THE INTRODUCTION OF HORSES TO TARANAKI.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 287, 4 September 1874, Page 3

THE INTRODUCTION OF HORSES TO TARANAKI.

• Mr: E. J. Wakefield thus decribes the panic of the Maories on the Coast between' Wanganui and Fatea when the 7 first sawa horse :—" I-was not seen by the inhabitants of" the pa until close to the river Wenuakura. . They then ran down to the beach. By . this time I had plunged into -the-riveiy which her flows over soft and shining sands. The horse's ' body was nearly hidden ; and though many of my 'old friends here had"recognised me and shouted.' Tiraweka! 'Hseivmai!' they evidently thought that a native was carrying me on his shoulders.' There "were now nearly a-hundred : natives collected; many of whom had never seen'' a horse before, crowding over - each other to give me the first greeting. ' With two or three vigorous plunges the horse suddenly emerged from the water and bore me into the middle of them Such a complete panic can hardly be imagined. They fled' yelling in all directions, without looking behind them: and as fast as I galloped past those who running-across the sandy flat.and up the steep path leading- to the Tihoe pa, they fairly lay down on their faces, and gave themselves'.up for lost. Half-way up the hill I dismounted, and they plucked up courage to come and look at the kuri" nui or ' large dog ' The most amusing questions were put to' me as to its habits and disposition. ' Can he talk V said one ; ' Does he like - boiled potatoes V said another, 'and a third, ' Musn't he have a blanket to lie down upon at night V This unbounded respect and admiration lusted till the time-that: I remained. The horse' was taken into the central court 'yard of the pa ; a dozen hands were always offering him Indian corn, grass, and sow thistles when they had learned what he really did eat; and a wooden bowl full' of water was kept constantly replenished close to him. And little knots of curious observers sat round the ehcle of Lis tether rope, remarking and conjecturing and disputing, about the meaning and intention of every whisk of histail or shake of his ears." \W Williams was at .Waikanae with some burses, for the purpose of establishing a mission there, lie also ca-.i.e

up the coast as far as the Sugar boaves, leaving books and native catechists at Oiumatua, near- to Opunake, but it is doubtful whether he brought a horse with him. When the. William Bryan arrived the only horses in the district were a mare and foal belonging to Richard Barrett, and shortly afterwards the mare was killed by falling in a Maori pit. The first horse hnded on the beach was brought from E>--whio in a sailing vessel, for the use of Mr.Creed, the Wesleyan Missionary As soon as it reached the shore'* William Marshall leaped upon its back, and 'rode up and down the beach. On 24th Oc« tober, 1841, the animal being ill, Mr. Creed brought it ro the tent of a gentleman who possessed some knowledge of veterinary art, for the purpose of getting it bled. William Marshall who vvas near at the time, took-hold of the animal's foreleg, which caused it to paw and strike him in the abdomen. The kick was,, so severe that the poor man' died two days afterwards. The horse was a large' awkward creature, which had been spoilt by the Natives in their unskilful attempts to break him in. He was for many .years attached to the Mission Station at Wainiate, and while here,,killed a Maori. He died at last of old age."—' Tribune.' .- '

The '-Greymouth Star' thus neatly refers -to a recent matrimonial venture:'—' \ " In another place we announce the marriageof Mr. Sale, formerly Commissioner at Hokitika, to a lady named Fortune. It is not surprising that a lady with such an attractive title should secure a ready Sale in the matrimonial market, and we sincerely congratulate the gentleman in' having succeeded in reducing the number of Miss Fortunes that, alas, are "too numerous in this world."