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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 178, 28 July 1880, Page 4

A singular discovery waa made hy a Grahamstown housewife the other day, whilst cleaning a large mullet for dinner. The fish was a fine specimen of its kind, arid a hard round sucstance was found in its : stomach, Which proved to be a silver locket, in an excellent state of preservation. How it came to be lodged in such, a curious place, is a mystery which will never be solved. — Thames Advertiser, The Wellington correspondent of the Auckland Star writes :— As the word " takoha " frequently occurs in reference to advances made to West Coast chief s on land, the principal alleged purpose being a solatium for the extinction of mana, it may be interesting to explain the Maori view of the word. My nearest translation ia '• hush money." Maoris, however, do not so regard it. Even, brdinary presents have, an equivalent expectant value* nut "takoha'' has no aU(ih valuation in the Maori mind. In Williams' Maori dictionary, " takoha " meant carelessness in placing articles about a Maori house; but this does not express its full meaning. " Takoha " also meant gifta without consideration. In, an interview with several, chiefs to day, I learned they would use the same word with regard to the guarantees given to Maoris by the Crown under the Treaty of Waitangi. "Takoha" would also apply to land returned to a section of a conquered tribe where the original owners bad been driven off. Generally, I understand the word to be a thing given without consideration, immediate or expected ,as in con-tra-distinction from presents which, according to custom, involved a liability of the receipient to give an equivalent, hut it would only apply to chiefs.