MISCELLANEOUS.

Otaki Mail, 11 January 1922, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

An amusing experience is related by a'New Zealander who recently returned from a trip to the Far East. He was travelling on a Japanese vessel when one day the Mikado’s birthday came round. Tiie ship was beflagged and otherwise decorated, a grand parade of the crew was held and all men who could be spared duty were given time off. This privilege extended to tlte bathroom - stewards, arid in order titat passengers-might know that they must carry on their ablutions unaided the following quaint example of English was posted in the bathrooms: “In honour of the Emperor’s birthday, no baths to-day.”

Wednesday was lire 53rd anniversary of tiie commencement, of the assault that ended in tiie capture of the Ngatapa pa, in tiie Poverty Bay district, tire mountain stronghold of the rebel Te Kooti. After the siege had been in progress for several days, Major-General (then Colonel) G. S. Whitmore decided to make an immediate attack on January 1 in order to prevent the enemy escaping from the rear of the fortress. A concealed movement was accordingly carried out, and the right and left extremities lof the outer wall were seized, the j intention being to blow up the inn*r J lines. The operation was nearly com- ; plstea at dawn next morning, when 'it was learnt that the enemy were escaping. The fortification was imrae- ! diately entered, and it was found that Te Kooti had made off, lowering his * men, and some of the women down i the steepest! and therefore leapt * guarded, part of the cliff. A large i portion of the native force was at once | in eager pursuit, and by sundown ihe ' number of killed, either in the pa or iin the pursuit, had reached 20. By the evening of the' following'day most of ! the pursuers had returned, bringing (wo of Te Kooti’s wives. Of his followers 36' were killed. Major Ropata, N.Z.C., who was chief of the Ngatiporou tribe, and Colonel T. W. Porter, 1 C. 8., were in ’charge of the friendly j natives, and were assisted by Captain Preece, N.Z.C. (now of Palmerston North), and Captain Gundry. Mr Walter Delaney/of Whangarei, who was ODly 12 or 13 years ojd at the time, was bugler to the native division.