HANGATIKI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 99, 18 September 1908, Page 5

HANGATIKI.

o (Own Correspondent.) On September sth Mr B. Dunning and family left Hangatiki for Auckland. From thence they are going to Gisbome, where they intend to reside. Mr Dunning was one of the first to take up land here and much regret is felt at his departure. Green and Colebrook's store is now open every day. The management has been taken over by Mr Simpson, who is confident that there is a good business to be done here. If the Maoris were white men what a splendid district this couwld be. Alas why yearn for the impossible? Maoris are, I suppose, very well as tohungas, but as veterinary surgeons their methods are eivdently crude, harmful and b-iVbarous. A local resident arrived on the scene just as a party of Maoris ■were administering to the wants of a sick horse. In reply to a question, the resident said the best way to cure the horse was to give it something to eat, and let it have a chance in the world. The Maoris were of a different opinion. They got a sugar bag and having set fire to it, applied it to the horse's nose so that the smoke went up its nostrils. Beyond giving a few grunts to show that the air was a little stronger than usual, the horse did not seem to mind the smoke. When the sugar bag had burnt out a sack was applied and as the smoke rose up in dense clouds the Maoris grunted with satisfaction, and Tolled their eyes. Whereupon the horse did the same —at least it rolled its eyes. How long the smoking continued is not known; but it is surmised that the last state of that horse would be worse than the first. Later news: — The horse has almost recovered. A quantity of chaff is missing from the station. Two policemen have been seen about the district.