THE MAORIS ON RIPA ISLAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2047, 15 September 1880, Page 3

THE MAORIS ON RIPA ISLAND.

Within a very abort timo now the Maori prisoners in the Lyttelton Gaol will be moved to Eipa Island. This is rendered necessary as the Natives novr in custody at New Plymouth, and who will bo tried, it is expected, on the 23rd instant, will, if convicted, be incarcerated in the Lyttelton prison. The number of detained Natives now in the gaol is 136, and work has been in progress at the island for the past day or two preparing the way for their reception there. This has been completed, as well as seeing to the accommodation of the twenty-eight who were landed there the other day from the Hinemos. When the transfer has been made the Native population of Eipa will he larger than is within the recollection of that important and celebrated individual “ tho oldest inhabitant ” namely, 164 adults, larger than it ever was perhaps. It has been stated before that those men are in some respects mad, but their madness has a seasoning of method in it. An instance in point may ba referred to. Tho prisoners now on Eipa, it seems, have not been supplied with tho regulation Bluchers, as their countrymen in the prison have, but in this respect have bean left in exactly tho condition they arrived in— i.e , barefooted. This indeed may be called their normal condition. Whether or not they hud previous to their arrest received the joyful news of the right royal reception accorded to the pioneer fencers by tho gaol authorities is not known, fant when they were informed yesterday that they must wash out their rooms at least three times per week while they remained on the island, they naively remarked that until they wore respectably shod washing-out was of no ■use, as their bare feet carried in too much mud. Te Whiti's parting advice to them, it is said, was, “ Put the Government to all the expense you can in a quiet way,” and judging from tho scanty wardrobe they bring with them to prison, and tho exorbitant demands they have made in the way of purple and fine linen, the advice of the prophet is apparently being devoutly respected.