A STAG MISTAKEN FOR THE DEVIL.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 159, 28 September 1880, Page 4

A STAG MISTAKEN FOR THE DEVIL.

Ouu correspondent at To Rore writes: l—Tlie settlersherehave had somewhat of a disappointment, as it was for a short time believed that the millennium had arrived. Some natives, a week ago, came to Mr Southern in a great state of excitement _ saying that they had caught the devil, who had been roaming about their settlement at Waitetuna. They asked Mr Southern if he had horns and cloven feet, and being told that these were popularly believed to be two of the characteristics of his personal appearance, became even more excited, and begged Mr Southern to accompany them to the settlement and see “ Taipo ” for himself, for their dogs had captured him and they had then tied him with ropes, and placed him in a whare, over which a guard was set. On the road they informed Mr Southern that “Taipo ” was a vegetarian, having eaten up the cabbages and other vegetables. Arrived at the whare Mr Southern found that the natives had captured a fine stag, an animal they had never seen or heard of, and advised them to letit go, asitwas probably one of those released some time ago down at Point Russell. The natives, however, said they would not let it loose, or, like the sparrows and pheasants, it would increase, and their cabbages would fare no better by-and-by than their oats and corn do now. They have since untied the animal, and erected a tall tea-tree fence round the whare, saying the animal is theirs, as it dropped from heaven into their settlement. — Weekly News.