WHAKATIWAI

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1893, 17 August 1874, Page 3

WHAKATIWAI

THE NATIVE ilbiiU'lNG. (mom a special correspondent.) Saturday, August 15. This looks as if it were going ,to bo a very du'l day. The morning broke cloudy, with every appearance of rain, but it has kept fine up to the prosent, only that it is bitterly cold, and those who possess such a thing as an overcoat havo put it on, and with collar turned up to the ears and hands deep in their pockets, are walking about to keop themselves warm; others are busily engaged carrying ti tree wherewith to build pahs or screens to keep the easterly wind from blowing their tents to pieces should it come on us with any violence; if it does, and at the top ot these bigh spring tides, I am afraid a good nuny occupants of the tents on the beach will be washed out and havo to seek camping ground elsewhere. Nothing of any importance in connection with the meeting has or will, I think, tako place to-day, as this is Saturday, the last day in the week, and therefore not a proper time for a large meeting like this to commence talking. Then again nearly every one has something to do in connection with tho food distributed yesterday. Some of the meat must bo cooked at once, and the romaindor slung on poles to keep it from being devoured by the numerous half-starved dogs who frequent the placo and are continually prowling about wherever there is any food to be found, which if not carefully watched they soon walk off with. Having fixed up our kaikai as securely as possible, we havo nothing now that we can do but tako a stroll around the place; first we go along the beach and commence counting the boats that are hauled up high and dry, and after making several mistakes and commencing over again, every time wo came to the conclusion that there are somewhere there or thereabouts 120 boats of all sizes and build, also four canoes; come of these boats are .really fine specimens of whaleboats, and built by some of the boat builders at the Thames, Auckland, and Uoromaudel; the value of these boats, including oars, sails, &c, could be reckoned at say £30 at least, which would make a total of sonu £3,600, quite a large capital, being represented in boats alone. Having got through this self-imposed task, wo adjourn to the tent store and hotel, kept by ilr Adlam, of Shortland. Hero one can get something to eat, something to drinir, and something to wear too if ho requires it. The store, though small, seems to contain a little of everything. We have just a small taste and move on. Two steps moro tako us to a bell tent, occupied by ono Morgan, of Shortland, a bootmaker, who also seems to be in considerable demaud, as some of tho natives who have como over without boots now find that tho quantity of sweet briar which covers the ground in all directions makes it necessary that they invest in a pair, if it save their poor feet. Close adjoining is an Indian tent with bamboo poles, used as an eating houso, and is connected with Mr Ad lam's store High up on tuo flat is another store, which is kept by Messrs Bennett and Oashvl, of Ohinemuri, and a few pacos from that again is the baker's shop, tho oven of which is iugeniously built in the face of tho hill, a tent serving the purposes of both house and, shop for the enterprising

owner. Wo invosfc in a (aaid to be) 41b loaf, and depart, closely followed by a couple of mongrel Maori dogs, who, from the way in which they eye our loaf, would lead one to think that they had some sbaro in tho shilling' with, which we purcliaaod it. Wo had now intended to go to the crook and search for quartz specimens, and eventually bo the moans by which tho place shall be proclaimed a payable goldfiold, when loud shouting is heard from some of the tents on the 'beach, and people aro running in that direction, so we waive all right to a prospectors' claim on tho bank of the Whakativvai stream, and follo\v in the wake of the crowd. Having arrived at tho scene of action, wo find it is a tana again, and very nearly a repelition of what occurred yoslorday, in fact, the performance gone through was exactly the same, hue tho reason for doing it happened this time to bo different. Yesterday it was a case of crim-con; now a curso is tho cause. Soiuo Maori chief has actually dared to curse his daughter-in-law. Now, had this young lady happened to be a slave or woman, of no standing why no notice would be taken of it, but she is a chieftninness, and this insult must not pass unnoticed. 80 then tho relatives aro grinning, shouting aad stamping, bent on satisfaction, which they aro almost contain to get in some shapo or form; but I shall not stay to see it out, as those littlo differences aro getting to be of too froquent occurrence, and therefore monotonous. Ho wo go back to the beach again, and thcro wilnoss a trial of skill at jumping, some few Europeans joining iu with tho Maori competitors. Tho best jumper of tho lot turns out to bo a young half-caste from Ohinemuri, whoso jump exceeds those of his competitors by some six inches, which is very creditablo to him, seeing that ho is a lad of about 15 years only, Dinner tirao having now arrived, wo quit tho beach and have a feed of pork, potatoos, and broad, washed down with a pannikin of tea, whon a noiso from tho upper part of tho camp announces that something good is going to take place, and the day is not such a dull one as was expected, For Tikapa (W. H. Taipari) has divestod himself of his clothes, saving his shirt, aud with taiha in hand is rushing forward to woro or challenge tho Ngatipaoa people to come out and have a tueraowae, or war dance. He has already arrived at some of their houses, and will soon complete the round of their settlement and return. 80 look out, for this is going to bo tho sight of sights—the grand war dance that everyone is so anxious to see. He is back now, and nearly all the male portion of the meeting are stripping to have this great go in. Guns of all sorts are brought out, rifles, double-barrel and single-barrel fowling-pieces, revolvers, Maori spears, taiahas, aud in fact every available implement of warfare is seized upon, some few only contenting themselves with sticks, and in one or two instances we noticed that empty bottles were made to do service in lieu of more warlike weapons. Each hapu, or tribe, make their preparation separately at their own tents, and all are busy painting their faces, each one striving to make himself more hideous than their neighbour, Ngatimaru are the I first to fall in and have a preliminary I canter or dance just to see that everything is correct, in vain one now looks for his companions of Shortland town, the grasping landlord, the pampered recipient of miners' rights, tho intelligent young chief whom we occasionally meet at the bar of an hotel or over the billiard table, and who by their appearanee we thought were quickly arriving at a state of civilisation, all are there but unrecognisable now amongst that crowd of painted, frenzied savages. Ngatimaru have hardly completed their trial dance when along comes the Ngalitaruatera to join them, closely followed by the Kurnera Ngatipare and the gallant Ngatiporo; these all join ranks and then systematically separate themselves into two.ngohi, or armies.' All is now ready, and we look towards the Ngatipaoa camp to ascertain whether or not they are going to accept the challenge of their guests. One glance shows that the first timo of asking was sufficient for them, for there they are hard at it, and though fewer in number than their opponents now combined together, still the way they strip and their gallant bearing proclaim them to be chiefs of the first water, and that they are quite prepared to fight or dance for the honour of their tribe whenever necessary. Now they are ready, and Te Hakariwhi boldly leads them on; as they slowly advance he rushes towards the ranks of their opponents, and delivering his nero or dart, slowly retires backwards. He is a fine, tall, well-built native, and it is not likely they'll catch him, but they will try, and on they come, too, with a rusli that rumbles like thunder. Hargreaves is not caught, however, and as he takes shelter in the ranks of his people already opened to receive him, the main body of the opposing army close up and silently crouch down directly in front of their adversaries. A minute or two of silence now ensues, and tho chiefs busy themselves by rogulating tho line of their men and make them dress up, as the "Volunteers say. Everything being all right, the chief who is to take the lead now prances up and down, grasping his mare, aud with a loud shout one of tho two armies of the visitors spring from the ground.