OPUNAKE. [from our own correspondent.]

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 1041, 30 November 1870, Page 6 (Supplement)

OPUNAKE. [from our own correspondent.]

November 12. — Although we are separated from the metropolis by half the length of the Province, and as a consequence miss its gaieties and maddening excitement, yet it is sometimes a relief to escape from the good town of New Plymouth, despite its feverish attractions, and revel in the pleasant solitude which the paper township of Opnnake affords. This township is what would be termed in America a one horse town. It is certainly a one house town, without an inhabitant, except on its outskirts. Towns are usually the centres of population. Here that custom is reversed ; the town is destitute of population, and the suburb claims for its own the people of both races who inhabit these calm latitudes. Politics trouble us not ; of police there are none to take charge of us ; no lawyers to entangle us in that intricate web, the New Zealand Statutes ; no duns have as yet penutrated this fastness ; no church has reared its sacred altar ; no public has as yet laid its traps for the weak and thirsty brethren of our community — at least no authorised one. Our coloured brethre.i certainly retail detestable grog at exorbitant rates, " The Sale of Spirits in Native Districts Act " to the contrary notwithstanding ; but they are privileged law breakers. It is pretty well known, and I should now think generally believed, that their native simplicity requires special legislation, and special officers to protect them from that wolf, the rapacious pakeha. I am happy to inform your readers that a marked change has appeared to come over these unsophisticated gentlemen since our residence amongst them. They are becoming civilised, and no more reliable evidence can be given of this great and beneficial change, which all impartial persons must admit to be indisputable, than the fact that our native milkman waters the milk with which he supplies the establishment. As a rule this is not one of the weaknesses of savage tribes. It is acquired. The man who practises this little game has generally had the benefit of some of the teachings of that glorious civilisation of which we are all so proud ; he has undoubtedly imbibed to some extent the commercial spirit of the age, and can no longer be designatad a savage ; his subsequent career is secure, and if he has fair play he will yet file his schedule in some of our bankruptcy courts. The child of one of our leading men died a few clays since of a complaint somewhat allied to consumption. It was the pride of its parents, and its death caused considerable tribulation. Being of high rank, a great gathering of the kibe took place to cry over the deceased, and enjoy the liberal feast which is given on such occasions. This peculiar custom reminds me much of my countrymen. Is it possible that the Irish and Maori are the lineal descendants of the same ancient race, and that the only indication of their former unity, the only tangible and indisputable evidence left being the relics of the same custom or ceremony which takes place on the death of one of their tribe. I will leave the further consideration of this interesting- problem to those who have more leisui'e to pursue it. The death of this child so affected the grandmother that she disappeared at night. The Maoris anticipated that she intended to throw herself from the clin°3 into the foaming rapids of the river which rushes beneath, or to hang herself on the withered bough of some convenient tree. As the search for the old lady was not very diligent, I did not anticipate any very tragical result, unless I had been uncharitable enough to conclude that the natives thoug-ht it a rather convenient way to get rid of an aged member of the community in an honourable and dignified manner. The old lady was really found next morning. She had retired to Adam Clarke's grave, and there made a feeble attempt at suicide by tying her neck to a flax bush, and leaning back till the short tether tightened. An interval of a few hours no doubt would have completed the process, and she seemed to have had resolution enough to do it. When interrogated, she replied that she desired to live no longer. Ido not wonder at her conclusion under the circumstances — an aged woman in a Maori pa — what was there to live for ?

Another instance of the rapid civilisation of our neighbours. In consequence of a change in the hours of labour from eight to nine hours in the Egmont mills, the Maori hands struck work, except a few, but who were ultimately compelled by the force of public opinion to leave the mill, or as an alternative to leave the pa. The threat was effective — the pa has still its attractions. For a few days the strike was most effectively maintained, when the natives discovered it was founded on an uufoi'tunate misundei-standing, which I suspect was oaly a convenient excuse for resuming woi'k. At all events, the strike suddenly subsided, and the whole of the disengaged residents were again eager for work at once.

I recently witnessed an interesting- fact in natural history, that is, the migration of eels in our New Zealand rivers. This week the walls of the wheel pit were covered with small fisb, from two to three inches long, and about the thickness of a small crow quill. They seemed to crawl or rather wriggle over and np the damp stonework with apparent ease. When examined they proved to be eels in miniature, and their bodies were covered with a glutinous substance, which no doubt is tho secret of their wonderful ability to surmount damp perpendicular walls. lam now convinced that few obstacles would stop the progress of these small sea wan-

derers in obeying that natural instinct which impels them to ascend the stream they have entered from the sea, where doubtlessly they are brought forth. It is one of the habits of tho eel, I believe, to descend to the sea at a certain season of the year to deposit their young. Of the fate of the old eels I am ignorant, but the ocular demonstration of the habits of their progeny which I witnessed was couclusive.

A native related a vary interesting and romantic incident lately, which, if true, and I have no reason to doubt it, proved him to be possessed of no ordinary mind, as, under circumstances of great temptation, he had the opportunity of smartly retaliating- for some base treatment, but, instead, took a more noble revenge. His story is briefly as follows : — Some years ago, before the disturbance at Patea, I was travelling with a companion to Wanganui, when within nine miles from that town darkness overtook us, and it rained heavily, and there was every appearance of its being a stormy night, we were rather perplexed what we should do to obtain food and shelter, as it was impossible to reach our destination that night. To our great relief wo observed a lig-ht in the distance ; we were wet, cold, and hungry, and we said this is the house of a pakeha, we shall there obtain food and shelter for the night. We speedily gained the house and knocked at the door. The pakeha opened it, and asked us what we wanted ? I said "we are wet and hungry and have no shelter, will you allow us to rest here this night and give us food." Tho pakeha said no, be off and sleep in the flax. I said very good, we shall sleep in the flax ; so we slept in the flax that night, aud in the morning we departed on out* journey. Two years after, a pakeha rode up to our pah, aud I saw at once that it was the same pakoha who had refused us shelter when we journeyed to Wanganui. He called out where is my whare ? Where is my food ? Where shall I put my horse ? I spoke to the man, and said you shall sleep in the flax and find your food in the fern ; at this he seemed displeased and provoked. I asked him if he knew me ? He said he did not. I then asked him if he recollected two natives calling at his house one wet night, cold, wet, and hungry, and asking him for food and shelter, which he refused and bade them sleep in the flax. He did not reply, but I saw by his face that he recollected the circumstance. He prepared to depart. I said that is not the way of the Maoris, — you shall have both food and shelter, and in the morning depart on your way ; so I told my people to provide him a whare and food, and to tether his horse. The pakeha departed in the morning, and I saw his face no more. Having expressed my disapprobation of the conduct of the pakeha, he said that all pakobas were not like him. There was one good pakeha near Wanganui who always gives the Maori food and shelter — whether there was one or ten Maoris he woixld not allow them to pass his house at night. Being anxious to ascertain^ the result of such hospitality on Maori r.ature, I enquired how he fared during the late war, — whether his house was burned and his property destroyed, but T found that the generous pakeha had pro piously departed from the district. Two years ago this native took a prominent part as an active confederate of Tito Kowaru. What a perplexing problem is human nature !

Destruction of the Root Crops. — We regret to hoar that most of tho root crops have been destroyed by a black slug, that has during the past week made its appearance. From all quarters we hear of the failure of the crops of carrots, mangolds, turnips, aud even onions. We have not heard that potatops are ia any way touched ; all tho accounts we can gather being to the effect that this crop is thriving well. Wo are glad to hear that n large extent of ground has been put down iv potatoes. — Taranalu Herald, Kovember 26.

Arrival of tub Emjia Ja.ve from Newcastle, N.S.vV. — The brigantine Emma Jane, Captain Hughes, from Newcastle, New South Wales, entered tho Waitara River under the pilotage of Captain Holford, Harbour Master, on Sunday tho 20th November, at 5.30 p.m., at an hour and a half before high water. The vessel, which drew seven feet six inches, is moored against the west batik, just abovo Messrs. Webster Brothers wharf, now in the course of erection. Had the wharf been completed, the Emma Jane would have been tho first vessel alongside. Tho Emma Jane brought over 15G tons of coal from Newcastle, N.S.W. ; she landed 100 tons at New Plymouth, the remainder being discharged iv the river. We understand that Captain Hughes took advantage of his being in the Waitara River, to clean his vessel on the hard.

The Provincial Hospital. — By a Provincial Gazette published yesterday we find a return of the sick in the Hospital for the quarter ending September 30. On tin.* Ist July thero wore seven patients in the Hospital ; since then ten have been admitted and twelve discharged, leaving fire now remaining thore. Fifty-five natives have received medicines, and four have been visited at their dwellings; thirty-throe Europeans have been also visited outside the Hospital, and prescribed for as required. Thirty-one natives have received itch ointment. The cost of the meat and provisions supplied during the same period was £34 Is. lid. ; (irewood (of which eight tons remain), £12 lfis. ; washing, £6 -Is. ; extra attendance on two patients, at Is. per day, £3 183. — Taranaki Herald, November 9. Morb Chatham Islavd Nativks for this Piiovince. — Captain Hatfield, master of the s.s. 'Wainni,' which recently arrived at Port Chalmers from the Chatham^, informs tlie Otago D.ii/y Times that the whole of the Maoris in the Islands are on the eve of leaving for Taranaki. It is probable that on her next trip tho c Wainui' will convey them thither.

Native Intelligence. — A correspondent oftho Southern Cross says — " On 3rd November, an un'usimlly large number of natives belonging mostly I to the Ngatihaua aud Ngatikoroke, visitod Cambridgo, somewhat to tho surprise of iho inhabitants. It transpired that these natives had boen requested to meet Mr. Commissioner Clarko, for the purpose of receiving a present from tho Government of a block of laud within tho confiscated boundary, supposed to contain from 11,000 to 20,000 acres."

Sm Chahles CLiFronn. — Tho Evening Post understands that Sir Charles Clifford intends to return to Now Zealand on a viait, and will probably .accompany Dr. Fcatherston from England.