What Everybody Says.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1920, 27 February 1875, Page 2

What Everybody Says.

"In multitude of counsellors there is safety." - A —Old Provbrb The Maories have had the best of the say.this week* and as they are regarded as nobodies, it would bo wise and proper to ignore them. > But it unfortunately happens that in this Ohinemuri business the Natives are everybody and more, and it happens that some notice 1 must be taken of their talk. This talk has been of an uninteresting kind to the uninitiated. To listen to Maori talk for any length of times require the endurance of a Stoic, and the patience of Job. These simpleminded aboriginals like talk.. Even after they have made up their minds and consented to a certain course, they still go on talking; suggesting conditions in a matter already settled; raising little difficulties where none were contemplated; and generally trying to gain an advantage where they see the slightest attempt made to meet their views without trying to reduce their credit pr.ignore just demands. Having exhausted their Stock of argument, these .same natives accept the conditions suggested, - sign away their birthright, and adapt themselves to circumstances. If they prove as pliable always as they have done lately in conceding point after point in their arguments, it will not be very long before they resign their trust in the land for the more, agreeable position of hwfong public money ' to spend. Time will show how far the anticipations of everybody are correct. A number of townspeople on a visit, to Ohinemuri the, other day wanted their diniier about the usual hour for the midday meal. They were used to dine in the middle of the day, and they made their way to a certain hostelry and enquired in polite terms if they could be accommodated with something to appease their hunger. The ho«t replied in the courteous manner for which he is proverbial, that he ;*'would see." Our friends waited some time,'but tliey couldn't see any signs of landlord or dinner; but they could hear a noise which sounded very like the vigorous play of half-a-dozen knives and forks in the hands of persons whose appetites had been sharpened by honest labor. This was too much for the hungry and waiting visitors, who were by this time getting impatient. They knocked the knock of angry as well s* hungry .men, and the polite host again appearedflooking as if hie had been rudely disturbed in the middle of a square meal. On beingfagain asked if the visitors could have dinner, this modol host informed them that he would see if there was any left after the others had finished. It is needless to say that the visitors declined to wait any longer :' they adjourned to a neighboring store and made the best shift they could under the circumstances wi h bread and cheese and beer. The "unfortunate man." is dead. Every- , body will know that the unfortunate man

referred to is poor Joe Small. He was essentially a decent man. He made a reputation as an unfortunate man, and he travelled on it. On every goldfieid for the last fourteen, or fifteen years Joe Small was the unfortunate man. He hit upon an idea, and. he perfected it as few men have done who have been gifted with an idea. His seemed like a spark of genius, it was so perfect; Amongst everybody here he was quite at home. At one time on the Thames he seemed in a fair way of realising his thousands; good scrip was his, and plenty of it. But he held on just a day or two too long, and when he would have quitted his scrip it was useless, or next to it. Consequently poor Joe had to turn to once more and sing his doleful ditty for ;,a subsistence, the circumstances of his case - suggesting a yerse more doleful than any of the original, but less known because of its purely local.application. ,In the end Joe Small-#he liked the Mriiliar'&p^iytibn— was driven from the Thames by the ghost of an official agent. It was rough on him—rougher than the commissioner of the old days. Small was one amongst a thousand of professionals, and his early death. will be deplored wherever old identities gather together; for the rich humour and genial manner have now gone the way of all flesh. The Paeroa township to-day ought to realise good prices. The auctioneers set forth that this spot on earth has never been known to be visited by floods. At first sight it migh appear that the Paeroa was a favored locality—one which escaped the deluge—possibly the Jocality on which the dove from the Ark alighted when sent forth on a reconnoitring expedition. If the auctioneers can only convince purchasers of this probability the price will be much enhanced, as there is always a chance of what has been coming again*—the rainbow theory having been accounted for as resulting from " natural causes." ...