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Wananga, Volume 2, Issue 7, 12 April 1875, Page 61

We cannot do better in this present issue for the information of our readers then, reprint the following portion of a letter published in the Hawke's Bay Herald from its Poverty Bay Correspondent. It refers to the selling of the Native Land Court, and can be read with in terest and instruction. It shews a phase of the mind of the Pakeha's mind, generally known but not often so plainly stated in the New Zealand Press. The scorn, and the expressed hope of Natives being led to adopt a course of action they may afterwards regret is worthy of especial remark. The hint however of putting up Land by auction that is intended to be Leased by the Native owners should not be overlooked. And were the practice adopted it would doubtless result in the Native Landlord obtaining a higher rental than through the system of private ngotiation. The Lands Court gets through its work deliberately, but, on the whole, satisfactorily. It has been an excellent move excluding the lawyers. Among other things it has given the Natives an opportunity of cultivating their originally great alen'ts for forensicoratory, and they have availed themselves of it with effect. It might be difficult, no doubt, for an outsider, to follow the line of argument in some cases. The speaker starts off with the announcement, perhaps, that he traces his claim to a "tame eel." However, from, this somewhat

unpromising start he will fetch it round, and work it up, till everyone is satisfied as to its beino- entirelr irrefragable. The great thing is. of course, to giv« such decisions that the body of the Natives will" accept as fair. It certainly must need a deep acquaintance with the Native character to do so An ordinary European judge or arbitrator would be competely at sea if brought face to face with such evidence. Judge Rogan, however, somehow appear* to do it. One hears of very little if any disposition to kick against his decisions. One block—the Whakatutu—about 9000 acres partly flats, and very good ones, about ten mil« beyond Ormond has occupied a large amount of th« Court s time lately, but now it is through. It presents a new and important feature, inasranch as it was divided into eight pieces before being passed through. Ihis a decided sign of advancement. If the Natives go on at this rate we shall shortly see them putting up their Land to auction, or calling for tenders for the Lease of it. An enterprising auctioneer or commission agent, who would put them up to it would soon make a firstrate thing of it. They would go m for it with a rush, as they do for everything new. I know of more than one man already down here who thinks of trying it on, and if the Govern- ?*?? <*o not take some more effective steps for getting hold of the Ngatiporou country than they are taking at present, it is highly probable that is the manner in which it will come into the market. About twenty-five Natives are in from the fllokau, many of whom have not previously put in an appearance in town since the time of the war Amongst them thore are some fine-looking fellows who would no doubt prove to be awkward customers in a row. 1 heir errand is peace. A Native named Oane, having died at Bell Block, has afforded a pretext for the coming. It is said that eight horses have been brought along as a present. The Maoris now in town do not seem to be overweighted with grief, but show themselves rather currious and chatty, and evince a desire to make the best of opportunities by taking a good look round. The "tangi" was on yesterdly. ±resh supplies having been taken out this morning, and with the fresh priming it is expected the"tangi" will be continued in proper style. Taranaki Budget.

Narrative op the Survivors. On Wednesday morning (18) I was on my watch below; I had just fallen asleep when th e report of fire was given, I jumped up. I was not quite asleep. I ran to the door and met the captain. Said he to me, "There is an alarm of fire ; jump forward and see what is the matter," I went forward. When I got there the mate was getting force-pumps and everything in working order. 1 saw flames and smoke coming out of the fore-scuttle. When that was coming out I ran aft. 1 put on my trousers, for I had been naked. The men and passengers were tumbling up by the time I came forward, and were plying the pumps in great alarm. But both the crew and passengers j were behaving excellently. The truth I've got to | speak, and nothing but the truth. We worked

away at the fire until the flames burst out at the fore-hatch. It seemed .as if the fire was right forward in the ship. The great thing was to go down the fore-hatch, if any man could have done it. The captain called for volunteers, and I and two men tried it, but we were beaten back by the flame and smoke, and had to tell him we could not do it. All fell back a bit, but we managed to get on the "foksle" head, and tke captain was taking the ship to keep her before the wind, but she would not answer her helm. She came hea<l to wind, and this was what drove the fire aft on the forksle. We hauled the foresail up, but by this time the fire was aft, between the forehatch and the main-hatch. The boats forward were on fire. 1 had asked the captain before this whether 1 should get the boats out, but he said *'No, in such a time as this do your very best to get the fire out, and leave the boats alone." All had gone aft except those who were working at gettiug the fire out, and the w omeil we re in a terrible way. The fire began to com e out of the main-hatch, and then there came a rush o n to the poop. I came aft to see about the boats, with the chief mate, the thrid mate, and others, to try to put the boats straight. The star-board bo a t and the quarter boat were full of women, and a ma a panic around. It was the women's quarters G n the quarter deck, but by this time it was everybody's quarters. The starboard boat was lowered aw ay by the crowd any how by themselves, God knows w ho did it. It capsized when it touched the wat er . the davits bent down with the weight that w as on them. There were about eighty people, chiefly women'and children in it. They were all Was there a trouble in the water ? Great God ! w h a t cou ld 1 notice about this ? By this time the foremast was on fire, and blazing to the truck. A ll three masts fell aft and over. We had tried t Q lighten the straboard pinnace, the biggest boat in th e ship, but we had to leave her when her bows caught fire. Not till then I stationed two men at the port quarter boat, with strict orders not to leave the shi p ' s s ia e before the captain gave orders. She was an right till after the captain gave the word, and the n , my God, there was a rush. I was the last to make for her, except them that jumped overboard, that w as the chief mate and a woman, an Irish girl, whose petticoat was afterwards used for a sail. I had tried to get a compass, but had to leave it, else I would not have got my passage. The passage was not paid and they were going without me. As I jumped in they were cutting away the tackle falls. I jumped to the helm and shoved her clear. We had thirty-four in the boat then, and we had to keep off, because the people were pouring down the falls, and would have sunk her. She had not above six inches of a side. We were no distance off her. We pulled well off from the ship and laid bv . u , nti l niorning. But just as we were clear of the ship's side, the mainsail came down after the stern blew out. This was the spirits. I had before thrown overboard the rockets in her. This, mind you, was all in the darkness. After we had backed off the scene was horrible—men throwing their wives overboard, and women their children. I saw one man throw sixteen children overboard, and then jump in himself. They were praying, yelling, crying, but

?£ b< ! dy^6t t* th f Se ' S P irits ' Nobody had, I should thmk, thought of that, and another thing, they could not get at them. I did not personally see thecaptain and his jump overboard, but a man I picked up told me that he saw them jump, and also that he saw Dr. Cadle throw over his' boy and follow himself Ihecaptaui, when I left, was standing by the lee' wheel and was as cool and composed as ever a man was. I wish you were done, for I have not had a blessed night s sleep since the terrible time I was in the boat. I don't think many were about her by this time,-for she was burning from end to end The mizzen mast went overboard ; this was about an hour and a-haH since the fire first broke out We stood off from the ship until the next day to avoid the throng of people in the water, and then the morning came, and" still she was blazing inside, but the outside of her was to the good still. We were a good distance off and we heard some cries of people on spars who had floated a good way out. We found that the starboard quarter-boat had floated, and the people barging to the spar had uprighted her. They told me that they had tried her six or seven times, and shs. had capsized as often, but ultimately they succeeded and got her near. The cry was for an officer to come on-board. -lor God's sake, Mr. Macdonald, come witn us, and bring some men with you." The men who went with me were Edward Davis and three others. I remember that I threw the magazine overboard the first thing. The women made awful shrieks. Many of them clung to me and entreated me to save them. We kept off from the ship, and we heard cries from people on spars floating awav trom her. We made towards them and found thev were the other men. They had no oars. They saiio out that they wanted an officer in the boat—Lewis. They asked for a man, and Lewis went first. They sang for. an officer, and I agreed to go. Cotter and I went with Lewis, :ind that divided us, leavin°- 32 in each boat. We were deeply loaded then. A man was on a spar, and was taken in the other boat The man's name was Kobert Banop,-a Scotchman. We kept by the ship all that day and all that night. We saw people all around her; but we could not render them any assistance. We lay off till the next afternoou, about half-a-mile off, but after the ship sank it was no use. She was burnt down to the copper. My boat had no oars. The other boats gave jme one and a-half. We steered for the Cape of Good j Hope; but we had no compass or anything in the I boat, and nothing to eat whatever. One of the men told me the captain threw his wife overboard, and jumped afterher. The two boats kept company to the 20th and 21st, when it commenced to blow, and we got separated during the night. I whistled and shouted, but when daylight came we could see nothing, of the other boat. Thirst began to tell severely on all of us. A man named Bently fell overboard while steering the boat, and was drowned. Three men became mad that day, and died. We then threw the bodies overboard. On the 23rd the wind was blowing hard, and a high sea running. We were continually baling water out. We rigged a sea anchor, and hove the boat to, but it was only tied with strands to the boat's painter, and we lost it. Four men died, and we were that hungry arid thirsty

that we drank the "blood and ate the levers of two of them. On the 24th there was a strong gale, and we rigged another sea anchor, tying it with anything we could lay our hands on. There were six more deaths that day. She shipped water till she was nearly full. On the 25th there was a light "breeze, and it was awfully hot. We were reduced that day to eight, and three of them were out of their minds. We all felt very bad that day Early on the morning of the 26th. not being daylight, a boat passed close to us, running. We hailed, but got no answer. She was not more than iifty yards off. She was a foreigner. 1 think she must have heard us. One more died that day. We kept on sucking the blood of those that died. The 27th was squally all round, but we never caught a drop of water, although we tried to do it. Two more died that day. We threw one overboard, but were too weak "to lift the other. There were then five left—two able seamen, one ordinary, myself, and on« passcjjger. The passenger was out of his unhid. A\] had drank sea water. We were, all dozing when the madman bit my feet, and T woke up. We then saw a ship bearing down upon uk. .She proved to be the British Sceptre, from Calcutta to Duudee. We were taken on board and were treated very kindly. I got very bad on board of her. I was nigh at death's door. We were not recovered when we got to St. Helena. J had dy sen try. They handed us brandy, and we were in such a state that we should have drank all of it. We made 540 miles in these eight day. We took a north half-east course. The. latitude where it occurred was 37 deg. 15 min. S., longitude, J 2 deg. 25 men. E. 7?hat was at mid-day, on the 17th. I know that we had kept in near the same longitude all the time. We knew we were to the northward of the Cape. My opinion is that the first boat never recovered the wind of that night. The' woman in that boat was frantic ; she leaped more than once. It was heart-rending to see the women when the iirst boat went down. They were about eighty in number. The ship's davits bent down with the weight of them. They went down with one shriek. In answer to a question, the men said the passing of the ship, which did not pick them up, did not reduce them to despair, but rather inspirited them, as they knew now they were in the track of ships: Cotter would have given in, but we stirred him uu. Cotter would not stand. I had to crawl along. I found a sea-weed with little crabs on it; we ate them and sucked the sea-weed- ■ I said, "We are in lack today." Wo dhl eat away at it, I assure yon.

Mr. Macdonald's narrative was completed some time before reaching Exeter, whence it was flashed over the wires to all parts of the United Kingdom. At Exeter the provincial correspondents took their leave, and after a long delay, caused by the night goods tmfrie on the line, the train carrying the Cape lnail on in very leisurely style to Bristol, where, at 30'3*fTm , to the amazement of the passengers, they were informed that no further progress could be made towards the metropolis uutil 7-50. Descending on to a platform a foot deep in snow, with an icy blast whistling through the deserted station, the shipwrecked men and their fellow travellers, under the guidance of a rail-way porter, were fortunate enough to find an hotel. London was reached about 11.30 on Friday morning, where an agent of the shipowners, Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co., was in waiting to receive, Macdonald and his companions, and take them on to their office.

Sufpkrings of thk boat's Crew. With regard to the sufferings of the boat's crew, the Telegraph correspondent gives the following colloquy— Some one on board one of the tugs which met the Nyanza said to Cotter : "Well, Cotter, when you managed to get into the boat, and she was fairly off, how is it you would nor. pick up some of those who were floating away from the burning ship and being drowned ?"—"We did pick up as many as our boat would hold. If we had taken in another we should have done ourselves. Such a hi<rh sea was running that we could not see many of the people when they once threw themselves over the ship's side to avoid being burnt."

" Where are the rest of those who went in your boat ?"—"They all died, sir, everyone, except us three and the man who went mad before he landed from the Bitrish Sceptre, and who afterwads died too." . "Did any man go mad beside this one ?"—"Yes, sir; most of the men did before they died."

'•Did they jump overboard?" -"They would have done so, but we prevented them ; but they did not last very long alive after the madness took them. " What provisions had you on board the boat■?" —We had nothing in the boat, and we ate one another," was the horrible reply, given, however, with a practical earnestness which shewed that the dreadful step was only resorted to as a matter of dire necessity. "But you did not eat one another alive?"—"Oh no ; no one was eaten until he was dead." "Because," said the question, "the other day we had a story of a shipwreck in which the men in a boat had to cast lots as to who should died, and an Italian was killed in order to be eaten."—"We did not dp that, and I do not think we should ever have done it." By the time this much too short, but still real conversation was spoken, the poor lad was ordered to get ready to go on shore. "Have you any luggage with you?"—" Nothing but what I have got on, sir; I lost everything, and that was not very much." "Well, now you have got to England, depend upon it what you have lost will be made up to you, and a good deal more too." H. B. n

OTAKT, Sin March 1875. To the Eidtor of the Wananga, salutation to you. Tut these few parcels as a load on board of the Wananga. (The meeting of the cricket club of Otaki and the Fox Town club.) The first match was played at Otaki, and the Otaki club won it, the lookers on of Otaki gave plenty of food to the players. And the Otaki club gave a dinner the same Evening to the lox Town club and themselves also, the cost of the dinner came to £ll s:>. And it was stated afterwards that the next criket match was to be held at Fox Town. When the match came off the Fox Town club won it, the Fox Town club gave a dinner to the Otaki club, and themselves also, the cost for the dinner came to £5 ss. When the third was to be played so as to decide who was champion, it was played also at Fox Town, and the Otaki club won, the Fox Town club and all the Fox Town people lakeha's, and Maoris had no strength at this last meeting. The Fox Town club did not give the Otaki club a dinner, this is the disposition of the Fox Town club, the rules are, if one club went to another place to play, it is the duty of. the club who resides there to provide the guests with 7cai, (a cricketers dinner) but the Fox Town club did not keep up with the rules that were agreed on. The Fox Town club said also that the Maori was not fit to play with him the Pakeha, but when played, their proverb returned to themselves. At the last meeting the Maori chief of Fox Town Ihakara Tukumaru said to the Otaki club, be strong in playing so that you will not return crymg on this long beach. But Hemi te Ao a chief

of Otaki replied, it is time for you to speak*when you know that we are defeated, and that is left to be decided, but at a latter part the people of Pox Town knewn that the Otaki would win, they retreated to the town so that they should not see their defeat. Frierds it is true now that these proverbs should be spoken off, that the Maoris is not fit to play with Pakeha's, it is better for the Otaki people to say that word and this also. That the Murori's of Fox Town is not capable of playing with the old people-of Otaki. The-Fox Town club should go to School, and be taught how to play cricket, so that they will not be wearied at playing; and will not cause them to be ashamed, cease here, so the lips will not be wearied by reading, and the eyes by looking. There are other evils of the Fox Town club if it were all written down they would be ashamed, cease from your friend. Thomas liansSeld.

This is mine also to vou who stated how we the Maori race was mislead, aiid be in difficulty, hold to your shewing, work, do not shew and after a while, and forsake, so by the time your gone or died, we will be in possessing of the way's you our parents got into difficulty, and the ways also that our wealth the Land will be in difficulty after you, that is said by you, namely some of the children to which I have stated about, may rise, so that some may be clear for themselves, the generation after you to work on. It is so, I thought to state a few ideas about lazyness, perhaps a great many of your people have seen these ways to destruction which is mentioned by you, and revealed by. the Wananga, some of you people perhaps did reveal" a few words to hold your Lands. And by weakness never thought the least of the words, shewed by the wise ones, and by the people who have seen distruction. Although the race, this resemblance the Maori race, some of the reasons how these deceases came which his revealed by the wise one. So by this I thought it would be has well for me to state it quickly for you wise people who informs of these deceases, be strong in your work, it is not by your showing it will be thought of by the chiefs, and tribe, ho, it is better for the' showing to be shewed. I will state a few words to the tribes who are residing properly, those who are holding their wealth their Land. Ireind do not disapprove to what his shown by those who have been lead into difficulties by those deceases their information is not for themselves to be saved from deceases, but it is their showing us the things that they were deceases by, that we should know who are residing on your Lands, so that when these decaeses effect you, you will know that these are the things that ourbrethern who is deceased, who has lost their Land, and residing in this world without Land informed us. I will also reveal a word, to vou

* who reveals the difficulties of the Maori race, to reveal it clearly, do not reyeal it by a ill-feeling, or by your seting in a Pakeha's parlour rooms," or by your seeing a white face, or good race, or by allowing you going on board of steamers without payment, but show it in a clear manner, so that we children will distinctly see it aftf r you, the wrong roots of the Maori race. Friend the tribes that I mentioned about:— 1. The children of the School, 2. . The wise people who corresponds, JJ. Tribes who holds their Lands, 4. Them who wrong the Maoris. . , Send your thoughts for these things to which I have mentioned above. From our own Correspondent. WAIMAEAMA, 27th March 1875. f From our own Correspondent.) A whale was seen on the beach at Waipuka near "YVainiarama on the 17th of March, by a boy who went to drive in a mob of horses, the horses saw the whale first, and took fright, and the boy was determined to know what made his horses bolt, and saw it shining on the beach he also took fright, and came to the settlement, and informed us that he had left his horses, and was alarmed at a black thing laying on the beach. 1 told them it was a whale, and wo went to see it, it is 18 feet from head to tail, if any Maoris or Pakeha desires to buy oil they can come and look at the oil, and apply to, Harawira te Orihau at Waiinarama.