LOCAL AND GENERAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 800, 4 June 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

There was a Native performance, nearly m front of our office door yesterday afternoon, a little before our paper went to press. It consisted of what is called a haka, and is the Maori form of a war dance. The writer of this had never seen a haka, but it reminded him as being something similar to what he had witnessed m his childhood's early days at an Adelphi pantomime. The haka may be seen when the thing is on, but we defy it to be described intelligibly by the best and most accorn-" plished of descriptive writers. The ges-. tures, the distortions, the quivering of the body and limbs, the stamping of feet, booted and bootless ; the wild weird look of women ; the starting of the eye-balls ; the putting out of such a length of tongue, formed only a portion of the performance. The haka was intended, so a Pakeha-Maori informed us, as an assurance to Tuta, the gun-buyer, that if it was intended to make him stand his trial for a breach of the law, then there would something come of it, which would make the Government shake m its boots. To our view the object of: the haka meant beer. Beer before and beer after, which was freely supplied by the said Tuta. The entertainment was the means of drawing a large crowd together, who, if not looking upon it as altogether instructive, certainly appeared to consider it as highly amusing. In the evening on a vacant plot of ground, near the English Churcn, about 30 European boys gathered themselves together, and imitated the performance with much gusto, and with great ability ; ' but' with this difference — that when the Maoris had Huished their kaka they did no other harm than laugh and drink beer. But before the European youths had finished theirs,, two of them quarrelled, and stood up and fought several rounds. Then the seconds of the two pugilists quarrelled, and they had several rounds to themselves. Then there was more quarrelling and a mixed light followed, until the mob of boys were dispersed by some meu who had been enjoying the fun until it came to be looked upon as there having been enough of. In the haka the Maori certainly has the advantage of conducting it upon higher moral principles then when engaged m by the pale faces. We publish a preliminary notice m our; advertising columns of the Football Club's concert. We understand that the Committee have secured Madame Stewart and Mrs. Jones to give their vocal assistance, and that some impromptu rhymes on the Bieach of Arms Act case now pending will also be sung by an amateur. The .programme propre will be printed to-morrow. Although the Rev. John McAra has some time since been officially inducted into the pastorate of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, there has not yet been the customary induction soiree. It had been previously announced, aud postponed on account of the unsettled state of the weather at this period, and possibly with the view of having a completely successful gathering on the first occasion m public of tendering him a cordial welcome. The event aud the day have now been finally settled, and as m the interim the congregation have had an opportunity of becoming favorably impressed with the earnestness and zeal of the rev. gentleman, we expect to find a numerous gathering at Mr. Mcb'arlane's Hall to-morrow evening. The poet Bloomfield says : — The la- sous o'. prudcuce have charms, Aud rlighout, nitty lead to distress ; But che man whom benevolence warms ; Is an angel who lived but to bless." Our townsman Mr. T. Reardon (better kuown as "Tim") deserves some credit, and may be accounted an " angel " — to use the poet's words — for he has, from his "little all," devoted the handsome sum of about £18 m carpeting the altar of the newly-buiit Catholic Church. This spirit would well deserve general emulation. Mr. M. Boylan and the witnessess for the Crown left by the Hawea this afternoon for Napier. Mr. Johnson, Collector of Customs, was one subpoenaed to give evidence. It is rumoured m Tauranga that Major Roberts is daily expected to be called to the field for Tarauaki, also nearly every member of the local constabulary, will i shortly be despatched to New Plymouth. I The Aaliburton Mail relates a somewhat amusing incident connected with the visit of His lfixcellency the Governor to Ashburton : — " The Governor had just stepped from his carriage at the railway station, and completed the monotonous task of receiving an address, and making a brief speech m acknowledgment, when he was observed to dig deep into the pockets of his ample overcoat, and withdrawing a cigar case, stick a cigar m his cheek. Then he rummaged his Vest pockets, and failing evidently to obtain what he wanted, he looked round the assembled crowd. Of course; Sir Hercules was oblivious of the fact, that the historic ' James' of the department had contrived to get a bye-law passed, prohibiting under penalty of fine or imprisonment, the smoking of the fragrant weed on railway platforms. But His Excellency was not to be done out of his smoke. Failing such a thing as a lighted cigar or pipe, he stepped up to a swagman, who had forced his way through the crowd to feast his eyes on vice-royalty, and addressing the man familiarly, asked him for a light. The swag man, to the merriment of the onlookers, appeared to lose his self-possession. Withdrawing a match-box from his pocket, he first took a match as if to strike it ; then he held the box towards His Excellency. Again, he drew back his hand, and then he held out out the match, blushing as red as a ripe ribs ton pippin all the while. At length a thought struck the poor fellow, and simultaneously with the thought he struck the match and handed it to the Governor, who politely thanked him, lighted his weed, and m a few seconds was driving off m the direction of the triumphal arch m East-street."