Page:Letters from New Zealand (Harper).djvu/167

Rh came to hand, a tomahawk, and, rushing out, tried to drive them out by the gate, which they had pushed open. After much trouble they made a bolt, and I was so angry that I flung the tomahawk at the last animal, and happening to strike it on the hind-leg, hamstrung it, and, of course, in that state it had to be destroyed."

"Yes, and what then?"

"Well, you know the Government allows us to hold courts of our own for certain cases, and to inflict fines up to a certain extent. A court was held, I pleaded guilty, and was fined the value of the horse."

"Yes, and I suppose that was the end of the matter?" but I knew well that such was not the case, for had it been they would not have come to see me.

"Do you think so?" said lhaia, and he repeated the question to the two natives, who were sitting there with all the dignity of Assessors in Court. They shook their heads, but said nothing. "Do you think so? It is this: I am the Chief of my tribe; I pride myself on my blood and birth; I am the native representative in Parliament. The Bishop has made me their chief Lay-Reader. I stand up in Church every Sunday to conduct the services. Do you think it is enough that I have paid the legal fine, and given the price of the horse to the owner? I have disgraced myself in the eyes of my people; it is not a question of so much money; I have given way to anger, and shown myself unworthy of my position. What am I to do?"

As he stood there and spoke, it was impossible to withhold one's admiration of such a character, and, after a few minutes' thought, I replied, "Ihaia Tainui,