, and decided to purchase an interest in the Parker family’s run at Turanga. Early in 1566, therefore, Mr. W. H. Parker and Robert Thclwall set out for their new- home. The party left Napier in the schooner Ringleader,' and were taken right up to the corner of their property, their landing place being the point, the junction of the rivers near the Wm. Pettie bridge. Then for the first time Mr. Thclwall saw the property in which he had secured an interest. It comprised over 24 000 acres, roughly all tlie land between the Taruberu

i and the W'aimata rivers, and extending some twelve or fifteen miles up the Taruheru. All the land nowknown as the suburb of Wliataupoko was included in the block, which extended back almost as lar as the Waimata settlement. It was a Native lease, for 21 years, and was considered first-class land, being all scrub, fern and swamp.

STOCKING THE RUN. A few weeks previously, Mr. W. W. Smith had brought up from Napier some flock ewes to stock the run. They were landed at the Point, and driven along the river-side up to a point between the present freezing works and Makaraka, where it was decided to erect the homestead. In those days the Taruheru was u wide, deep river, with a shingly beach on -each side. These beaches were a favorite place with the Maoris, for the layer of sand hid literally millions of large- a nth luscious pipis. Schooners from Sydney came right up to Makaraka, sailing al] the w'ay. They lay sometimes at anchor for weeks, waiting a cargo of wool and wheat, lor tho district grew much wheat /n those days. A little later the Parker family came up from Napier, and it was decided, instead of building a homestead, to lease a big house t rn the town side of the river belohging to Mr E. Espie’s father. The building was on'the bank of the river, not far from the lloseland gardens, and close to where the Roseland Hotel now stands. The •property, as staled previously 7 , was on the other side of the river, but access to the homestead was gained by means of a rope stretched on which settlers seated in a canoe pulled themselves across. At that time there were only some twenty or thirty white people in Turanga, the majority of the people living out on the fiats at Makaraka, the Resident Magistrate (Capt. R. Biggs) livj ing at Matawhero. I TE KOOTI’S RETURN. ! .a.. ' i Meanwhile the colony, and more j especially Poverty- Bay, was thrown into a state of * excitement by the news that To Kooti, who had been deported to the Chathams in 1860, after the Wnerenga-a-hika fight, had seized the schooner Rifleman and with a band of Hauhaus had landed at "Whareongaonga. That was on July 10, 1868. The Europeans at Turanga and on the flats did not know of the arrival until tw r o days later, and Captain Biggs called out tho Poverty Bay Mounted Rifles under Captain Westrupp. Mr. Theiwall being amongst the number. The volunteers camped at the head of the Ami, and the first clash occurred on July 20. at Pa para tu, cn a field. ofsnow. That was the opening shot in a campaign .which lasted, for manv years, cost many lives, and involved an expenditure of thousands "of pounds. " • COLONIALS AMBUSHED. This first fight was a test of Te Kooti’s strategy, for he serft a body of Natives behind the colonials, who were thus caught in an ambush—Te Kooti being tin a ridge above,' and other Hauhaus below. The fight re-' suited ip the less of ten colonials and "friendly .- Maoris, - six more being wounded;--. The- rebels lost thm) kill- | ed. Many of the friendly, Natives ] U >~Trm r.'T .< <~,yr. y

ed Rifle*; about Thirtyin number, . pave themselves up for; lost when ! Henare Kakapango, who was in j charge of the friendly Maoris, came ; to their rescue. Kakapango was ono of the best and most experienced pig- ; hunters in New Zealand and knew t the bush backward. Realising the, seriousness of' the position, he headed the retreating party, who were to a. largo extent hampered by the wounded. For his bravery, Kakapango was later .presented with a sword, accompanied by : a gift of £IOO. j OFFICIOUS COLONEL AND FREE j AND .EASY COLONIALS. j At the bond of the Aral the dis- ■ pirited Europeans met Colonel Whitmore, the well-known ex-imperial Army officer, who had already had much experience in . Maori warfare. The retreating colonials and Colonel Whitmore’s small force, which had come fro from Napier, met in the i Aral valley. i

The Colonel asked full particulars and they were supplied him by Captain Wcstiupp. -•Ah!” he said, ‘‘you men must come back again with me.” "Who tlie h— are you” ? asked one of the volunteers, one Docld, who was afterwards killed in the Massacre. “I'm Colonel Whitmore,’ was tlie reply. -’Wei] you can go to li—!” said Dodd. “We’re all going home; we’ve had enough.” The Colonel said: “Martial law has been proclaimed, and 1 order-you to . turn back.” j “We all laughed,” said Mr. Tiled- I wall, “or at least \vc smiled, as well ! as one could smile at such a time. ! -We surrounded him and told him we } didn’t care v.hat he said. We had j had quite enough, at any rate, ior a start, and we were off home. We ; knew nothing of martial law being ; proclaimed. His abrupt official man- ! iter didn’t appeal to us and we left him speechless. We told him, however, we might come back next day . if we felt like it After a good wash and a good feed we felt better. La- : ter we had a meeting and decided to ; turn up on the following day, aiul we nil joined Whitmore’s forces. The troops followed Te Kooti up . the Ruatikuri river, where the Ilau- j bans attacked, killing six British and i fripndlv Maoris and wounding five, j and Whitmore’s force came back. Te j Kooti moved on to Puketnpu in the ; Urewera Country, where he rested ; for the winter, and Whitmore’s force was disbanded. • i JOY IN .THE HOMESTEAD. j For a litt’e time matters appeared peaceful in Poverty Bav and the Parker family and Mr. Thclwall put in strenuous work clearing the hush on their propel ty. 0:i November 8, 1868, there wars generally joy in the homestead for the first shearing had iust hpcn completed. The flock at that time totalled .-ever 2CCO, and the

Voting settlers could see themselves on the high road to prosperity. There was still uneasiness over Te Ivooti s return, and the settlers on the flats commenced" the construction of a large redoubt, which was nearing completion. The idea was that every evening the settlers anti their families should sleep in the redoubt returnin'' to their homes in the daytime. "’Sunday, November 9, was a day of rest, in which the chief*topic was tlie good fortune ■ which had-at-tended tue farming venture in 1 ov-

good one. It was a merry party at the homestead that evening. Iu addition to Mr. and Mrs. Parker anu tlieir two children (Mr. W. Parker, of Mangapapa, and Mr: F. Parker, who later was manager of the Barn* of New, South Wales in Gisborne), Mr. Thelwall and Mr. C. Smale, there were also two European shearers, Dan Munn and Bob Parkhouse. The household retired early, little anticipating the horrors which the next day would bring forth. “BLACK MONDAY” IN POVERTY BAY. Between 3 and 4 a.m. on Mondtiy, November 10, a rifle shot broke tlie silence. The cause was only too apparent and a thrill of horror ran through all present. ,It was the opening scene .in the Poverty Bay Massacre. Messrs. Simile* Thclwall, Parkliouse and Munns were still members of the Poverty Bay Mounted Rifles, and as Mr. and Mrs. Parker and the children in their night attire rushed into the scrub near the house, the others ran for tlieir rifles. Munns seized a horse standing near and rode full tear down the road towards the other settlers. He met two Natives who appeared almost panic stricken and said Te Kooti had returned and intended to kill all the settlers. Munns turned his horse, and galloped madly back. The news all had feared was only too true. The Natives, however, who had given Munns the news were Hauhaus, and as spdn-.as.-he was a few yards away theyLfiredßoni.him and wounded him in the back. Munns, however,' rode full tear into the? manuka and eventually reached the stockhouse at Turanga. The almost hysterica) party from the homestead, hidden in the manuka tivo chains away, counted a party of twenty-eight Hauhaus outside the door of the homestead, which they entered. They saw signs of hurried flight and thought the inmates had been warned some time previously and had escaped. The Hauhaus, intent on more victims, .wasted no time and rode away. Alter some little time the party in the manuka went back in the house and dressed themselves, secured a few valuables, crossed the river, and fled through the scrub oil Whatnupbko down to the blockhouse at Gisborne. Shortly after their departure the Hauhaus returned, looted the place, and set the homestead and woolshed on fire.

ON ACTIVE SERVICE ONCE MORE.

I Soon after reaching the redoubt ! Mr. Theiwall fell a victim to typhoid ! fever, and as there was no doctor at ■ Turanga was sent to Napier, but a few months later returned and rejoined his old troop. Meanwhile Te 1 Kooti, with his mana increased as the result of his victories over the pakehas, moved down from the Ure- > wera into Poverty Bay aga.n, and established himself at Ngatapa, the first fight taking place on December 5, when six Europeans and friendlies were killed, tho rebels losing ten men. Then on January 1, 1869, commenced the siege of Ngatapa when, ' with the help of 200 Ngatiporous under Ropata Waha waha and Kotenc Porourangi, and 170 Wairoa Natives under Lieut. Preece, tho Ngatapa pa was besieged for three days and three nights until the Hauhaus abandoned their mountain hold, losing over ,130 dead; Te Kooti retreated to the Te Wera forest, with his mana largely decreased, and his followers but few. The Poverty Bay men returned to Turanga, and lived in the blockhpuse, guarding the township. Tins was in 1869. In 1872 Tc Kocti escaped into the King Country, where he spent eleven .tears. He was pardoned in 1883, but was not allowed to return to Poverty Bay. FINAL EXPEDITION AGAINST TE KOOTI. In 1880, however, he decided to defy the Government, went to Aueicland, and in spite of warnings travelled to the Bay of Plenty with a large number of followers, intend.tig to revisit Turanga or Gisborne, as it was then known. A meeting was held at Makaraka school and a force of over 100 left- Gisborne to. prevent his reappearance in - this’ district'.Toe force was commanded by Colonel Porter, with Major Winter next in

command, and Major Zapata in charge of the Ngati-Pyrous. Mr. •Thclwall held the rank of sergeantrnajor in the advance guard. The force marched to Opotiki. Here it ■was ascertained that To Kooti with a following of 150 men. women and children was at Ohua. The Hauhaus were ■: surrounded but Te Kooti was missing. Later he came "near and found himself in a net of Ngatiporous and the advance guard, lie was arrested and later sent to the Supreme Court at Auckland and sentenced to remain in a prescribed ai«-a on the shore of Obiwa harlur, where he died in 1893. Uncertainty as to the exact location of the body exists, however, to the present day. GISBORNE IN THE SEVENTIES. After his return from active service early in the seventies, Mr. Thelwall secured 250 acres at I’atutahi. at a Native lease of 5/- an acre, the term being for 21 years. Mr. William Smith went into partnership with him and occupied the land while Mr. Tlielwall worked as overseer for Jiolmson 13. os., and Westrupp at Wharekia station, near Munwai. After a few year? the. partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Tbcnvnh look to shearing at Te Aral,' working for Mr. "Woodbine Johnson. Then lie resolved to ermmonee butchering, with his slnn g!j' rrhouse at JJrkaraka and the shop in Gisborne. IT is first purchase was 103 fat wethers. The Gis-

borne? shop was at the end of Captain Read’s wharf, which ran out into file river at a point where the Band Rotunda now l stands. ‘•'THE KIN 3 OF CIUORNE.” At that time Captain Read was practically “kmg of Gisborne,” and ran his own fleet of schooners to and fro. He lived on the Ivniti side of the bay, opposite his wharf, and had also a woo shed there. At his store the urea lor prt of the business of the Buy was done, and many humorous tales are told <f his dealings with the Natives. He issued his own private notes in exchange for gold, and these notes acre universally accepted as currency in the district. Jt is related that, on various occasions after a Native had exchanged his gold for notes, a dispute would arise with the Captain, and the incensed Maori, in order to show his contempt for the pakeba trader, would tear the notes to pieces in the oTn *Tb sirs nn «t

floor, 'and B tail: TrgfignantTy but. H n another occasion, it is related, a Native appeared in great consternation and related that his house on the Flats ha,jl been destroyed by-fire,,ana a number of ndtes had gone up m smoke. He explained that lie was unable to replace these notes which, to his mind, were the property 01 Captain Head, who Listened solemnly to the story, and told the Maoii that as they were old iriends he need not worry about such a small matter as replacement. He agreed with the Maori that it was a sheer case of had luck. No more need be said. The delighted Maori, it is stated,, left in the highest spirits, singing the praises of the generous captain i GLADSTONE HOAD IN THE ’TO’s.*. Gladstone Load in the seventies was a very different thoroligature to the wide bitumen surface of to-day. The road, which was iiained* artel William Ewart Gladstone, Britn.n s Premier at that time, commenced' as how at the Turanganui river. Jt ran as far as Grey Street, then went through to Palmerston Itoad, as fai as Disraeli Street, to Aberdeen Road until just past past Lytton Road, where it cut across and again joined the main road near the cemetery. The whole of Gladstone lload, or at least the route mentioned, was ot

pure sand, and horses had a hard time with the heavy vehicles then, in use. At the end of Capt. Read's "dmH stood the house of Mr G ! . G. Mill, Captain Read’s manager, and Mr. William Adair’s duelling was next. Then, at the present corner of Gladstone Road and Read’s Quay was Mr Thelwall’s. butchery, with Capt. Read’s bond at the back. A section about 80 yard's or so wide separated the butchery from Bradley’s Hotel, afterwards the Albion Club hotel, and next to this was the Albion Club stables, which may still he seen at the end. of the Albion Club right of way. In the early days there was still a light of way, which led. of course, to the sta 7 ies. On the town side of the right of wav and in front of the stables, was Mr Arthur Cooper’s bootmaker’s shop, and then came Fromm’s, booksellers, Nasmith’s jewellers; Rests, drapers; Adams, booksellers, and the Bank of New Zealand, a small shed. Then on the site where Adair Bros, now stands was the old Court-house, which also included the Customhouse, the Armoury and the Public Library. At the hack stood the residence of Major Westrupp, which was later occupied by the only medical man of the town. Dr. Nesbitt. On the opposite side o f what is now Lowe Street stood Teat and Robjohirs store, then came the dwcllingbou.se and shop cf Mr Matthew Hall, saddler, and Parnell’s store, which was on the site near where Mr Good’s jewellery establishment stands at present. Further down the street was the Music Hall, in which entertainments and theatrical performances were given. Tin’s was on the site of the auction martoccupied a few years ago by Mr W. Samson, and the old building is still there, being built on in front by

McKee’s buildings. The first Masonic lodge in Gisborne, removed to the Music Hall from a room over Mr Tliclwall’s butchery. Later the' lodge room was transferred to a. hall near the back of the buildings now occupied by the TT.S.S. Co. in Childers Road. On the other side of Gladstone Road from the river, was the Post Office, then Horsfall’s store, the Argyll Hotel, a barber’s shop, and Mr Stubb’s chemist shop, on a site ner where 31 r E. J). Smith’s chemist shop now stands. The block-house, a two-storey building with loop-holes, and surrounded by a stout palisade of manuka stakes, was on the- site between the present Police Station and the Opera House. From the lJock-house to the Courthouse ran an embankment five feet high, with a, trench behind. For some considerable time all tile settlers had to assemble every evening behind the embankment, outside of which a military patrol was stationed, and under no circumstances were civilians allowed to break bounds. On the left-hand side of Gladstone Road stood Steady’s Post Office, a little shed, with a loft above in which the postmaster slept. That was on the site at- present occupied by the Parcels Office. Then a few yards away stood McFarlane’s house, which had attached to it a. daily ruy, with eowbnils, yards, etc. The run extended some distance towards the sea. tho next building being the house ol John Harvey, Captain Read’s, stoveman. I.ater a man named McKay lived in Harvey’s house. Then came the Turanganui Hotel, kept in later years by Madam do Costa, who.was a" very popular hostess." and gave innumerable parties to the young folk of the district. CHEAP .MEAT. In the seventies, when Mr. Tbe ! - wall was the town butchsr, there we.s only one price for meat. 4d, per lb roasts of beef and legs of mutton al : being retailed with no advance for the better cuts. After a time Vr. Thelwall put in a sausage machine, the first in the Bay. The engine. was purchased in Sydney.fev f‘loo. T a'e v. Mr. Thelwall' increased the power of ,the engine agd crushed oats and maize for the hotels staWokeeiG ,*ers'. .. Sausagesf W«re sold. at. sixpence peg pound, t t , ■* ' ' ' *-•

CAPTAIN READ’S HOUSE. Captain Read slept on the Haiti side of the river in an imposing building in those days, with, a wharf run„jr\rr cut, on which ships and schooners unloaded. This was near the sotc of the present Haiti freezing works. Underneath the building was a celhu containing large quantities o* wine, rum, whisky and brandy- - casion some careless individual the tap of a big whisit.v cask turn*. on and on the next vi.s;t_ t.ie hoo* was found covered with tne spin*-. This mishap caused quite it sensatior in Gisborne at the time. THE MISSING BAND I* ENDS. In thu-earlv days, with the cureless manner of ‘leaving things about, thefts took place. “I remem >ex, said Mr. Tlielwall, Gvncn I was secretary of the band M f “T""" bad hand it was too, Afy God it was simplv awlul at times,). i had vO mind the cash. A woman came in to do my washing and tidy up my bac.i. <gj 10 was a vt-rv honest woman, but one day all the band's funds were m ssing. 1 found out that her husband had been in to see her t.-urn morning so I -suspected h-m. 1 reported the matter at the moca-house, and the officer in charge suggested we should lav under the suspected mail’s house that nK'ht. in those* days ail t ! »? houses were on " slcr.s, so as to shift them from one place to another. The constaoie a;:u ! c;i.i.< cd under the house, and with oui ears glued to the floor, overheard tne man and Ids wife having a great row. If was as good as a play, but neithe. mentioned anything about the money. We repeated the performance three rr four nights naming. Still never a word or the theft was mentioned Then wo saw the barman of the hotel which we now frequented. "We told him all-the money I had lost was in sovereigns and hall-sovereigns. said tlm man had been in ahin.et dailv and changed gold. AW- had no evidence of course it was the bai-o cold he was changing., hut he was more flush of money than he had ever be'-n before. He had a i-eal good time

for a month and then the money ran out. i used to see him staggering home at night, while I mourmuiiy thought of uic good time 1 could have had with tiie same gold, instead of which' i had to replace it. I never liked that man much afterwards. I am quite convinced he had a glorious time at my expense.” REBELS MISTAKEN FOR SMUGGLERS. Mr. J. Woodbine Johnson, from his station at Maraetalia, Young Nick’s Head, saw/fe Kooti and his party on their return from the Chatham's in the “Rifleman” anchor within sight of his heme. He. regarded them, at first, as a party of smugglers, but, later on, two Natives, coming to his house, informed him that they were Hauhaus. Mr. Johnson sent word to Capt. Biggs, who, however, also regarded the party merely as smugglers but took the- precaution of putting his men on the alert. Unfortunately’ the few men who ultimately went to resist the invaders were poorly armed, having only a few rounds cf 'ammunition amongst them. “FORGET AND FORGIVE.” TE KOOTI IN -sTIr TAURANGA. le Kooti was at Tauranga in January. 1884. He was described as- a lithe, stalwart and well-knit man, of benevolent;, intelligent with grey tinged beard, 'though evidently in the prime of life. Two of his fingers were missing andjie had a bullet scar on his face. His standard bearer carried _a white flag with a

Union Jack in one corner am] an inscription “Te Rongopai”—- ‘The Glai Tidings”—in gold letters upon its ample folds. He would not converseon the past; he said that henceforth. Native and European must live i n . peace and amity, mutually forgetting and forgiving.

TWO YEARS’ SCARE AT T'jl.aOA BAY. The trials of curly settler-, on the Coast during the various U Lout: scares were very :-ev“rm At Tohiga jt ; iv a redoubt was l.rJit and for twoveers the settlors a:.d fr.cidiy Natives ItciJi guard. doing yie:n.y go. two hours on and two off hv right and attending to their hi:;,;] am: -cockby day. The sound •>". the discharge of a gun—perhaps aimed at only am

innocent bird—sent the worn :;m!k frantic to seek refuge in the -rrub and flax. At length To Keen end. fifty of ins followers turned i<>> ana fired on the oui -p fla ts, a basal ol Natives, wounding tis tee, one < - tally To Kooti die! not deem it piu.ent to charge the redoubt although, to a great extent, he held the whole district at his mercy. He plundered a pakeha's whore, vtnle some siicep belonging \o Messrs. 'Locke and Rhodes, and slaughtered a number of : ig> I*> longiiig to friendly Natives. 1 pen j the airiv il of troops from GNVwne j and Waiapu under Capt. Porter and Major Ropata he was routed and a woman prisoner taken.