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Woodville Examiner, Volume XXII, Issue 3877, 23 May 1906, Page 2

At the sitting of the Te Aute Commission on Monday, A great the Chairman, after tribute. Mr Coleman had finished his evidence in chief, asked that gentleman if he would like to add anything farther to his remarks. Mr Coleman paid the following high tribute to Archdeacon Williams, incidentally giving a chapter of interesting early history :— “I would like to say a few words with regard to the attitude of Archdeacon Williams, then the Rev. Samuel Williams, at the time of the Maori troubles, not that his statement requires corroboration, but because I wish to bear testimony to what he did. He came down here in hot haste, and informed Sir Donald McLean that the natives were going to make a combined attack on Napier, those at Omarauui waiting only for another lot to come down the Petane river. He had the greatest difficulty in making Sir Donald McLean believe him, as the latter thought he knew more about the native mind than did the Reverend Sam—l must call him that, because so be was known to ua in those old days. It was not till late in the evening that Sir Donald was persuaded and called out the militia, He regular forces being on the hills. Ti e late Sir George Whitmore was men commandant. We were called out in a hurry, and at midnight we left to march out to Omarauui to surround the pa. A messenger was sent in commanding the Maoris to give up their arms and surrender. They asked for an hour, and at the end of that time a messenger was again sent. They then replied that they would not surrender, hut would fig tit, and, coming out they performed a war dance. I had nothing but a sword bayonet; 1 was only an up-counfry cavalry man, but happened to be present. A gun Could not be got for love or money. Mr (afterwards Sir Donald) McLean found me a horse, and asked me to accompany' him that day. What I did say was that Colonel (aft«-rwards Sir Geoige) Whit more, who whs in command, seeing I had no arms and could not pn cure any, said, ‘-Come w;ih me as aide-de-camp, for I know you have a good horse, and you cm carry any ordeisl may want to.send.’ This I did as I ho fight developed. Very few people realise the danger Napier was in at that time. The so-called friendly natives were really Hauhaus at heart, and as we .stood 200 yards ujitlic hill, the bullets supposed to ho intended for the enemy on that flat whistled over our heads. It was evident the ‘friond-

lies ’ had no intention of killing their own people, ami if there had been the slightest delay, (hose natives would have joined the Hauhans, to (he annihilation of the n)i I't ; a. ami lln- people of Napier. Tha' was wlm* would have ocinirred litid il not b f this man sitting hef'ue you.” ih-if Mi Coleman laid lii-i hand mi Arduh.uoon Williams’ shoulder. “That is my excuse for inflicting this speech upon you.”

The manager of the Union Company. seen with respect THE PREMIER to the Stall Uli HI. and the about the Premier union company, and the Exhibition passenger traffic, said the directors had had the matter in hand for some months. The chief pressure on coastal traffic will be between Lyttelton and Wellington, and here the Company is prepared to handle at least one thousand passengers per day. In reply to a cable on Friday the Premier was informed that the Union Company intended to put the Maheno on for the Exhibition running. She can make three trips per month, and as she can cany 530 passengers she could bring IGOO passengers per month, in addition to tlv tegular service of three steamers p r week, two from Sydney ami one ir m Melbourne, each of which can cany 300 passengers, or with the Maheno, 5400 passengers per up nth. The Huddart Parker Co. will probably use the new steamer Riverina, which has about the si me capacity as the Maheno, and will use a second special steamer if required. It is pointed out that on no previous occasion has the Company been unable to cope with the traffic. The Union Company has had experience of the Now Zealand and Sooth Seas Exhibition, and Melbourne and Tasmanian Exbitions, and has always provided accommodation in excess of requirements.