LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9417, 16 August 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The native chief Ngahina Wharekakaho has been a well-known figure on this coast for many years past, and in the troublous days when the Jate Hone Pihama had the contract for the carriage of mails through disaffected country over which no white man dare pass Ngahina was one of his adherents and assistants din carrying out the contract. Ngahina was a wfell-built man, and in the days of his strength must have been, a very fine specimen of the Maori race. He had great mama, and at his funeral on Thursday people of the Uhamganui, Ngatiupu, Taranaki, N<T»tirajini, Ngateawa were present.; tFe total number in attendance being about 400 Deceased left on,?, son, Rangi Pokau •Ngaiuna, and one grandson. Tho Chairman (Mr Maxell), speaking at, the Farmers' Union Executive meeting fin .Thursday, said ib was often remarked, "What is the Farmers' Union doing, what has it done?" As ari instance of th» "minor tilings" which- the Union had accomplished lie would mention che repeal cf the sheep tax. This, he explained, had been brought about by the unanimous working together ef the Union. Tho cheep tax annua-ly totalled something like £20.000, and the repeal of the tax would he considered, n.ore than ton times repay file Union for tho whole of tho subscriptions paid throughout the ooflony. Be could mention many other things the Union had accomplished. "We are not encroaching upon other peoples rights,*" said Mr Maxwell, "we are simply defending our own righi.-:, an-i preventing legistatocn which will unjustly tob ug of our .due. (Hear, hear.) Mx Davidson then moved, and Mr Robson seconded, That the Farmers' Union's list' of achievements bo brought up r. date Avowing where possible, the actual gains accruing and th* benefits received by the producing community.—Carried. "Punitoneta" has supplied us with the names of four additional men who were buried in the Ohawe Cemetery. Thes? are: Private Green (Wianganui Rangers), Troopers Hanley (Wanganui Yeoman Civoilry), Higginson (Wellington Rangers), and Timothy She&han (Wellington Rangers ). Green was shot in July, 1866, at Pungarehu ; this place, however, is net to be confounded with the settlement beyond Pimgarehu, as the scene was a place in the :bu c Ji inland from Okaiawa, The next month (October, 1856) Henley was shot where the Fraser road now is, near, Mr M Thompson's property. This was the* last tim?i that tine Imperial troops took part in fighting in New Zealand. Sheehart was drowned in attempting to swdni tha Waing&ngoTO in July, 1868. The day previous to his death he had been across the t river with others Jaying on ambuspade, and one of the party lost a revolver. Next it was decided to return to search, bujb when the river was approached it was found to be high, and crossing waa practically impossible. Sheehan volunteered to swim, and he got safely across and recovered the revolver. On the swim bock the watchers saw him throw up his haneta and disappear: They were not in a position to help him, nor did they ever know whether he had got cramp or sjfcruck v a rook. Trooper HiggSnson died at Waihi from fever Sheehan was probably tho last, ir.an that was buried at Oha'we. Our informant also suggests that Sergeant '.Duff should be Sergeant Fiancis Da Couicy Daff. In connection with the etecu&« vf the convict Brinkfey in London, it may be mentioned that Richard Beok, aged 51, and his wife, Ann Beok; 53, died after drinking stout brought to their house at> South Croydon by Brinkley, a Fulham carpenter, on April 20.- Their daughter, Daisy, 21, also partook of tho stoat, and waa dangerously ill, but recovered. Prom the evidence given, at the inquest, it appeoired that Brinkley's object was to kill a man named Parker, who lodged with the Becks, in order th3t he might inherit the property of a Mrs B'lumo, under a will which Parker knew to be not genuine. Two days after signing the will in question Mrs Blumo died mystericusjiy. Parker was in the room when Brinkley brought the stout (which was subsequently found to contain a large quantity of cyanide of pota&sium) to Beck's house, but he refused to drink any, as be believed Brinkley had attempted to poiaan him on a previous occasion. The otheis drank the liquor, with fatal results. Nominations are invited for extraordinary vacancy in the Otoia Tiding of the Patea County Council.