ALONG THE COAST.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1084, 8 June 1882, Page 2

ALONG THE COAST.

Fortiter ferendo vincitur malum quod non evitari potest. Te Awanui, June 1, 1882. Some excitement was caused in our small community last week, by the arrest of a Native named Hoani Whanautaua, on the charge of “shooting at one Poriki Tangairi with intent to do grievous bodily harm.” The case was heard at Te Awanui, before Captain Preece, R.M., on the 26th ult., and after a very careful and patient hearing, the statements of the different witnesses, and a lengthened story by the prisoner, it ended in the information being dismissed. The facts as shown by the evidence, pointed to nothing more than a senseless piece of skylarking, and buffoonery, every way worthy of the “ noble savage ” and other animals who uphold him in his idiotic ways. One man loads his gun with powder only, and fires at another 100 yards off; the man fired at declines to believe in this kind of practical joke, so informs on the man who fired at him, but as he could not prove that the gun was ever discharged in his direction, the other fellow gets off with a reprimand for fooling round with fire arms. The works at the Southern Cross Petroleum Company’s ground, Rotokautuku, are again stopped; this time for want of men, throe having left to-day for Gisborne , and as the contractor had ample notice given him (15 days) to enable him to replace them, he has only himself to blame in the matter, if it does touch his pocket. It is not at all likely the Company will submit to detention of this kind, that might in the ordinary way have been obviated, The shaft is down 71 feet, and the emissiongof gas has increased greatly during the sinking of the last ten feet. Mr Clarke visited the works on Wednesday evening, and left again the same night for Waipiroto catch tho steamer. The Autumn Meeting of the Waiapu Race Club came off on the 21th ultimo, at the Kakariki course ; the weather was fine, and there was a fair attendance of spectators ; the festivities of the day were brought to a close by a “ grand ball ” in the evening at Te Awanui,

and as far as I could judge, everyone eeemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The Antonio Martini lately arrested at Opotiki for the theft of a horse belonging to Mr F. Parker of your town, was a very short time ago, a resident of this district. .Some three months back he entered into partnership with one Watene Tukino, a publican living on the other side from this of the Waiapu river, in 1 is way : He was to look after Walene’s stock and receive half the increase for his trouble ; the stock consisting of cattle, horses, and pigs. Ipse J acto, he had a good thing on with the said publican, if he had known what ho was about-; but some short time ago he disappeared with one of the horses, and the next thing we heard of him, was his arrest at Opol iki. Kokako.