EXCITING SCENE IN THE WAIARARAPA.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1904, 1 April 1880, Page 3

EXCITING SCENE IN THE WAIARARAPA.

During the lato fl ods in the Waiararapa an exciting scene, the particulars of which are communicated to us (Wellington "Post") by a correspondent, occurred on one o£ tho stations. It appears that on Monday, March 22nd, when the fknd was at ita height, a Maori was seen in imminent peril on a log abaut half a mile from the house referred to, being rapidly borne down towards tho river by the current. Soon afterwards the log caught in a wire fence, and the Maori was enabled to stand upon it, but was unable to eet away on account of the current. As soon as possiblo a party from the station went to the rescue in a canoo, but tho powerful current carried them down on to a small island, from whence they had great difficulty in reaching the Native on account of the ourrent. Eventually they did succeed however in rescuing him from his perilous position. If they had been a few minutes later, the Maori (Isaac King, son of a great, chief in tho district) would inevitably havo been drowned, as he was completely numbed by the cold. He gave the following reason for his mad act in attempting to swim over to the station : About a milo and a half from tho house two or three old Maoris were living. They were completely cut off from the high land, aB tho Hood rose so quickly, and tho water soon compelled them to take r :fugo on the tops of their whares, where thoy were obliged to stop for two nights without food or shelter until King saw them. Ho then attempted to swim iu to the homestead, a distance of about a mile, for assistance. King, after having regained his strength, went to the rescue of the othor natives in the canoe, and landed them safely. The old natives on the whares had given up all hope of being saT«d, and were patiently waiting for the water to sweep them off. Both the Maori King and his European rescuers deserve great credit for their plucky conduct.