A CURIOUS PROCLAMATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 145, 24 June 1902, Page 4

A CURIOUS PROCLAMATION.

The following mysterious communication has come to hand. Having a suspicion that it has something to do with the forthcoming Coronation celebrations, we place it under that heading :—

Agreement of a proclamation arrived at on May Ist, 1902.—Between the Russian Prince Gostchakoff, relation of the Czar Nicholas, the second of the one part and Mcneka Peako of the other part, a descendant of King Theodore of Abyssinia, who does now hold as my territory in Abyssinia a very ancient kingdom in Africa, being bounded on the north by Nubia, on the east by the Red Sea and Adel, on the south and west by Agan and Aiaba, lies between 6 and 20 degrees north latitude and between 26 and 44 east longitude; it is about 900 miles long and 800 miles broad, and contains 37,800 square miles, and through this great country the rivers Nile and Niger have their sources. Now be it known to all men that Prince Gostehakoff makes claim to this great country under a very old English statute, being that of William and Mary, but my Ministers advise me it was repealed under section 21, folio 303, Blue Book eleven, by Sancho Maria. But as there is grave doubt on the matter and Prince Gostchakoff has threatened me with war and sent his ambassador to see me on the subject, we have come to an agreement to settle it by horsemanship, and knowing you have such skilful riders in New Zealand, I, Moneka Peako, of Abyssinia, have chosen three gentlemen of Blenheim, Marlborough, to ride on my part, and Prince Gostchakoff has chosen three Germans for his horsemen. Time to be the essence of this agreement. Now, Sir, I wish you in the terms of my letter, to you Mr Charles Purkiss, to choose three gallant brave riders, swift and fearless, but to save bloodshed will you kindly let them try their horses before the race against time to see there is no vice in them. I have sent you three presents to be awarded to the three brave riders. The horsemen that comes in first I wish him to have my porridge cup which was made for me when an infant, having such a small mouth. The second horseman to have the model of Prince Gostchakoff, and the third horseman to have my great grandfather's sword, and I wish the winner of my porridgecup to hand it to his eldest son when he has done with it, the winner of the model of the Russian Prince never to part with it, but to think when he look 3on his face the honor he has won in averting a great war, and when the winner of my great grandfather's sword should draw that sword in anger and he sees the dreadful blood stains on it, he will say " no that sword shall draw no more blood." I hope you will win this race, and my motto shall be Justice, Liberty and Peace. Be sure and have a correct timekeeper, and the exact time must be sent to my ambassador and to Prince GostchakoG's ambassador in terms of my letter.—Yours faithfully. Moneka Peako.