THE INTRODUCTION OF HORSES TO TARANAKI.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1770, 4 September 1874, Page 3

THE INTRODUCTION OF HORSES TO TARANAKI.

Mr. E. J. Wakefield thus describes the panic of the Maories on the coast between "VVangauui ami Patea when they first saw a horse :—I was not seen by, the inhabitants of the pa until close to the ,-riyer VVcnuakura. , They then ran down to the beach. ' By this time I had plunged into the river, ,which here flows over soft and shining sands. The horse's ! body ,was nearly -hidden-; and though -many of ,niy old /friends here had recognisedme and shouted 'Tiraweka! tiaercniai!.' \ they,- evidently,thought tthat a native was carrying me on his shouldorsl There were now nearly a hundred natives collected, many of whom had never seen a horse {before,; crowding over ,each other to give me the first greeting. Witli two or three vigorous plunges the horse sudsuddenly emerged from the water and bore me into the middle of them. Such a cornpleto panic can hardly be imagined. They fled, yelling, in all directions, with- 1 out looking behind them : and as fast as I galloped past those who were running across the sandy flat and up the steep path leading to the Tihoe pa, they fairly lay down on their faces, and gave themselves up for lost. Half-way up the hill I dismounted, and they plucked up courage to come 'and look, at the kuri nui or 'large dog.' The most amusing qucsiioh'3 were put to mo as to its habits and disposition. • ' Can ho talk ?' ;said 'one; -Does, he'like boiled potatoes?' " said another; and a. tliird^ ' Mustn't lib' Have, a blanket to lie down upon at night?'This unbounded-respect and admiration' lasted all the time that I remained. The' horse'wa's taken-into the central court yard of the pa; a dozen hands were 1 always offering him Indiaa corn, grass,> and sow-thistles when they had learned' what he really did eat; and a wooden, bowl full of wator was kept constantly! i replenished close to him. .And little i knots of curious observers sat round the circle of his tether-rope, remarking and conjecturing and disputing, about: the meaning and intention of every whisk of his tail or shake of his ear-." In October and November, 1839,. the Uev.j W. Williams was at Waikanae with some j horses, for tho purpose, of establishing a• mission there. He 1 also came up the! coast as far as the Sugar Loaves,, leading book's and'native catechists at Otutnatua,' near to Opunake, but *it is' b'oubtful whether he brought a horse with him.; When the William Bryan arrived the; ; only horses in the district were a mare 1 and fold belonging to Richard Barrett, and shortly afterwards the mare was j killed by falling in a Maori pit. The first : horse landed on the beach was brought j from Kawhio, in a sailing vessel, for the use of Mr. Creed, the Wesleyah Mission-; ary. As soon as it reached the shore, j William Marshall leaped upon its back, j and rod 9up and down ,the beach. On \ 24th October, 1841, the animal being ill, \ Mr. Creed brought it to the tent of a gen-; tleman who possessed some knowledge of. veterinary art, for the purpsse of getting ) it bled. William Marshall, who was near \ at the time, took hold of the animal's foreleg/which caused it to paw afchiinand strike him in the abdomen; Thy kick was so severe, that the poor man died two days afterwards. The horse was a large awkward, creature., which had been spoilt by the' Kativers' in' their unskilful attempts to break him in. He wa3 for many years attached to the Mission Station at Waimato, and while here, killed a Maori. He died at last of old age.—Tribune.