Violet Mayson's Visit to Maoriland. TALE OF THE TARAWERA ERUPTION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 329, 29 December 1888, Page 3

Violet Mayson's Visit to Maoriland. TALE OF THE TARAWERA ERUPTION.

By Mrs. W. RATTARY.

UT on" your things, it you like now. Constance, the Bteamer is signalled " inside Tiritiri. " She won't be iip to the wharf for an hour or two j but 'I know you will fancy it is easier to vrait where you can watch for her appearance round the North Head, than up here, where you c»n only imagine it.' And the speaker, '« . pleasant-looking, somewhat sunburnt man, flung his hat on the table and deposited his broad-shouldered, well-made frame in an easy-chair. His wife who was sitting bythe window, rose up in some excitement, .letting her .work fall as she did so. John !' she exclaimed, * thfc Aorangi, -.and inside Tiritiri ! _ Isn't that just beyond Rangitoto ? \SKa will be here directly. X won't be a minute dressing ! ' and she was leaving the room when her husband stopped her. 'Wait a moment, dear. After all it might riot be the Aorangi ; it might, be a Sydney steamer, so don't build too much on seeing your sister so soon.' [ Constance slowly crossed the room. ' Oh, John, how horrid. of you to say tbafc ! Just when my hopes were raised to the, highest poinfe you dash them to the ground. You know it is six years since I saw Violet or any of my relations, and, of course, I am longing for the steamer to brine her to us. But 1 cannot wait here ; let us go down fco the wharf,' and she quieted the room to reappear in an incredibly shorb time with her hat and gloves on, and her sunshade in her hand. ' Ready ? ' asked John ; and they left the Star Hotel and made their way to the Queenstreet wharf. John Fewart was the eldest son of parents who had come out to New Zealand when he was a mere lad. They had tw.o other children, a girl — now married, and settled in the South Island— and another boy, named Claude. When Mr and Mrs Fewart died, the two young men, John and Claude, resolved to go further into the country, and take up ,^land there under the homestead system. ."VJThey had to make no payment for the land, "' ihe^only cost to them being the expense of survey. They had lived .on it five years, had built a house, and cultivated considerably more than the area necessary for tho fulfilment of ' the conditions under which they took up tho land. They had done very well, they both agreed, and.Jobn thought he might venture on a trip to England. While on a vi?ib to' an uncle, of his in Brighton, he met Mis 9 Constance Mayson, and persuaded her to accompany him on his return to his New Tlealand home. •After six ytears 'absence from England, no . wonder that on this eventful morning Constance'Fewart was somewhat excited at the prospect of meeting her youngest sister v iolet, who was due by the direct steamer Aorangi, coming to pay a six months' visit to the little-known colony of New ' Zealand. ' What a glorious morning ! and what ar» Exquisite picture this Waitemata harbour makes ! ' cried Constance es they reached 'the wharf. 'Just look at ihe Italian blue \ the' sky and sea',, and' --'that quaint old >'■ mountain out there, Rangitbtd. Have you -' ever climbed to the topj John ? ' ;-" ' Y.es, once, and I cap tell you that I have" • no. wish to do it again". 5 * Wby, is it so rough ? .and, by the by, how did you get 'there, isri.'t' it .an island ? ' queried Mrs' Fewart, carefully keeping her "eyes fixed on*"[t£je"part of the sea between j.the extinct >61cano under ' discussion and \ \tfie"opp'bsite-iirorth Head j forbetween these "2fcwo lies the entrance to the Auckland *'"'aiu:bour,~ and every minute she expected to --;, 3ee.smpke beyond the North Shore, which would ' b'etqken the advent of the much 'desired* vessel. ""' ' l How did' l get to Rangitoto ? ' said John. ~"*'oh, in a boat of course. One Saturday several young fellows and I rowed acrosa ihe Waitemata, and proceeded ♦o climb the bill. Tt looks easy from.here, but we found- ' it hard enough "work to "reach the summit, ' I can tell you, and our clothes were literally in rags, and our boots absolutely cut to nieces before we got down again. There •he is!' he exclaimed. 'There's the - "Aorangi, and now where's Violet ? ' ' ' !As the' steamer came slowly alongside the wharf to Mer berth on the outer tee, Mr and "Mrs Fewart anxiously scanned the crowded deck, to discover, if possible, their •iater. ._* ' 'Give her up,' muttered John at last. *So son v for your disappointment, dear,' he *. added. , 'Oh ! look though !' cried Constance, * there is pome one waving to us. But that ' x "can 'ib.be Violet' But it was the youngest \"Miss Mayson, grown from a romping girl of *" thirteen into a sweet, sparkling maiden of 3 nineteen. Most heartily the sisters ■"emjjraced, whilst John made inquiries after ", luggage.' They decided to walk up to the • "hotel, and let an expressman bring up the 'cabin luggage. 'How very pretty Auckland is,' Violet 11 [was "saying over and over again. 'After ""we'had passed the, " Great Barrier," ' I think they said, all the way coming in 1 ' between those headlands was just lovely. ."What does that long name, Rangi — jaome-. mean, John ? It's so funny to "see it (~ ( ~ looking- jus.t the same shape this side as it did from -the other side when we were " Ilj coming' up.' j ' .Jphn laughed. r 'Why, you are as much . interested in Mount Rangitoto ac Constance, 'is. ""Soliie people are never satisfied until it they^ //"know-all about" 'anything that! their curiosity,' so I will tell you all I - % /k'nbw" about t thafc extinct volcano, Rarigi-< .'•tot'o.^ It is '620 feet "in height, and the 'Maoris say they do not remember any '"jerup^tibn taking place, though, as the name '^ means " bloody sky," I fancy' it is not so •^&a*n'ycenturies'ag6 'as perhaps you would 'like since flames were seen issuing from the , £ra"ter.' ■i don't frighten her, ,John, 'exclaimed \4 *n?* ia . nc <b^. n 9 °.Q. Q . c . here is the le'ast'alarmed, : 2^° ufc XX o lcan6es. ' "Why, "just look at' Mount) Sl?. n ! <Ch'ere are qo s od villas and' cottages - titt?» a J?y b^ Quits slopes : and oii'Mount ' i ■!#-.' toa * They" both' were orice active , .?Jf£ no , ce s sis 'i II f „y°u are riot too tired.'Violeb, ' '?£?«*?!" > fcak S yS^'up'to^Hqunt Eden'this , ; Afternoon ; the view from the' top is magni-. 'ficenfc .' , k ' ; .• ,-'7,^^ .Promptly .tlisoUlinfed any 'feeling ", OF UUfjfap, so>s>r' lunch %h e y ' took"a ! cab' n'j"s d^7 c .? ufc 'Prepared to^jW' Violet , /c «P m^ <$ the .beauties .of ' Auckland .'' The «.™s&il eea - " a^yvfe^qlf ;time; and oho he .^? c , marks muc l) amused CohßtanceJ who' " i ?t i^l li ?P e i^o h ? w »'o n ". J ?V fir^ arrival,' the' om fTP^] lar itieB had^stfuck her, though ..^now.she^as so much accustomed to them she forgot' to notice them. JiM-j-^ 01 ? 1 ' ha ve ' any /one- horse" flys,' "l_ere'?' ifaid "her lively "sis&r, «or are^ you

all so wealthy you always drive about in a ■"carriage and pair ?' • The^e ore hansoms,' paid Constance,; 'Private one - hor?e vehicles r^are' always' called "buggies,"' please to remember, "Violet. ' ." ' Buggy $ is the generic name out here v for aH'carriages,' put in John. 'You cunt go "-Very far wrong if you style everything on wheels a " b"tiggy." ' . •' Including bicycles?' observed' his sister-in-law, slyly, as one just passed them. do they manage ' With all the.«o hills? I expect tint is why 'aU your cabs have two horses. How colonial it 160k.« to' see verandahs to all the shops ! I should think it is very convenient in wet weather.' ',But wo don't have the wet weather ybff have in England, Yiolefc. You must know that we consider our climate the finestin the world.' And John drew a long breath as though to test the truth of his 'remark. • Don't dose Violet with the climate at present,' pleaded Constance; 'she will hear enough about that from everyone olse.' The view from. Mount Eden was indeed magnificent; Violet was fain to own, as John pointed out the entrance to tho harbour, with the Barrier Islands in the distance ; and then, turning her back on Auckland, Violet was shown the port of Onehunga on the other side the isthmus. « Where do you live ?' asked Violet ; ' I mean in which direction is it ? ' ' You are looking in the wrong quarter for our homestead. Turn more towards tho south-east. See, over there Bomewhere is Tauranga, that's our port ; we live nearly twenty miles from there,' answered John. • And how do you get there ? ' ' We take a small steamer from the Auckland wharf down to Tauranga, and then \dnve*up to our own place. We must stay k feW'days in Auckland~to show you all we can, and then return home. I expect my brother Claude will have- had about fenough of the three children by that rime ' The week proved a most enjoyable one. Mrand Mrs Fewart were Very glad of the opportunity to see'whafc changes six years had wrought in -'the city and suburbs, and were much amazed at the < rapid growth of fche latter. - Houses and gardens seemed to , have sprung up by magic on what? had been< vacant allotments. The trees in the two city i parks had grown wonderfully, and some of the * streets were - altered p«sfl recognition. Mrs Fewart had'a goodly number ofpui!-i chases to make. Everything was muck] cheaper in the town than in the countfy,' and Violet, who accompanied" her sister, regretted she had brought so many dresse* with her. 'For, really,' she said, 'the things her© are so stylish and Reasonable, I need nob, have troubled myself about importing tha latest from London to display to the^admicing natives.' ' j 'The Maoris do riot study the la^fesb fashions as a rule,' observed Constancy. ' Just look at those two women ! One has a man's hat, a black cloth jacket, and a red print gown, -no shoes or stockings ; and the other has a fairly decent straw hat, a bright coloured shawl with a picaninny tucked in its folds behind, a dark stuff dress, and heavy boots which seem uncomfortably large. Both, of course, have a short- pipe between their lovely white teeth.' ' I see some of the Tnale Maoris wearing European costume entirely,' said Violet. 'Of course they do Why, come of them am perfectly civilised. I don't know much about those near Auckland. You must sec them in their own pahs to judge what they arc really like. One woman went in to Tnuranga and gob her photograph* taken. She squatted down in our verandah and gave it me to look at. • It's very good,' I said. She shook her head in greats disgust. • Bat not like me, dat dark, me fair ! mo fair!"' Violet laughed/ 'Conceited old thing. Bub Constance,' she added, abruptly changing the subject, .' how very cheap meat seems to be,' as they paused for a moment in front of a butcher's -shop in Queen-street, intending to return to their hotel by making a tour ot Pitt-street and Ho bson -street. ' Yeo,' answered Constance, c I must own I was surprised to find it had come down so low. Now look at that nice piece of -sirloin* only 3d a pound, and think what you would have to pay in England. Of course it's dearer if you get it from the grand bufiness part of Queen-street, for instance ; but this is just as good, I fancy.' Violet suppressed a yawn. 'After alii don't think I am very much interested in the price of meat, but I am interested- in the question of afternoon tea. Do you know, Constance, I am so thirsty V Mrs' Fewart laughed. 'I know one or two people down that other street. Leb.me pee ? It's Vrs Robertsons • ' at home " day. We will call on her and see if she wjill take pity on your state. But who is your friend, Violet?' she inquired, as a rather nicelooking gentleman passed them, raising hia hob with a pleased smile of recognition, which called up a slight blush on the young lady's cheeks. ' Oh, that is Mr Acton, one of our fellow- - passengers. He was very kind to me coming out.' Constance was silent, wondering in her own mind, whether this Mr Acton would nob seriously interfere with a little castle-, in-the'-air thab she had been very interested, in building ever since Violeb's letter announcing her proposed visit had gladdened her sister's heart. lls he married V fhe asked at length, and Violeb's thoughts must have been.! dwelling on the same subject; for she did not ask to whom the pronoun referred, but promptly "replied, with a mischievous glance into her sister's rather grave face, • No ; and Constance, he is so nice, and very well off, too ■? 'Did he tell you thathimself ?' /Do you- suppose I asked him f retorted Violet. '* There was a lady on board who had known Him at home, and she told me about him,' and Violet's eyes danced with fun, for from the 'way Constance had praised Claude at different' times ft was nob difficult for the quick-witted girl to guess her ' hopes. * • 'This is Mrs .Robertson's,' said Constance, and they. went in. t When alone with her husband* that evening; Mrs Fewarb'said : , ' John, I'm" afraid ; there's no chance for Claude. • Violet" .«eemB very' much taken with a Mr Acton' s 'whora she met' on the voyage. We passed him in'Fitt-street this afternoon, and, though "they" 'did not speak, ohev seemed so pleased to see each other.' 1 How you WomesnVfo'Jump at conclusions,' remarked' John.^ "'Npw.'rrf'beK anything you like she'd look just aspl&ls'ed' to' "meet any "old" fogy 1 ' ofttfem' all. '' '""After being 'feilow-'rjasWngers so' long it's brity Natural they should b6 ! pleased "to see a.friendly 1 face 'amongst such a<cr6wd of strangers. 1 J! Well, anyhow," John, "<"6< make/ some inquiries about him;atoci'if lie is all'riglit, you /might"asU':hira i .here 4 *to l dinfier.' . '- • Shall I'cabliM gcHtla'nd'YaVd to'-getf if " he is kricrtvn' thei } c? >! 'flaid l/Mr"Fewart,''te*B'inW, 'or shWl aSk th'^captairi' Jf ' he'^a's afet&l&i picking : 'any&Hd's *pdoket ' on 1 r the way out ? Or, let_mg.pee, .what arethWtVp" deadly, sins in your~digcalogue ? Oh, yes, drinking and card- ( p[ayingiop,money 1 - AJI •rjight, : j'.can asU' Violent tVmoTrow about 'Dear Johnf'db b^serious"'fof once j Jjb'n really very important tfff find out' all aboutl him. ' , V-iolef-iB'Jin'<"our ; care"nW, ( ahd lam not going'to^eft'he^be^tßl^'away-'frbm uq (

without knowing something of the would be tbief.' ; t ' ,''* ' u , V, ' '„, ',-.-« , • r^pU l l^said ,Jphn^ sleepily}- very' bhahkfuronly'dne of yoursiBt'era/daplb f ou'<j. f ETad fcwo been thrown on my hands, Tie fasj* cinating a^ Vbu t i%ific[ t -'V l ifefe'fc, Il4UdulI l 4UduId r hifviß bad tb^SiiStld t!f£*ft& of 'my dfiytstis a sorb"" of pri vate»de£edti^e, 'tf^in'K J td> h'n>roii t• • all *%'vb > "^oi t y i a?)6mi iJick.'aUd Hafry ;i whb ?ot the ch»ntio"6f towing" ik> them. ' Good* | night, my dear !'