Nervous Apprehension.

Maori Record : a journal devoted to the advancement of the Maori people, Volume I, Issue 1, 7 November 1904, Page 6

Nervous Apprehension.

The Russian Admiral, with the Japanese on his nerves, saw in harmless trawlers the enemy’s torpedo boats. The Urewera Natives are as easily alarmed at any novel movement in their territory. They are convinced that if once the gold prospector gets a paying prospect in their hills the lands will depart from them. The benevolence of the Government has lately supplied some Angora gmats to feed on the rough pasturage of the Tuhoe hills. There is no letter “L ” in the Maori language, and “r” is its proxy whenever they have to pronounce a pakeha word containing “ L.” In consequence the Maori pronunciation of the “ gora ” in Angora is not very dissimilar from his usual pronunciation of “ gold.” A Native of the Urewera country is reported to have lately visited Wellington for the purpose of protesting to Parliament against the liberation of goats on their hills, which, by their actions when grazing, would indicate to the watching herdsman the spots where gold lurked beneath the soil. He objected to the divining billygoat, thought to be more potent than the divining-rod. He was reassured, and departed, pleased to find that the goats would be a source of profit.