MAORIS AND A MOTOR.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9106, 27 March 1908, Page 7

MAORIS AND A MOTOR.

An amusing incident occurred during the Prime Minister’s recent tour. Two Maoris were i ; peacefully jogging along the Bay of Plenty Beach Road, between Pongakawa and Matafca, io>a heavy cart, drawn by three horses, when the motor car containing the- Prime Minister came np The Ministerial party sighted tliis native caravan some distance away, and the chauffeur suouded his horn in order to get a clear run along the track, which is very narrow at this particular point. As the car drew near at a fairly rapid pace, one of the Maoris heard the warning and leisurely prepared to draw his team out of the road. As he did so the sparking plug of the motor car “missed fire” and went off with a shatrp report like a rifle shot. The startled Maori glanced round in great alarm, and an elderly Maori, asleep in the bottom of the cart, sprang up with a wild yell. Just as he did so another ‘missfire” occurred. ; “My word,” ejaculated the Maori, and without more ado he abruptly wheeled his team off the track and sent them plunging down the steep declivity to the beach, while his aged companion sank on his knees and poured forth what might have been an invocation of all the Maori gods. The motor car whizzed past, and two trembling Maoris watched it anxiously till it had disappeared in the distance. It would he interesting to have heard the story they told their women folk when they returned to their wbare in the evening; probably they will go down to their graves under the impression that they were fired upon by the Prime Minister.