FROM THE “ STAR ” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18623, 27 November 1928, Page 9

FROM THE “ STAR ” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

ADVERTISEMENTS AND NEWS OF NOV. 27, 1868.

A telegram from Wellington on the fight at Maketu.—An old Hau-hau has been taken prisoner, but he refused to give any information, and he will probably be shot to-day. XXX To Let—Two Comfortable 3-Roomed Cottages, situated in Barbadoes Street. Rent, 6s a week each. Apply to Edward Read, Barbadoes Street, opposite Catholic Chapel. XXX Notice.—A Respectable Female wishes an Engagement to attend upon a Lady or Family proceeding to England, or as Stewardess on board of a ship. Apply to Mr C. C. Aikman,; Cashel Street. x x x From a report of the Maori War.— A correspondent writes as follows from Waikato:—“Perhaps you would draw the attention of the public and the Government through your columns, to the absolute necessity of at once issuing ammunition to the militia on the Waikato, all the settlers being provided with rifles, but nothing to charge them with.” x x Runaway Horse.—An accident, fortunately attended without loss of life, occurred in Lyttelton this morning. It ajjpears that a man named Kelly was in Dampier’s Bay with his horse and cart selling produce, and during his temporary absence three children got into the cart and began screaming. The noise startled the horse, which bolted. The children then lay down in the cart. Several persons tried to stop the horse, but were unable. Fortunately it was stopped near Hargreaves store without damage to anyone. x x x From a report of the Provincial Council in respect to tolls on White’s Bridge.—Mr Brown moved, “ That a respectful address be presented to his Honour the Superintendent, requesting that in accordance with the powers reserved to him in the lease of the Waimakariri River Bridge to Mr W. White, he will cause the tolls to be reduced at least one-half.” The hon member said that the bridge in question had cost Mr White a sum of about £2IOO, and since its erection it had paid the holder about 100 per cent on his outlay. The tolls charged were most exorbitant, and through this cause the bridge actually became an obstacle to persons in the Northern Districts visiting Christchurch. The owners of the bridge had received a very handsome return for the money they had expended, and it was but right that the tolls should be reduced to something like a reasonable figure. He considered that such a course would be wiser than if the Government were to purchase the bridge, as had been previously proposed.

The following is from the Wanganui “Chronicle” of November 21:—The treatment of the Wanganui settlers by the General Government is wholly and inexcusably bad. Mr Stafford came to Wanganui—talked a lot of rubbish about newspapers, and complained of the apathy of the people; himself the most apathetic of mortals—and then took his departure without adopting any, the least, step (so far as we could learn), to put things on a better footing. Since he has gone, there is profound silence; no Government official makes the slightest sign. The state of matters reminds us very forcibly of the extinction of the heathen deities as described by Milton:— Their oracles are dumb. No voice or hideous hum Runs through the wretched roof With words deceiving.

Government for Wanganui, in as far as protection of life and property from rebels is concerned, has ceased to exist. The people feel keenly that thev have been made fools of, and they cannot help, and will not try to help feeling that Mr Stafford and Colonel Haultain* with their henchmen, have made therm selves the other thing. We dare say the position of affairs is the most anomalous, unfortunately, it is also about the most dangerous, that probably ever existed in a community supposed to be under any form of British rule.