CHATHAM ISLANDS NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17273, 14 September 1916, Page 5

CHATHAM ISLANDS NEWS.

[From Ottr Coresspondent.] WAITANGI, September 6. The Island has long been gazetted as a county, and on September 3 a meeting was called at Waitangi to bring it into force. The Maoris, however, who have a strong dislike to paying'taxes, opposed tho idea of having a council. So it was decider! to put the matter to public vote. Five , intending recruits received notice by wireless to leave on or about September 8 for the mainland to enter into training. They are C. Gox, E. Seymour, Waitari, Piwari and Clark. A fair number of Islanders assembled at a social on Wednesday ovening to bid them farewell, and a purso ot sovereigns was presented to each of the soldiers. Mr S. .Henderson, chairman of the Rifle Club, made the presentations, and a patriotic speech was delivered by the Rev J. Kaapa. During the evening Mr R. S. Wheeler, whr is leaving the Island, was presented with a small token of esteem from his friends. An epidemic of influenza has prevailed for the last two months, and has visited nearly every home. The absence of the doctor on holiday increased tho anxiety of the poople, but happily no deaths occurred from the epidemic. Namoni Whariwite, a. Maori chieftainess at the Waitangi Pa, passed away on August 6. The taugi extended over some weeks. Tho weather has been exceptionally good, in fact the winter lias been the finest known for years. The lambing season lias been excellent, and the farmers are more than satisfied with the increase of their flocks. A rifle match fired on August 26 resulted in a win for P. Pomare, with F. Mitchell second.