CHORUS OF MAORIES.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 24, 21 June 1845, Page 3

CHORUS OF MAORIES.

Oi, poi, cricky, flum Whitey scalpy, eaty come, Pipey smoky, drinky rum, Oi, poi, cricky, flum. FIRST CHIEF. (Solo.) Maori man him now not glad, Cause era porky it d—n bad ; When em porky no got fat, Maori man no likey dat. Chorus. SECOND CHIEF. (S oh.) Maori man he know wots wot, Plenty musket, powder got; Inglishman he knock urn down, Take urn ship and burn urn town. Chorus. The brave Maories determining on asserting their rights as free born men, and raise their standard of liberty, being a blacken'd skull stuck on the top of a pole. This gives umbrage to their invaders, the chief of whom sends an ambassador, a priest, to the Maories, to induce them to lower their standard, and withdraw peaceably from the vicinity of the tov/H, promising them fat pork in abundance on their complying. The Maories, however, know what little faith is to be placed in the promises of their invaders, and refuse to do either the one or the other. While the priest is holding a conference on the beach, a vessel of war belonging to the enemy heaves in sight, and approaching the beach runs out

her guns, and prepares to give the Maories a broadside. But the good priest interferes, and prevents the brave Maories from being sacrificed. In return for which the Maories, to evince their detestation of the treacherous conduct of the enemy, immediately enter the town by storm, and setting it on fire, and pillaging it, at last content themselves with the slight measure of slaying and then burning a few dozen of their enemies, thus even in the midst of warfare exhibiting a remarkable instance of forbearance, and a beautiful illustration of that sublime precept which bids us " lean always to the side* of mercy." Their base invaders, perceiving the heroic yet merciful spirit which animates the brave and good Maories, become panic struck. The vessel of war set sails again, the good priest, not permitting her guns to open on the patriotic Maories, who, in manifestation of the triumph they have achieved over a cruel and haughty foe, commemorate their victory by a general scalping of their wounded enemies.

The above are the principal incidents of this interesting melodrama, the stage effect of which will be truly grand and imposing. The town of Kororarika on fire—the explosion of a magazine—the consternation of the British —the evacuation of the block-house, with many other scenes of harrowing description, will present a grand combination of the sublime and terrific. But above all, the general scalpiug scene, during which a musical dirge will be performed on marrow bones and cleavers, is calculated to create a sensation hiiherto unknown in the annals of melodramatic entertainment. It is really quite exhilarating, in our present epoch of monetary confusion and dulness, to see our New Zealand friends come out in such bold relief, and we trust that " The Storming of Kororarika and Massacre of the Whites," will shortly be followed by some equally spirited production from the same talented source. — From the Sydney Atlas, Punch.-

A correspondent of the Augsburg Gazette writes as follows : —" After a long delay, through absence, I am at last in a position to send you some communication on the position of affairs at Caucasus. What is learned from there is always scanty, as the Russian officers are strictly forbidden to write concerning it; this much, however, is certain, that the losses of Russia are always great, and the success, on the contrary, very slight. Important or decisive events have not happened in this year's campaign. One of the most important attacks was that in May, in the county of the Circassians, between a Russian corps of eight battalions. 1500 Cossacks, and ten pieces of cannon on the one side, and 5000 mountaineers and sis pieces of cannon on the other, wherein the former were worsted, and retired with a loss of 600 men. A second affair, of some importance, was that in the month of July, when the mountaineers attempted to surprise the Russian fort of Golowin, but in which they were beaten back with the loss of two hundred men. General Luders, who last winter commanded the left wing, has quarrelled with the Commander-in- Chief, and in consequence has returned to St. Petersburg. A large Russian fleet is stationed on the coast of Bessarabia, in the Bays of Tremesse and Gelendschik, but in the winter season will lie at Lukhum. The squadron of Sevastopool has also received orders to depart for the Circassian coast, and thus has the war in Circassia at least this advantage for Russia, that it practices a part of the army in warlike operations, and keeps the navy in exercise."