A MAORI ROMANCE.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 21, 26 August 1882, Page 2

A MAORI ROMANCE.

An amusing instance of misdirected good nature, on the part of a Maori, occurred at Bulls a few days ago. A native, whom we may call Matau, was sued for a debt of £10, and judgment obtained against him. As this was not paid, a j adgment summons was taken out, and afterwards a bailifL was sent to confiscate any moveabJes that might be available to satisfy the claim. The writ was valueless, and returned with the endorsement "no effects." Here the matter xested, and Matau laughed his rnemies t:> scorn. No>v for the sequel. Another Native, whom we will call jMaramara, had got into monetary difficulties, and his buggy was seized under a distress warrant, and was about to be sold on account of whom it may concern, to the great sorrow of poor Maramara, and bis friend Matau, who would thus be compelled to travel on foot like the disposed pakeha— a thing not to be borne while the English law obtained in the land. Matau came to the rescue, and swore the buggy was his. Maramara, not to be outdone in good nature, also swore the buggy- was the property of the virtuous Matau. The Court therefore ordered it to be surrendered to Matau. The happy pair left the Court, and, seated in the bug<:y, were driving through. Bulls, audibly expressing their satisfaction with the law of the land. This happiness was, like all other joys, very fleeting, for the bailiff, who had watched the whole case with a pleased sense of virtue being about to be rewarded, now came forward, and seized the buggy on the judgment obtained against the friendly Mitau. As Maramara had sworn the property was Matau's, nothing could be done but give up peaceable possession, and retire to mourn over the uncertainties of the law, and the dangers of a too-confiding friendship.