North American Indians.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 15 January 1891, Page 2

North American Indians.

From Washington we learnt, a day or two ago, that the Secretary to to the Interior is expected to resign, owing to the President's decision to appoint military agents. The unfortunate outbreak of the Indians may have influenced the President in his decision. But what has caused the outbreak of the Indians? Our information on that point is meagre, and to get at some sort of an understanding we have to review the past and present position of these natives. Twenty years ago the great body of Indians supported themselves mainly by the chase. Now the game of the vast plains have disappeared. Of the immense herds of buffaloes that used to roam over the prairies now one is never seen. The Indians have thus been constrained by sheer necessity to settle down and do something for their own support. They despise labour deeming it ipnly fit for squaws. According to the census taken in 1880 there were on the Reservation 64000 thousand Indians who wore '♦ citizens' dress " besides 18,500 others'. Stringent laws" are supposed to exist to protect these reservations from the whites, but the land hunger has frequently led to the Indians suffering in the struggle. Hitherto the custom has been to allot a certain district to a tribe as a whole. Two years ago Senator Davies succeeded in carrying through Congress what is known as the Severalty Bill, which makes provision for giving permanent homes to families and individuals. It has been resolved to break up the reservation system, to allot to the Indians in severalty so much land as they can profitably occupy, to purchase the rest at a fair valuation and throw it opan to actual settlers. We all know the inherent love of freedom that exists in savage races, and w,e should not bD surprised that this scheme of Senator Davies is not at the bottom of tha difficulties now occuring in the States.

„ tfetiderß Idi' Catting and harvesting oats at the Oroua Downs close on Saturday. Mr and Mrs E. Osborne left on Tuesday for a trip 1 They go to Auckland; A good inaiiy carter's have already been in to see tlie specifications for carting and metalling for the Borough. Advertising well, in this instance as in all others, will pay well. . . . , . Mrs Why to is taking a holiday in Auckland. We not-de that the new Shop has been taken by Mrs and Miss Jonson. We are ill receipt of No C number of " Justice " a monthly publication published at Auckland for " Justice to a 1 ; privilege to none:" It may be so* but the whole terior of its articles appears to run entirely in favour of one class. Let it be as it may, it is a useful publication, and as long as it keeps to the statement of its views in the temperate manner it does, it will serve its purpose and deserve consideration, Manhood suffrage in the Colonies prevents our loans being evei' likely to be treated like this, the latest from Paris " The French loan of £34,000,000 was coveted sixteen times over.'' Only the trifle of 544 millions offered to the " Parley vous ' when we want so iuugu 1 Notice is given that the Valuation list for the Borough is now open for inspection We notice, despite the proximity of th c Longburn Freezing works to the Manawatu railway, that the company finds it cheaper to ship their tallow by sea via Foxton than by rail. Water carriage cannot be beaten. The times for running the Tram on mca day are now announced. It will be noticed that passengers from Bulls and Sandon will reach Foxton before the first race is l'un. The Maori Ministrels announce an entertainment for next Wednesday. This moraing Mr John Harr's was brought before .\. essrs Thynne and i ussell J. fs to obtain a prohibition order being granted forbidding the licensed houses in Foxton and Shannon supplying him with liquor. The order was made. The Foxton school is being painted inside. This is no news, as we have mentioned it before. The school is being painted lightgrecn, and we are anxious to know who chose the colonr. The room that is painted is a great improvement over the dead walls, but a light blue or gray would have looked nicer. Children are not often made bilious, if the teachers are, they must recover. The colour is enough to make any one sot Wednesday, the 12th of November was wild and stormy in the Mediterranean, and the date has been accentuated by the fact on that date 11. M.5. Serpent, a new twinscrew cruiser was wrecked on the rock* off Cape Buey. Bustling along, in almost the same place, and at the same time, was the mail steamer Tongariro on her voyage from New Zealand to London. Amongst her passengers was Mr F. G* Andrews. The accident that cast the Serpent on the rocks was owing to the previous bad weather experienced, and which the Tongariro felt. Near the site of the wreck, Cape JJuey, the blades of the propeller of the Tongariro gave way, and she had a near shave of sharing the fate of the man-of-war. However she has reached London, all well on board, and we know all Mr Andrew's many friends will be glad to hear of his safe arrival. A little mild excitement was created vfs'eiday morning by the Queen of the 'South iiying all her bunting. The first conclusion jumped at was, that her popular local agent " had been and gone and done it " by committing matrimony. Upon inquiry we found that as yet this was not so. It was then surmised that t was the Captain's birthday and an outing was intended. Alas ! that also was not the fact, the captain having given up keeping a " tally " of the flying years The most probable reason was the last to be expected, and that was that they were hoisted for airiug and repairing, yet that was so. The Feikling Brass Band contest which is to take place on March the 27th and 28th has closed with eight entries viz : — From Wellington, the garrison, Gray's and Jenkin's band ; the Woodvil.e, Palmerston Fire Brigade, Feikling, Marton Koyal Itifle, and \\ angauui Town bands. Over^£so will be given in prizes. Six hundred acres of the well-known Oroua Downs Estate have been sold to MiBrooks, a Canterbury gentleman (says the Manawatu Times). Mr E 1 J. South has also been successful in selling his partly improved farm at Fitzherbert, to Messrs Knight Bros., also of Canterbury. The price in either transaction has not transpired. Land in the Manawatu district seems to be at a premium just now, as an Australian gentleman is also on the look out for an improved farm of about 500 acres in this district. At the Wellington Magistrate's Court yesterday, Daniel Jobberns, late of Palmerston North, was charged with obtaining goods to the value of £500 from Arthur and Co., of Glasgow, by alleged false pretences, and remanded till Friday. The Kahu reports that among the wreckage found at the Chatham Islands were Maori weapons, curios, carved bowls, and canoes (presumably part of Sir Walter Buller's collection), a cask of oil (1 C over Napier), ships' rockets, etc. The Chatham Island natives continue strenuously to resist the dog tax. On January Bth two natives who refused to pay were summoned to Court, |when the who'e tribe came, saying that if the officials took one they must take all. The officials were unable to do anything, and the natives, after dancing a haka, went home. From Masterton, we learn the fire which originated on Saturday on the Upper Plain has done an enormous amount of damage. Two miles of country has been devastated, fenoes, stock and houses falling before the| flames. Five houses are known to have been destroyed. The following notification appears in the Home papers: — William Henry and Kate Cook (nee Stone), of Bermondsey, London, S.E., were last heard of, he as railway guard, at Foxton, Manawatu, Wellington, New Zealand, in 1885. Kate's invalid mother inquires. An amusing incident was witnessed at the last Marton races, says the Press. It seems the latest device of the " spieling " fraternity for relieving" innoce 'ts abroad " of their spare dollars is as follows: — well dressed and respectable-looking " spieler " just before the machine closes, rushes up to an unsuspecting bystander and asks him to join in a ticket on a certain hor-e. In nine cases out of ten the dodge works, and Mr " Spieler " takes out the ticket, and, in the event of the horse winning, draws the dividend. While the race is being run, however, he changes his hat, and when ace >sted by the dupe for his share of the dividend, looks in bank astonishment and says " I know you not." Of course the victim had no remedy. One of the gulls, however, took the 'aw into his ' hands, and being a " whale " with his fists, gave Mr " Spieler " a sound thumping, and what was worse for that" Heathen Chinee," forced him to hand over the coin, I much to the amusement and sa isfacfion of an admiring British Public.

' Referring to the cocksfoot harvest, the Akaroa Mail says:— "The late dry weather has had a bad dffedt On the seed grown on the lower levels, arid much of it will be very light, tfpon the hills, however, the cocksfoot is very heavy, thick, and clean. No better seed has ever been grown on the Peninsula than that growing at the top of Le Bon's, Okain's and right along the summit, and there will be heavy yields. Cutting will soon commence, as the seed is fast ripening, and is so al - ready in some parts where the land is stony, One man in Little Akaroa, "we hear has already commenced to cut, and during the next fortnight many will start." Preferential creditors in the estate of George Robertson says the Standard will be pleased to learn that there are ample funds in the Official Assignee's hand 3to pay all wages owing As a large amount was due to the flax hands employed at the' Scott's fFerry mill, this will be good news to them. The Cash Clearing Sale of Jobberns & Co. Bankrupt Stock by Boss & Sandford, in Main Street, Foxton is. still proceeding with unabated interest. Cash purchasers of Drapery & Clothing are invited to pay an early visit of inspection. Boss & Sandford.

Wanted, all ladies to see our last shipment for the season of white embroidered muslin robes, very choice, from 8s 6d to 42a, at Te Aro House, Wellington. Wanted, everyone to see and buy, 4button kid gloves, superior quality, usual price 2s lid, fos Is 11s. As 500 pairs of these have been already sold, no time should be lost in securing them at Te Aro House, Wellington. Wanted, aye wanted, 500 customers for ladies' beaded vieites at 2s lid, summer ulsters at 4s lid and 7s 6d, jerseys at 2s lid, 4s lid, garibaldys at 2s 6d, 2s lid, Ss Od, print skirts at Is lid, felt skirts at Is lid, dust cloaks, new styles, 8s 6d, at Te Aro House, Wellington. Wanted, aye wanted, all the young ladies of the city to visit our showroom and select from the most beautiful assortment in the city their hats for the holidays, at Te Aro House, Wellington. Wanted, all mothers to see our picnic hats for the girls from 2s to 6d each, and our boy's straw hats from 3s to Is each, at Te Aro House, Wellington.