Page:Picturesque New Zealand, 1913.djvu/395

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A MAORI SCHOOL AND ITS PUPILS
263

estimating distances it is common to say: "Good horse, two miles; bad horse, too far."

Just as strange are some of the calculations of youthful Maoris. Once a native boy received notice to go before a Government officer for medical inspection. The journey to the place of examination and return took an entire day, and the youth resolved to be compensated for his time. Accordingly he sent to the Government a bill for two large bags of chaff and an extra meal for his horse, two days' rabbiting, and one meal for himself.