A "NOVEL MAORI PUB.

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 116, 2 December 1882, Page 179

A "NOVEL MAORI PUB.

jtfaori publichouses are a failure. There was .^started by a native company and board of Ltors at Ahipara. Capital, credit, and stock to limited. To make it pay, for lack of visim f>a weekly court, at which all the brown relation assembled, was held to try the most j&al cases — generally breaches of domestic Mies, or other grievances. It took a good deal ijum sometimes to decide the cases, and the If had to be pretty well treated to bring in a «Lrable verdict. The fines went in refreshM for the Court, as it was trying work. NotJjbstanding these expedients, the hotel seemed I, decline in finances, there being more consumers L n producers — i.e., o£ coin. It was the conTuous feeds in the back kitchen that did all the Lhief. Someone seemed to be always eating tee. "When one exhausted man laid down his jutfe'and fork, another took his place. One of h peculiar forms of attention to guests was the A gentleman one evening, conlersing with two friends in the front parlour, upon the sudden and awful silence that beyond the room. Suspecting the reason, £ abruptly opened the door, -where a group ioodas if getting their likenesses taken — the landed, wife, and family in front, and their friends lehi'nd — all in listening attitude. At last one of \t directors undertook the business. He began nth a small supply of rum in six vinegar bottles, A it was surprising how the quantity lasted, lonsidering the brisk custom. He held out jtiively for two weeks, and then became banket. Another man succeeded him with a new ijstem, and failed in three weeks time. Finally, |c concern was wound up one day by the head iirector finishing the last bottle of rum behind sdoor, while the company had a row in the front som.