PARIHAKA SKETCHES.

Patea Mail, 23 December 1881, Page 4

PARIHAKA SKETCHES.

Those clever contributions by S. O', B. continue to appear in the Lyttelton Times. It will be remembered that when Titokowaru was charged with threatening to burn Manaia he wanted to plead guilty but was not allowed, S. C. B. gives the “ talkee-talkee ” between the interpreter and the warrior as follows : Blake : The Magistrates won’t allow yon to say you are guilty ; they say you’re not guilty. Titokowaru (wrapping his blanket around him, and preparing, with an air of satisfaction, to leave the dock) : Kapai ! (good.)

Blake : You mustn’t go ; they’re going to try you now. Titokowaru (astonished) : What do they want to try me for if they say I’m not guilty Blake ; But you might be guilty after all. Titokowaru: Well, I said at first I was, and they said I was not. Blake : Precisely, that’s it. The Bench : Tell him we have written down in the big book (holding it up) that he is “ Not Guilty.” Titokowaru ; That’s a He. I said I was guilty. The Bench (authoritatively) ; Call the first witness. Titokowaru (with an air of puzzled resign a' tion) : I always thought the pakchas were damned fools. This is very good, and probably not without foundation, W r c will cap it with a yarn of our own about S. C. B. Tins renowned “ special ” went to mother Grey's Hotel at Okato and proceeded to lake possession in a lordly fashion. " Man,” said the landlady, “Ye must never surely cuter that room ; do yc not ken it is reserved for the officers ?” Now some men would have been at a loss ; but B. drew himself up and said, “ Acquaint the guests within that General B n will do himself the honor of paying them a friendly visit. This took old mother Grey quite off her legs, and she apologised with “ Well, well, I thought yc were only a gentleman" At Griniley s hotel, Pungarehu, when anyone asked "who’s there ?” and B. happened to be in question, the invariable reply was “only a gentleman !”