CHAPTER II.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1899, 6 September 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER 11.

The Soanlans have now been on the Pine Greek Station for several years. The family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Scanlan, one daughter, Annie, and two sons, Thomas and James. They lett England about 12 years ago, whoro Mr. Soanlan had been engaged in {he India trade, bnt in on* of fhose periods of trade deprassion and financial failure he lost heavily. Jnst then the colonies irera attract* ing attention. America held oat her hand for immigrants, offering large traata of land ; while sunny Australia, on the other side of the globe, offered land and a fnora equable olimate, and a golden romance clung around the very name. Ib was a name where wtth to conjure up a fortune. To Australia the family came, and selected the station which they called " Pine Greek." Their house was situated in fine, fertile, forest land. Only a few yards from the door there was a chain of waterholea that were filled in the dryest weather and the longest drought. A little farther on was the Pine River, and still further oa the almost impassible ranges. A strong cockatoo fence bounded in the house and garden. The house was well built of ced&r wood. It nad eight rooms, and though theae were not large they were , sufficient. No costly mansion reared itself in the vicinity, and there being no other house to compare it with for mile 9 round, it waa really the best house in the district. A grape vine, passion frnft, and a creeping plant with large red blossoms completely en» circled the house and made it look gorgeous in its green and red coat. The garden was a sight that delighted the heart of many a weary traveller — next to the j atationhospitality. Oranges, bananas, peaches, | loquats, mulberries, lemons, guavas, an /I I pomegraniles grew in abundance ; while roses, geraninms. fuchiaa, violets and many home and colonial flowers grew luxuriantly, ftor must (he melons and pine apples be»forgot that grew- between the orange grove and the yard. Ib was difficult to keep things living, far less fvesh, in the hot, dry summer months, but Anaie was unwearied in her labors amoa# the flowers, and the boys amongst the vegetables and fruit. George Sutton, the son of a neighboring station-holder, was a great lover of flowers, and in his frequent visits gave Annie valuable assistance. " And yet,'" as Tom remarked drily, with a twinkle in his eye, " it was wasting time for both of them to go down to the creek with that email pannikin, that George alone could have carried on his little finger." One delightful summer's afternoon, when \ the breeze was cool and invigorating, & small : party of squatters and selectors met at Scanfan's hociae. Somo were interested in the ' stock and general w6rking of the place, while others took advantage of the shining hour by devoting their whole attention to the ladies. George Sutton, of conrse, was there, and Tom Macdonald, and Frank Allison, along with four new chums who had recently taken up land in the district. After the garden had been explored and a rivalry had sprung between Frank Allison and one of the new chums, it was time to join the " stock " party. The conversation became general, and the subject of the natives was discussed as usual. "I don't believe they've got souls," said Mr. Scanlan, "although for getting honey, stripping bark, and bullock-driving, recommend me to a blackfellow." "There's Bosquet," said Frank Allison; " I am of his opinion, they are just another 3pecies of the ourang-outang, and the sooner they are out of the country the better.'^ "I don't know about that," said Macdonald. "If they are all as good as the man I have got now, there could not be enough. Of course some won't work, bat this is their country." "That's it, Mao," said George Sutton; "the country is theirs. We have no right here. We are really interlopers." A loud burst of laughter and derision was the only answer for a few minutes. At last some one said : " What good can the blackfellows do with the land?" " They live on it in their own way, as we do. We make a better use of it than they do. England is overorowded, and she must have somewhere to send her surplus population." "That is no reason why England should come and steal this land. Did that hold good, a man whose house was large enough for him when he got married" (Tom Maodonald gave a roguish cough and glanced at Annie. The wretch ?) " but finds it to be too small now that his family has grown up— that man would be entitled to say to his sons, ' Go my sons, and get a house for yourselves. Yonder, over the creek among the gum trees and cedar is a house better than this one, and the people in ii don't know how to use it. Here is a gun and here is rum, go forth and take it. If you can't get in without killing some of the inmates, get in by killing them,' and so they go forth and slaughter the poor devils who have no other means of protecting themselves from the devil's own engines than by falling to the ground or holding up an opossum skin between them and the tearing shot. But never mind, it is reckoned capital sport ; and as for the right, let it slide I so long as we have got religion and the right end of the stick I" The discussion began to get heated, as it always does when the faith of one side is shaken. Reason lays down the cudgels ; prejudice takes them up. The favorite theory of the squatter that the natives were mere animals— certainly, improved animals; but still brute animals — was quoted as conclusive evidence of their inferiority. They did not believe in evolution— probably had never I heard of it. j . " The subject is a vile one any way you like to look at it," said Frank Allison, as the whole party rose to take tea, and the •• vile subject " was dismissed with a laugh. A short meeting between Annie and George Sutton behind the orange grove and George mounted his horse. 11 Yon may see Tom and Jim, who have i gone that way," said Annie. George galloped off down and across the ! creek, and waved his handkerohief to Annie, who stood watching him as he disappeared behind a clump of pine trees,