ARROWTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 312, 3 November 1875, Page 6

ARROWTOWN.

(from our own correspondent.) November 1, 1875. Moses Wallace, a Maori, from the Waikato, in the North Island, who has been mining in this district since the first rush, died at the Frankton Hospital last week of consumption ; and as soon as the intelligence reached the Arrow, a deputation from the Golden Arrow Lodge, 1.0. G.T., went over and brought the remains here for interment. The funeral took place on Friday last at 4 p.m. The Rev. Joshua Jones read the funeral service, as the deceased was believed to have belonged to the Church of England. About forty members of the Lodge from various parts of the district attended, as well as a number of townspeople and other residents, while the stores and hotels closed their doors during the afternoon. The Templars walked in regalia, with mourning emblems, and after the funeral service the ceremonies of the order were performed at the grave. To those who wish to see the brotherhood of the human race practically acknowledged, the spectacle was gratifying. Here was a band of settfers linked hand in hand in a circle round the grave of a tatooed native—one of the children of the former warlike and cannibal Waikatos—breathing prayers on behalf of the departed, and cheerfully incurring expense and loss of time to show respect to his memory. The natural intelligence, kindliness, honesty, and industry of which tho Maori is capable were exemplified in the case of Moses Wallace, whoso history was a remarkable one, and well worth relating. He was well known to Sir George Grey, in whose service he had been, and a brother of his is still supposed to be in his employ. Many years ago Moses was token to England with several other New Zealand natives, and introduced with them to Queen Victoria, whose robe they kissed. Moses took away with him from England a large sum of money, as the natives vere lectured upon and exhibited with profitable results. He returned to the Colonies, and was one of the original party from whom Maori Point, on the Shotover, derived its name, he being a shareholder in the rich claim which made the place famous. While working this claim, it is related that a party of rowdies jumped the claim and ordered the Maoris out ; who then left and went to tl/eir huts, but shortly reappeared in a mannor which struck terror to tho hearts of the jumpers. Stripped nearly naked, with glittering war paint, and hatchets in hand, the Mao/is were seen stealthily approaching, and me jumpers made a hasty retreat out of pe range of their avenging tomahawks. After this, they were allowed to work their «laim out quietly. Moses has been for someyears past working at Bracken's Gully, where-he was much beloved by young and old, for his sociable and kindly habits, and at his fcmeral many an eye was dimmed with tears., His circumstances of late years have not teen very good, as he had not the art of npney-keeping, and was of a very generous disposition, He had been ailing for some tine, and when taken to the hospital recently, was far advanced in disease. His ago was 49 years. The Templars intend to erect f monument over his grave, and no doubttheir conduct will be pleasing to their brethen, especially those in the North Islam.

I /egret to note that Mrs Laxton is at the Hospital, dangerously ill. The Phoenix claim will most likely turn oiv a cake of six or seven hundred ounces ths week, from 100 tons of stone.

A movement is on foot for establishing Li weekly paper in Duncdin in the intercuts of Ithe "working men."