YE CHRONICLES OF YE CITY ON YE CAM. (CONTRIBUTED.)

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 643, 4 July 1876, Page 2

YE CHRONICLES OF YE CITY ON YE CAM. (CONTRIBUTED.)

ITot long since some interesting discoveries were made which throw cjnsulevablo light oa the early history of this great inland- city. Amongst the relics which are thus brought again into the light of day ia aa old fragment of parchment, worn thin, and almost faded, but readable withal. It was first published in the jonrnal of the Archaelogical Society of 2Xew Zealand, for the year two thousand and eighty, from which admirable woik we reprint portions of this paper.

• •**•#•** Ib was in .the days of the Governour Georgius, who was sur named the Grey, that the Mahorys, a turbulent and warlike race, defied the established authority, and declared war* Now, the Governour waß wiuuth at the behaviour of the Mahorys, more especially because of the services which he had rendered them, and because of the love he bore them in his secrtet -heart ; so he called all his trusty warriors about him, and said, " I fear that the Mahorys havo seb my power at n mght. Go, therefore, mybcustedsoldiei\s,and force thorn into submission, but be ye careful that, in so doing-, ye kill them not. Tak9 their land, but leave them otherwise an-, injured ; ami, in recompeuce for your bervices, I will give you* portions of land, according to your several deserts." And one, named C imeronius, who was a chief ■among the people, said, *' o,' Gjvernour i thy will > shall be executed." And Georgius, who was surnamed the Grey, gave- them his blossiug, and they departed. Ifow, in the long and fwrco war wliicli -ensued, the Mahorys were utterly routed, aud, iu,some instances, slain, contrary to the .will of the Govornour, who was much displeased thereat. Nathloss, he gave unto his soldiers land, even as he had promised. The 2nd Legion choao for their ' portion, a place called Koyreykoyroyrowa, but, being unable to pronounce this outlandish name, they resolved to change it, and they called it, in honor of a brave warrior, Hatniltoniua. But, the 3rd Legion were wiser, and selected a rich tract of land nigh to the yet unconquored country of the Mahorys, and there llowed through this tract a stream, which had been christened by the conquered people Kawrawpeyraw. Like those 1 of the 2nd Lsgion, the new-comers' tongues had not been formed to "fetch" such names as this, so they changed it to ■" Cam." And the soldiers of the 3 i*d Legion turned their< implements of warfare into tools wherewith to till tho soil, aud they grew rich, and prospered.

Years passed on, and the city waxed greater and greater, and many of the old faces passed away, and to distinguish nevr comei'3 from the old soldiers of the Legion, and their descendants, the former w«re called " Noochums," and they soon formed a majority in the city, and in time they became possessed of all the likings and antipathies of the old warriors and their children, and they lived together as ona people. Now, between the 2nd and 3rd Legions, there was never much friendship, and their descendants made no attempt, to fill up the breach that was between them. A.ud, as the city of the 2nd Logion waa nearer to the ocean marls, and lay in the centre of the country takon from the Mahoryg, the other cities were jealous ot it, and sought to compass its overthrow. During this interval, a change had come upon the State. Georgius was Gorernui* no more, bat, had become a private citizen, and the Government of the country was directed by Oonstantius, surnamed Fippea. Now, although a large number of the old citizens had lost confidence in Georgius, he had, many friends, especially among the Noochums, who knew nothing of his antecedents, and yo City on ye Cam, numbered among her citizens who loved Georgius. So the voice of the peoplo rose until ifc rent the air, clamouring 1 for Georgius to be admitted into the Senate, and thoir prayer was answered and Georgius became a Senator. Now, when Guurgius had biKill (T.ivnniniir. 1m h.-i 1 i» q , l -wii--Di^auaa-i

i hoM tho rclnfi li m.vclf, Imc OonsUnlins was a vu>i-i man ami coafiUud in tlie people, .•id 1)3 had a'ucnt him two ablo won, mined Jalhn nud'Macrenius in wliom Ivj ( cviildrd. Julian was a ereat iinuucicr and managed »'! matters rt-l.it in<r to money, an 1 M.ierir.his was entrusted with 'the duty of keepiuir the Mahorys, and other trovtblcKJino people, quiet. In course of lime, both Julian and Slacrenius made enemies, and Georq-ins was among them, and because lie knew that he could never again be the Governcrar he longed to fill the ,placo of both these men. Tho reasons H -which men had for wishing that Georgius > -would be siiGCPssful "were many and divers. 'Some supported him because they liked ih'im and hated the others. Some bocauso they thought he would take from the i&lahorjs all the land yet remaining to ; <ihem. Some because they thought he •"would give all, that had already been t»ken, back to them. Some because they "wanted war and they were fit for nothing *else. Some because they wanted change .-and cared for nothing else, and others ~v\lio had no reasons at all nnd .who were Jiot caimllo of reasoning. And ye City on yo Cam numbered among its citizens men of all these .opinions, -together with -others who had faith in Julian and Ma--crenius. - ! Kow there was a vast marsl? lying nigh to tho habitations of the soldiers-of the 2nd' -"Legion, which Macreuins had sold unto certain men, who wished" to drain it Mnd tender it fertile, so thafc'the potmtry' might bo benefited thereby. Georgius had set II4S heart upon this marsh. He wanted iygD portion out among tho people who RicT pleased him in the Senate, lmt those wV> knev tlie marsh distrusted GcorgiuB more than ever, because it was ft place where no one could exist, until a large sum of money had been spent, -in draining it. So unhealthy was it that nuiubeis whom the owners had employed to drain it fell sick and refused to work there more. Kow, Georgius tried to prove." lh,at Macrenius had no -righ to tfell this marsh, and said that ifc belonged to him, as Deputy of the district, an office to which he had been elected simultaneously with his admission into the Senate. He thought that if he could only get the' Senate to support him in thj,s, .ho could easily cause Julian and Macreniu? to be bfinis'ied and he % would fill thoir olficcs, and n hen the Souato met he immediately put his plan iutu oxecutioa. (To It ConlitiKtcl )