WHATA WHATA.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 619, 9 May 1876, Page 3

WHATA WHATA.

May 6fh, 1876. Ouft tiiua% clull little township presents <quite a lively Hppearancfi this last few days> nativei crowding in from all parts to attend the native meeting to be hell at the Point) this place serving as n h ilf-way TendtEvonia l or them nil when they may rise and gather all those together who are interested mclaimspast, present, and future. Small white tents aie erected on the Raglan side of the Waipa Rive>-, and cooking pork and potatoes is all the go. The coming hangis keep them them all in good temper, and health also I hope, though -sleeping on the wet ground would not be the exact thing for us Pakehas. had some good racing, and one man had a good fall oft his horse. The 'Shoots of laughter that greeted his fall must have been cheering to his wounded feelings. He was not hurt, however, and joined in the laugh against himself. Old men an# maidens, men and children, all enjoyed themselves. There was a grot^p of old people sitting down jJaying cards, which seems to be more of a religion "with them, for they play nearly half the night ; but amongst such a colleotion of Maoris not a siugie case of drunkenness is recorded. To say the least, Good Tern plarihir is gaining ground as fast among the natives as ourselvps. Perhaps the three or four «iHgi>( rates, also the three Or four ministers may have something- to do with it, bnt such is the <>nse. Another of Mr Gage's children — a, little girl, almost a baby— fell off the punt right in the oeatre of the river, *nd was «a.Ted by a Maori {Te Auatia), who jumped in *nd pulled the the little thing out. The mother was crossing with lur on her road to ITikutai, and did not return with thp qhtid, Co I -conclude it only got a cold bath and a fright. A new house is going up for Mr Gage, so we hope to deserve the name of a town. We only want -a few more settlers with plenty of money to send us ahead. AnotLer woi«3 accident thru tlvit of; little Glare's has occurred. A M.iori child, i about three years of age, fetching water, fell into the Waipa river, and the current carried him down. The father swam out And brought him in unconscious. How fever, they managed to bring him to ; but low fever Da> ..pp.trently set in — the effect «f the -shock. — From a Corbbspoudekt.