MELANCHOLY SUICIDE OF A NATIVE CHIEF.

Waka Maori, Volume 11, Issue 13, 6 July 1875, Page 159

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE OF A NATIVE CHIEF.

The Bay of Plenty Times, of June 9th, says:"A telegram was received yesterday afternoon by Mr. Warbrick, from Maketu, acquainting him of the most determined suicide of a young and promising Native chief named Hemana Taranui, at Richmond, Matata, on Sunday last (6th June). The particulars have not as yet reached us further than that the act was determined and successful, the young man having shot himself dead. Hemana was own nephew to Te Pokiha (Fox), a chief residing at Maketu, hut has been living with his father-in-law, Arama Karaka Mokonuiarangi, the renowned loyal chief of the Ngatirangitihi trade, residing near Matata. Hemana leaves a wife and family."

The Ngatiwhakaue have commenced work on the Rotorua and Tarawera Road, "between Ohinemutu and Puringa Bridge. "When this work is finished the road will be completed from Ohinemutu to Tikitapu. —lbid. Th& Bay of Plenty Times, of June 12th, says: — " One day last week a pheasant was shot iu the neighbourhood of a field of green oats infested with caterpillars. On opening the crop of this bird, no less than 155 caterpillai's were counted, also some crickets and grasshoppers. What an enormous number of insects would be destroyed by a dozen of these birds in ten months ! "When it is remembered that there are only two months of the year in which

pheasants can do any mischief at all—that is, and reaping times —they may be a nuisance, but they really do a great deal more good than harm to the farmer." Intelligence (writes the Bay of Plenty Times) just received from Taupo is very gratifying, and doubtless will be found interesting to all well-wishers of the Maori race. We quote a paragraph from a letter from a correspondent, dated Taupo, the 6th of June instant:—"The Natives in this district are patronizing the new Post Office Savings Bank, lately established at Tapuaeharuru. Your friend Te'Poihipi was the first Maori depositor. His people afterwards held a large meeting, where it was unanimously agreed to go in extensively for planting oats, wheat, &c., this season; after which to commence sawing timber and erecting wooden buildings for their own occupation; to save up their money (accruing from rents, &c.) to put into the Bank; and, whenever opportunity occurs, to discountenance the use of spirituous liquors. You will also be glad to learn that Te Poihipi is the leader of the movement, and I trust that his hopes and expectations will be realized." The Clive correspondent of the HaivTce's Bay Herald writes : —" A melancholy accident occurred here on Tuesday morning last (June 22), which resulted in the drowning of a Maori lad, a son of Bamaka. It a])pears that three lads had been up the river picking up driftwood, and when close to the Ngaruroro railway bridge the canoe capsized, throwing its occupants into the river. Two of them managed to reach the western bank of the river in i.l 1. _ i .1 i i i i