A MAORI OFFER FOR SERVICE IN TIM TRANSVAAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10036, 24 January 1896, Page 3 (Supplement)

A MAORI OFFER FOR SERVICE IN TIM TRANSVAAL.

RoTOBfA, January 15. Just at present the Maori mind is much excited over the recent troubles in the Transvial, and the situation is being discussed daily in all its bearings. The following is the translation of a notice which was posted up in Ohincmutu on Saturday :—" A meeting will take place at Tama-te-kapua to-morrow night to consider the difficulty which has arisen between the Queen of England and other tribes. This is an appeal to the tribe of the Arawa to meet together and discuss this matter." Meetings have been held accordingly, aud eloquent harangues have been uttered, the speakers exhorting the members of the tribe to offer themselves to the British Government for service m Africa. One may smile at this enthusiasm, but it is quite evident that the natives here are very earnest in tho matter, though some of them have very vague ideas as to the precise locality of the trouble. But the Europeans here seem brimful of loyalty to. at the presenttime. At the termination of a very successful concert which was given last night in aid of the Church of England Building fund, the National Anthem was sung by the whole audience, standing. On previous occasions, a few bars played in a very perfunctory manner, while the audience struggled to the door, has sufficed. January 17. The following is the translation of the telegram sent to the Governor yesterday, being tho outcome of the meeting held on the previous night :—" It has been resolved that, should affairs in the Transvaal require it, we (certain chiefs of tho Arawa) should express our readiness to form a guerilla regiment for service in that country. Kindly convoy our renewed assurances of affection and loyalty to the Queen." Signed by certain chiefs on behalf of the Arawa people. In spite of a certain amount of ridicule thrown on this movement by some people here, the natives aro most earnest in thoir demeanour.