THE CLANNISH MAORI.

Waikato Independent, Volume VII, Issue 463, 21 January 1908, Page 5

THE CLANNISH MAORI.

A well-known health officer (relates a contemporary) recently received a telegram from a Maori kainga near his headquarters, signed by, say, " Jimmy Waitara," asking him to see a sick child.' He went, and on arrival at the village asked the first' native he saw where Jimmy Waitara could be seen. "Oh, he gone 'way long time; he gone Wanganui way," was the reply. But this did not satisfy the inquirer, and he proceeded a little further. "Jimmy Waitara ?" said the next native interro. gated, " he used to live here, but he gone Poneke now." " Fishy," said the doctor, and then approached an; old dame with the same query. "He not live here now, he live in Christchurch," responded the lady. But the health officer had gone far enough. " Look here," he said, " one man says he's gone to Wanganui, another to ' Poneke,' and now you say Christchurch." " Oh, I think I right, he gone Christchurch all right," persisted the guileless native. . " Well, I got a telegram from him to-day asking me to see his baby." » Oh," with a complete change of intonation, "you be toctor. Jimmy Waitara here all right! I tink you policeman."