WAERENGA-A-HIKA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 54, 31 January 1884, Page 2

WAERENGA-A-HIKA.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] January 30. A party of young men returning yesterday evening from attending Mr. Higgins’ musical class at Ormond met with a dangerous accident, which narrowly escaped being attended with most serious, if not fatal, consequences ; and even as it is has resulted in severe injuries to one at least of their number. It appears that some road repairs are being executed at the township (Ormond), and large heaps or quantities of metal have been left about in the centre of the road, no light being provided to indicate the whereabouts of such dangerous obstacles. Over these the whole party seem to have come to grief, two or more of the horses falling, and in some instances pitching their riders on to the broken mullock. I regret to say that young Colley, in the employ of Mr. Colebrook, of this place, appears to have fallen on his head and sustained severe injuries, remaining insensible for some time after the accident. Such gross carelessness as the above on the part of the contractor (who is unknown to me) in not providing necessary lights cannot be too severely reprehended, and will probably form the basis of future legal proceedings.

An amusing incident occurred here the other day. There were a number of Native horses hitched on to the rails of Mr. Francis’ stockyard, when ” contrary to statute made and provided” a NgatiporoU “gamin "took a fancy to one of them, a much superior animal to his owns which was al so within the rails. Very quietly he mounted the coveted equine and, like the Arabs, quietly stole away. But, unfortunately, or otherwise, for either party, the owner of No. 2 caught a glimpse of the absconder when a quarter of a mile distant, saddled his horse, and started in hot pursuit, finally catching up and bringhorse and rider back to the hotel. An impromptu Court of Justice was at once formed among the assembled Natives, and the offender was fined £2, which he at once paid; and prosecutor and culprit having shaken hands) copious libations crowned the reconoiliatioh of all parties concerned. People hereabouts, while scarcely deeming the armed progress of Te Kooti along the Coast a fitting subject for discussion of th< Borough Council, however keenly that body may feel in the matter, yet recognise* with great gladness the true ring of the metal in Captain Porter’s very much to the purpose, though short, utterance on the subject. There is lots of vein in it, and the gallant Captain would not have to restrict himself to 500 men, I think, if he wanted them. P.S.—Narrator, with whom I am slightly acquainted, wishes you to make an example of that intractable “devil” of yours. He (Narrator) says that Ti&ki Wiwi in “Life among the Maoris ” will never forgive him, that imp before alluded to having altered the time-honored quotation, “ Bearded like a pard” to “ Bearded like a parrot?’