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Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 200, 5 August 1874, Page 2

Several civil cases are set down for hearing in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Tauranga, this morning. '1 he Officer commanding the district returned here from his tour of inspection down the Coast oa Monday afternoon.

The tender of Messrs Kennedy and Collins for completing the excavation of the new Government Buildings, Tauranga, has been accepted. An advertisement io another portion of this impression announces the fact that Mr Ah Kenr of Auckland is a purchaser of “Fungus.” Some little time ago we pub ished correspondence regarding the value and use of this fungus by the Chinese. To day wo give a few more particulars, looking at it in a Maori point of view.—The earshaped (*o named for its resemblance to the human ear) fungus or hakeke as it. is called by the natives, is found in large quantities throughout the bush in the Bay of Plenty,and indeed, in most, of the forests of this country. It. generally grows from th© ends of fallen trees, such as tawa, kuhikatea, &c. The hakeke ia used by the natives as an article of food, and it is considered a great relish eaten with the usual basket of potatoes. There are variousmodes of preparing it : one way is to boil it in water and make a kind of soup, which the natives are exceedingly fond of ; it is also cooked in the hangi or Maori oven, and when properly prepared is very crisp, and not at all disagreeable to the taste. In former days, the natives used to cook it in th© following manner :—They first hollowed out & large piece of wood and filling it with water, then threw in some headed stones ; when the water became warm, the fungus was put in, and the first stones removed, and fresh ones placed in their stead ; this was repeated until the hakeke was cooked : the object being to make the kai tender by keeping up a certain temperature. The tribes near the coast now a-days seldom use the hakeke, but those inland, where fish and meat are scarce, eat it in considerable quantities, and it is considered a great delicacy. We are indebted to Mr P. Shaughnessy of Tauranga, for copies of the Cork Examiner, May 27t,h and 28th, containing interesting accounts of the late visit of the Sight Rev Dot Croke, Homan Catholic Bishop of Auckland, to various towns in the County Cork, Ireland, “Yesterday,” says the Examiner , “After an absence of over four years, the Sight Sev Dr Croke, returned to St Coleman’s College, Fermor, ia which institute he presided for a period of ten years, and during that time, was beloved and respected by everyone who knew him. His claims on professors and students in particular earned for him an ovation of which the greatest potentate might be proud. The porch of the College was neatly decorated with flags, banners, and pretty devices in evergreens. The students embodied their greetings in a splendid address, to which Dr Croke replied in his own unrivalled style. Dinner was partaken of at 5 p.m., when he was surrounded by several of his friends. In the evening the brass band of the Fermoy Young Men a Society arrived, and played some selections in the College grounds with taste scarcely to b© expected from amateurs. Later on they removed to the splendid hall and played alternately with the St Colman’s fife and drum band, whose skill iu the musical art adds so much to the amusement of the sr.udents. The right rev. guest in returning thanks to the Young Men’s Society, paid high compliments to the people of Ferrnov for their efforts in the cause of religion, education, patriotism, and general progress, and augured a bright and glorious future for the Irish race. Ho spoke at length on the prominent position attained by our fellow-countrymen in (he Western republic, and in the Australian Colonies, and expatiated on the warmth and affection of our people. It would be futile to attempt, even by a lengthened synopsis, to give an idea of the eloquent and impassioned address of the learned prelate, its effects on the listeners being highly impressive. Wo understand that in a short time he intend* returning to the Antipodes with several labourers in the cause of Christianity, his mission being fn land’* 8 Va ° ant pIaC ° S ia the churcLes of Auck-