TURBULENT NATIVES

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 873, 24 April 1903, Page 2

TURBULENT NATIVES

lION, J. CARROLL AS PEACEMAKER. £Per Press Association),, AUCKLAND, last, night,. The .Star’s Kaiholie corresponded wires :

...“ Mr iiluomlieltl, fcj.M., presided a t the Native meeting this morning;, ire stated that he had received a telegram from Mr Carroll, staling h, would gel, the natives m Etc stirroundiug districts, including the cn.ei Euan and Ins followers, to discuss tiie quest ions in dispute. lie Impe l Unit Auao would he induced to abandon the idea of using arms and agree to .selftie Lne trouble amicably.

A MAORI’S FAITH IN TIMI KARA 'Lite usual order of interviewing was reversed yestetuay when a stalwart specimen of me Maori race caned on a 'f uncs representative to give expression to iris (tue Maori’s) views on .Lite subject of the trouble up north. He was caretui to Jirsi obtain all the latest information as Lo Lhe progress of affairs, ineluding tiie remarkable story; abouL the moulding of bullets. “Ha ! ha:” laughed Die Maori, and lie continued laughing, despite efforts to assure him that it was a serious affair. Then ite was told that the Maoris were good shots, were brave, and hadn’t lhe time to spare just to make bullets for fun. This nattered Lite listener and caused our friend to cease chuckling, and talk rationally. “.No you know,” he asked, with a look of surprise, “ that Tinri (Hon.

•J. Carroll; Jeff Kihipano to sec the Maori maket the talk?.” Questioned as to how it would he possinle for Mr Carroll, to persuade so many turbulent natives, the interviewed one looked as though lie were pitying the questioner for his ignorance. “ Why, Timi mak’it the korero,” lie said with impatience. “ But Won’t the Maoris shoot,” lhe reporter asked with as great an appearance of .sincerity as lie could command.

“ No fear,” replied the Maori," “ no fear, 1 tell you.” “ Then you think they're afraid,” was tiie rejoinder.” “ 'Braid ! No jolly fear—me links not that ; no the Maori ’/raid, let me toil you, my friend.” “ Well, haven’t they got an}' powder to use with the bullets ?”

“Plenty the powder, plenty the gun, hut they no light tile white people. All te same one people now—*we all te brother. One man lie put -Me gun lika that (in readiness to fire) he say ‘ You go ’way ’mediately, ga ’way.’ If Maori no go then pnceoman lake him quick, I tell you.” “ But where would one or two policemen be among hundreds of natives who have been talking of what they are going to do ?” “ Oh, maka plenty talk, hut not the fight. Timi Kara say the natives be happy, and then all be friends.” “ Kapai Timi Kara, eft ?” “My word yes. 1 say, my friend, me very sore throat.” The sullerer was sympathised with and advised to try Peptoehior.” “ No,” tame the meaning response, with sundry gestures, “me very dry, and no money.” “Me Prohibitionist, allee same Tik Seddon,” declared the reporter, and the Maori, retiring, retorted, “ You te hard case, me link.”

Thereupon the interview came to ai abrupt termination.