'A Maori Dunsinane.

'In the long ago, a Maori war party were encamped, some fifteen miles from what is now the European village of Kihikihi, in a hollow not far from the spot, at which the Hon. Mr. Bryce, in our time, met and pardoned the celebrated rebel Chief Te Kooti. The attacking party were led by Wahanui, a Chief of gigantic size and strength, and had encamped on a low hill surrounded by high fern. Cutting down the fern, each warrior advanced, holding a bundle of fern before him. Imperceptibly and slowly they moved down the descent upon the unsuspecting foe in the quiet little valley below. At length, one of the party in the valley, noticed the strange movement.

'"Ah," said the now confounded warriors, "the hill is slipping down upon us."

'Amazed by the strange sight, they hesitated, wondering at the unwonted spectacle. The attacking party, seeing the deception could no longer be maintained, dashed away their leafy covering, and with a wild war song, rushed upon the unsuspecting strangers. A terrific contest followed, for though taken at disadvantage, the surprised party quickly presented a compact front to the excited foe.

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'At the first onset, Wahanui fell, pierced in the throat by a spear. Two of his retainers held him up against a flax bush, so that his warriors should not be disheartened by his fall. The battle raged fiercer and hotter, until the leader of the party in the valley fell, mortally wounded. This was the signal for Wahanui's warriors to redouble their efforts, and, unable to resist the furious onslaught, the foe finally retreated, leaving the little valley covered with the slain.

'To this day, the remains of the ovens mark the spot, where the inevitable cannibal feast of the conquerors was held.'

'Those old Maories were a bad set,' said the Station Manager, 'I don't like their nasty way of eating one another.'

'Why,' replied the President, 'you surely don't think the Maories are the only people in the world who devour one another. If you look about, you will see numbers of people who, instead of obeying the old command, "Love your neighbours," Live on them, just as much as if they were wild beasts in a wood.'

'Let me tell you one more Maori story,' said the Major, 'which I may name