PAKI PAKI.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 99, 8 April 1911, Page 11

PAKI PAKI.

(From our own Correspondent.) The Paki Paki Freezing Works close down to-day tor an indefinite period, owing principally to the glutting of trie Home markets. This will be a distinct loss to Hastings, as the most of the men employed r there will migrate either to the South Island or Australia. Poultry in and about Paki Paki are suffering from ant stings. The fowls eat the ants am. are stung in the throat, causing a swelling which ' eventually chokes them. Our representative visited -Ur. Harwood’s residence and while there he sav, ten fowls drop to the ground. The birds ranged from 1 years old down to young pullets a,ui they were all in very good condition, in fact, one : hint weighed over 01 o. Mr. H. ’ Shtpherd lias also lost many birds. ! and Mr. Crnwle. manager of Paki ; Paki Freezing Works, states he lias i lost over 3CO in one season from the same complaint. The insect is ( very small, in fact too small to see with the naked eye. and only makes its appearance after a long spell of dry weather such as we have had jlately. | Great excitement is evinced among the native population in Paki Paki just now on account of the Women's Christian Temperance

Union holding their annual convention there this year. Preparations on a very large scale are being made, over 200 natives from Wairarapa being expected to arrive to-day by special train as well as Europeans. The first item to take place will be the unveiling of a monument in memory of the late chief of Paki Paki, Paramene Hone Hone. The unveilin o . "is proposed to take place next Tuesday, 11th inst., at the beginning of the convention as it was by the request and invitation of the deceased chief that the W.C.T.U. should hold their annual meeting there. A concert will be held on Tuesday night, under uie auspices of the W.C.T.U.. when native songs and dances will be given. A portable engine is installed to provide steam for cooking vegetables and puddings. In preparing the food there have been four large wooden vats, placed and filled with water, then steam pipes lead to the vats, and when the water has reached boiling point the pudding and vegetables are placed in perforated drums and then inserted into the vats. This mode of preparation of the food is preferred by the natives, as better results are obtained this way than in the old fashioned eoprae Maori.