OUR "SPECIAL" ON THE EAST COAST.

Tauranga Record and Bay of Plenty Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 11, 14 September 1867, Page 3

OUR "SPECIAL" ON THE EAST COAST.

(Concludcd from out* last.) The Biy of Plenly has been so polific iu Iraaric evenls Ihal il mighl, geographically spcaking be likencd b> Ihe 4 Chamber of Horro'rs, and yeleven Ihe darkesl limes haye beeu rolieved by inslanccs of heroism Ih'al miglil be called snblime. On a Mission Slalion at a Maorl seillemcnl called Kopeo • abp-.!». Ivvo miles fartbei* ti p llntn Ihe place (iescfibed, resided al Ihe lime of Mr. Yolkner's de.ilh Ihe Rev. Falhcr Grange, wliose efforls lo deler Kereopa and bis band from proceeding on Iheir way lo Opoliki for Ihe avowcd purpose oi tnurdering Ihe unoffending missionary, neirly cost him liis life. Determinedly, and y bravely did I liis good man Ihrusl himself before Ihe deslroyer Kereopa, and remonslrale againsl Ihe cruel •deed in conlempla'ion vvllh all Ihe eloquence be possessed, bul in vain ; t II, as be wariried ia his enlrealies Ihe fury of Kereopa becaine ungoverr■able, and, franli'cwilb rage, lie ordcred liis lollowers lo sei/e Ihe Rev. Falher ■and pul him lo dealli. Then occurred aa incidenl Ihal would seetn lo show Ihal Ihe Missionaiy had not labored in vain. A smatl number of liis Maori congregalion inlerposed, and lold Ihe bloodlhirsly heathen Ihal if ho slew Iheir paslor Ihey were prepared lo die witli him. I he monsler and liis crew sfared aghast al llils display of sell'-devolion. Such ati ■ emolion was new lo Ihem. Tlie Alua oi Ihe pakelin could prompt lo conducl braver and more elevaled Ihan Iheir Hauhau prophels could prelend, and Ihey lacilly acknowledged Ihe superior inflnence of a purer failh. Kereopa suilenly ) ield.ed, and went on liis murderous way. I liji Hev. Falher losl no time in causing lellers In be senl by special ruessengers lo Mr. Smilh, Ihe Civil Gommissioner al Maketu, acquainling him w illi Kereopa's delerminalion and Ihe impending danger lo Ihe life of Mr. Volkner if he rcmained in Opoliki. Bul uuforlunalely Ihe messenger was delayed on Ihe road, and Ihe iellers ariivid loo lale. H miahl Iruly be said of Falher Grange Ihal he was a worthy Aposlle who counled not liis life dear (o him, for, isolaled frotn^ European companionship and proleclion, Iruly exiled al his stalion, he was theonly missionary whoremained f)n Ihe coast during Ihat period of Ironhle on Ihe Bay of Plenly. Nay more, learniug Ihat Ihe reuiiiins of Mr. Falloon's companions had beea only sligidly covered wilh sand which Ihe rains had washed away exposing Iho hodies to view, he, at tho risk of

his life had Ihem carefully removed and decenlly inlerred. J.ower down Ihe coasl Ihan Opotiki a few coliimns of smoke are vi«ible, denoling Ihe sile of some Maori villages Ihe relreat of banished Irihes. Ahont eighl years ago these walers were quile lively with coastlng vessels of lolerahle size, loaded wilh produce from Opoliki, and owne.d by Maoris, who were then passably wealtby ond in a inanner, luxnrions, hui induslry is comparatively paralyzed,and commerce wilh Ihe nnlives has collapsed since Ihe oulhreak of war in Ihe Waikato. Then, Ihey used lo cxport some Ihousands of pounds worlli annually, nowa few canoes can carry all Ihey liave lo seil. If Ihcse good old limes have been sacrificed lo secure Ihe Waikato lands, we m.ty possih'y have bought onr whislle loo dear. Opape, one cf Ihe nalive villages cighl miles lo Ihe soalh of Opoliki, is more exlensi\e Ihan mighl he supposed . Il is silualed on a small pieco of lahle land sui rounded by hills Ihat hui fcr Iheir verdure and foliag? might have heen called Alpine, Ihe sides are so sleep, and Ihe ravyies so numerous. On a small hillock overlooking Ihe village is a pah strongly palisaded, and designed as a forlification or place of refuge in war lime. A liltle dislance hehind, and slanding aloof from olher habilalions, is a building of more prelensions Ihan Ihe resl, which il isreasonable losuppose is Ihe abodcof Ihe chief. The commodore of Ihe ruller, was here lold bj his chief olTicer, upon ^vhorn he had depcnded lo pilol him inlo Ihe Opoliki llarhor, Ihat he inlended lo remain al Opape, and not proceed ariy fnrlher wilh Ihe vessel. The ollier Iwo hahds having no knowledge of Ihe entrance, and refusing lo nnderlake il, no allernalive was lel'l hui a relurn lo auranaa Before da\ lighl on Sunday morning Ihe ' Margarel ' was under Mount Maunganuiyand in an liouror so heal in wilh a lighl tireuze, as slie approaclied Ihe loll of Ihe Sahlialh hell of Ihe Mission Guapel sounding more and more dislinclly uulil her coming lo anclior, wlien il ceased allogelher, for all good Chrislians were I heii al prayers, in Ihe henelil of which we had ua lighl lo parli ipale ; I'or we were no! Iravelling al Ihe lime eilher hy land or sea.