WHAT THE GOVERNMENT THINK OF OF THE ESCAPE OF THE MAORI PRISONERS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 194, 30 September 1864, Page 3

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT THINK OF OF THE ESCAPE OF THE MAORI PRISONERS.

[The annexed document was, yesterday, picked up between G 1 House gate and the N e S —y’s Office. We (rust wo do not violate any Slate secret in its publication.—Southern Cross, September 11.] REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS. Council Chamber, G— 1 House, Monday Morning. Present: Sir G G— and Ministers, Sir G— (in great agitation.) “ They've gone From Hawaii T [Band, at a distance, plays She has gone from an / gaze, like a beautiful dream.~\ W if. y' ‘ f “ What ?” p X ' > All in a breath ] tt ’„„ iv L. t Mlierer G s. ) (.“When?” Sir G —. “Our native prisoners, whom von have had so long illegally in custody.” (Looking severely at IV r.) W K. “ Heh-ch-cli” F—x. “ He-hc-he” f T , R 1. “Ho-ho-ho” ( Inchorus - G s. “Ha-ha-ha” ) Sir G—. “ A very serious business. I wonder at the levity you display at such a crisis.” W—li. (gravely). “Very serious indeed. All gone? Not left us the women and children to feed, eh?” F—x (plaintively.) “ Have they taken all the nice blankets, spades, and boats I gave them ?” Sir G—. “ All gone, men, women, and children —bag and baggage.” R— Jj. “ Have they taken the hulk ?” G—S. “Perhaps the Falcon.” Sir G— (severely.) “They have taken from us, in comparison with what we have taken from them. R—l, why had you not a Militia guard over them ?” R—L- “ Prisoners of war, sir. An Imperial concern.” Sir G—. “F—x, this comes of your cruel treatment of them. I believe they left because the port wine you sent them was bad, and you only allowed them four sticks of tobacco per week !” G—s. “ O horrid ! No tobacco!” W—E. “ Quite right, F—x -, bad thing tobacco.” R—H- “No, sir, I hear it is because they are Wesleyans, and F—x, like a bigoted Churchman, sent the Rev. T. B. A. to preach to them, so they left before church on Sunday morning.” Sir G—. “ I wonder how they could do it—• leave Kawau! My faith in native taste and honor is shaken. 1 would never leave it if I could help it.” F—x. “ Want of society I expect. Dr. S—and the kangaroos did not suit them—(sotto voce) —I wish he’d stay there.” W—E. “ What is to be done?” Sir G—. “I’ll go in the M—a after them and induce them to return. F —x, you must give me supplies ; a little ground bait.” F—x. “ Certainly, sir. How many bags of Hour and sugar shall I ship for them ?” Sir G—. “ 200 prisoners—say a bag for each meantime including the women.” F—X. (to a messenger). “Go at once and ship (suddenly lowering his voice) a box of salt for their tails.” Sir G—. “I’m off then. F —x, will you come with me.” F—x. “I am very busy ; W—r, you go.” W—E. (suddenly putting up his eye-glass.) “ Looks wet, and I’ve been ill lately.”

°i 1 ’ • “Well! well! I’ll take iliein. But what am I to do with them when 1 catch them ?” W—n. “ I always said keep them.” “ Busier said than done, siou may try them.” I X. “ 1 won’t pay any more for their keep.” R L. “My militia are not to be imperial policemen any longer.” Sir G . “ Gentlemen, if you have no sympathies with the native race, I have. I shall extend to them the hospitality I afford at Kawau to kangaroos, wallabies, and other interesting specimens of humanity—l mean nature. They shall bo my g'-'efs-” _ _ [Exit.] Exeunt Ministers singing— Georgy Bopeep has lost his sheep, And dosen’t know where to find ’em ; Leave them alone—they’ll never come home, They left one fool behind them.