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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 464, 7 June 1890, Page 2

The following story comes from Whakatape and its truth is vouched fnr by credible witnesses. The manager of a station not one hundred miles np the valley was at hi« wits* and because of tha plague ot caterpillars which was ravaging hie ma ze crop. Cetus to him in his time of dlatreas an aboriginal and said, ** Why don't yon emp'oy tbe Maori Tohunga (priest) ? He will rid you of this plague for £3.” The manager replied that he made it a rule to par for miraoles by results. If the tohunga rid him ot this p*st he would willingly pay him — when the caterpillars were gone, and ha would give him ample time in which to perform tele karakia. The tohunga accepted th- offer, stipulatingthat he sbonld have the field nf maize wholly to himself tor 24 hours. He came, took up his quarters in -the field and began his karakia, tha nature of which, however, is known to himself alone ; lor the terms of agreement were rigidly adhered Co, and ha was left undisturbed. At the end of the 9fe hours the manager cams, and lo I the caters pillars were all gone. Ho paid tha tohunga his £B, and now may be heard aotcly murmuring to himtalf," Is civilisation a failure, ant Is the Caucasian played nut f Tauranga Tines,