HIROKI AND NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 373, 13 November 1878, Page 2

HIROKI AND NATIVE AFFAIRS.

[From the Auckland Herald of 2nd November.] We have received several interesting items of news from Waikato, which we give as they have reached us. There have been communications between the prophet Te Whiti, at Parihaka, and Rewi, with respect to Hiroki, who murdered John McLean at Momahaki. Of course Hiroki is anxious to tell such a story as will tend to excuse himself in the eyes of the natives, and that version; we need hardly say, is likely to ho adopted by many of the Maoris at Parihaka and elsewhere..

Hiroki, it seems, is wounded, but not in the serious manner reported, and, as he says, not by the search party. His statement is that he was wounded by the man who was killed. Pie says that McLean was in the habit of shooting native pigs. Three times he was cautioned not to shoot any more, and their he was told that if lie shot any more he would be killed. He was beard shooting again; and Hiroki went looking for him, taking his gun with him. As soon.as McLean saw Hiroki with a gun; he fired, wounding the native, who returned the fire, killing him the first shot. Hiroki was wounded in the stomach; the ball coming out at the bade.

This is an unlikely story on the face of it, and is at variance with the circumstances, so far as known, but Hiroki tells it with the view of obtaining sympathy and shelter; and has forwarded it to Rewi, at Waitara; If the story were true, the survey party must have a gun missing. Had the circumstances been as now stated by Hiroki, and he was wounded by McLean,; why did he leave the place at all ? The question whether he was wounded by McLean or by the. search party, might have been settled had .a surgeon beeri present to have examined him when he arrived at Parihaka, as the appearance of the wound would have told the time when it was inflicted. . , . It will bo observed that Hiroki makes no attempt to find any political excuse for the murder, and does not say that it was on account of the survey of the block. The natives would at once discern the falsity of such an excuse: At all events what we want to do is to get Hiroki, in order to give him a fair trial, and Te Whiti must be maqfee'td give him up for that purpose. As to Rewi, it.is said that he intends, to return to Waikato about the 9th of November. He has asked, or. will ask; Mr Sheehan to meet lain Indore he leaves; but what will be done about the March meeting we have not heard.. Te Whiti is, it is said, trying to undermine the power of both Tawhiao and Rewi, and report says that is the reason why Rewi is thinking about leaving Waitara; so as to leave Te Whiti and his people to settle directly with Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan. Rewi will take up his residence again at Panin; Te Whiti has started another god, who is to do wonders for tho natives. We have no objections to his doing anything for them, providing he docs not incite them to break the peace, which would be bad for all parties concerned. It is said that a large party of natives are about to leave Te Kr.iti, on the Upper Waipa, for Te Wind’s settlement, but wbat their purpose is wo cannot say.

[From the Taranaki Herald , 7th Nov.l

Heroki is still at Parihaka. His wound is healing, and there is no likelihood of his dying from its effects. He was shot by the search party hoar Opunake; and the bullet hit him under the short rib on the right side, and passed through his body, taking with it. six matches, and three gun caps, which; Maori-like, he had wrapped up 1 in his shirt. The wound could not have bled externally, because Heroki states that he was not aware he was hit until half-a-mile from the spot where he was fired at. Those who have seen him say he talks with much bravado.

A different version of the .murder c| McLean, at Waitotaia, to. that a!r. a y published has readied us ; and is, in all probability, the correct one, seeing that it comes direct irom Heroki himself. Our informant states that he saw Heroki on Saturday ■ last, and in talking with him, gathered the following particulars of the affair': Hefoki said lih father; belonged to the Ngaiiuiauiapoto, and his mother to the Ng-atiruanuis. The land now being surveyed, belonged, he said, to his father, and he objected to its being sold. Oh the day in question he went to meet two Maories who had given the land over to the Europeans. Tic came across one of theni, but the other he found had gone to Wanganui, lie asked that native il the survey could bo stopped, and be was told it would not. Ho says that he then went for his gun, and, having loaded it, made up Ids mind to shoot the two natives. On coming back to the spot again the Maori was not there, but he saw a European with a gun. The European cocked bis gun, and pointed it at him, 'so be says be up witli Ids gun and “let fly.” Ho then left the spot find made for Parihaka. Ho saw no one until he reached a place near Opunahc. As ho was going along ho suddenly eneoiui 'torecl a native lie did not know, who looked at hith and then fired, lie threw off his blanket and made for cover, saying “ you can take that, but yon 'shall never take me alive.” He then quietly made Ids way to 'Parihaka, where lio'khew ho would bo safe. Our informant "told him that he might imagine he was safe, but if he was #alght he would be tried like Kereopa. If found guilty he would be hung; but 'if it was proved otherwise, he would be and ho would then bo a credit 'tci the Maoris of New Zealand. Heroki, however, said he would not give himself 'up or lot anyone take him alive. To Whiti, wo hoar is not likely to 'surrender Heroki to anyone but Itcwi ‘and Mr Sheehan. If that chief and the Native Minister .go to Parihaki together, and ask for Heroki, To Whiti will hand him over to them, but if Mr ■ Sheehan goes alone, he will be told to c boni3 the next day, when .he. will find the murderer of McLean has left the •place. Well-dressed Men— Among those habitual errors of conduct which arc common in both careful and careless persons, not one is more often met with than disregard of the advantages derivable from being well dressed; ■yet whoever lives observantly in such a County as Fa tea, is soon convinced that this inistake is fruitful of mischievous results. All |of us instinctively judge from first impressions; •we proceed from the exterior to the interior; ■a well-dressed man gratifies our fondness for .bcauiy and our appreciation of neatness; and there is no one. however cynical or unobservant, but is plca-cd when a well-dressed person, even if a stranger, passes by, and disposed to think favorably of him. This universal disposition cannot safely be offended. To be habitually a sloven is to constantly, though unconsciously, offend numerous persons, among whom the favour of some may be Valuable; and therefore a shrewd man is not content to make him-elf neat now and then, but always will' appear well dressed. He been ; his clothes in good order, and is careful Tn the selection of a tailor. In bringing this maxim before public notice. It. A. Adams. Cardigan House, is ■gratified by remembering that the disposition of a great many of hi.s customers to appear in public well dressed has been met by the combination in Iris goods of selection, material good fit. and low price, lie obtains his cloths in tho most advantageous markets he employs first-class cutters and workmen; he avoids obsolete fashions; and he is con:cut with 'moderate profits in the place or the exorbitant percentage which oilly a few year* ago was universal, and still is frequent in the tailoring .trade. His gloves, hats, shirts, hosiery, ties, and scarfs, are also such as will please the most fastidious. Whatever experience, capital, care, and good taste can effect on the tradesman’s side, is done by It. A. Adams, in order ■iTia/fc nil Ills customers mny fclic scio—stantial advantages of being well-dressed; and that his efforts give satisfaction, is shown by the rapid and steady increase in the ' number of those who deal with him. Attentive to the changes of costume necessitated by varying seasons, and of style by the ‘dictatee of fashion, R. A. Adams has now on hand a .large and carefully selected stock of cloths suitable for all seasons. —It. A. ADAMS Cardigan House, Carlyle.—advt. : j IM ; n [L| ,y