THE DEATH OF TAWHIAO.

REMINISCENCES OF , HIS VISIT TO

ENGLAND.

(FROM OUR LONDON COEBRSPONDENT.)

London, September 8.

All tbe London newspapers contain paragraphs referring to bbc death of Tawhiao. and some of tbem have revived old reminiscences of his visit co England. . One correspondenb narrates an incidenb connected with the Kingvisit to the Crystal Palace, where he witnessed a magnificent display of fireworks by Messrs Brock and Co.. The managemenb had pub him in the chair of state, bub be preferred to crouch down on the balcony and gaze at the vast crowd of people, estimated to number upward of 50,000. Asked whab had surprised him mosb, Tawhiao replied through the interpreter that ib was the '* tramp,.tramp, tramp of the people," illustrating his words by stamping about the floor. Ib was bhis and nob the brilliant pyrotechnic display that appealed to his wondering mind. The correspondent who tells this story is quiet out, however, in his estimate of the total number of bhe Maoris ab ten thousand. . Forty five thousand would have been nearer the mark. Sir George Grey, who was a good deal affected by the announcement of Tawhiao's death, tells the following story as to tho circumstances under which the King took the pledge of total abstinence. Before his visit to England Tawhiao, with some of his leading chiefs, paid a visit to Sir George. Up to this period 7_,awh?ao had indulged too freely in rum, and Sir Gooreje turned the conversation on this topic. Sir George asked, " What do you think of a man who in some way causes the death of another?' "1 bliink he is a bad man," replied Tawhiao. " If. a man caused bhe death of several other men, what would you say of him?" queried Sir George again. Tawhaio refused co beliuvo that any man could be so wicked. " Well," continued Sir George, "what would you say of a man who destroyed the happiness of a whole nation, the happiness of his own people, by wrongdoing ?" It began to dawn on Tawhiao'B mind that these questions were coming home to himself. .Ab lasb Sir George said, '"Thou art the man 1" "Yes, ye?," said the King, "I know what you mean." Sir George pushed the opportunity, pointing out the scandal and disgrace that would cover the whole Maori race if Tawhiao got drunk in England. He Appealed to his friend to help him. Sir George drew up a form pledging Tawhiao and himself to total abstinence for a period of years. This they and the chiefs present all signed. Whether Tawhiao. strictly adhered to his part of the compact this deponent sayeth not. Ib is said he often displayed a singular inability to distinguish champagne from ginger pop. Sir George Grey, however, seems to have been so satisfied with the experimont that ho repeated it with other chiefsSir George Grey informs me thab he was godfather to Tv Tawhiao, the oldest son of the King, who died eomo years ago. He was a fine, tall, handsomo young follow, and had the manners of a Maori chief of:.the modern school. I have soen him ab an evening parby in evening dross, looking quite a model of propriety. His dancing was much admired. '

TAWHIAO'S TRIP HOME., The death of Tawhiao naturally recalls some of the many queer incidents which

marked the trip home of tho dusky monarch and hi 9 suite about ten years ago. This visit was nob the success it ought to have been, owing to "society's" interest in Maoris having been largely discounted by the expedition of Sydney Taiwhanga and another minor chiof aboub eighteen month 3 previously. Mr Chesson {then Sacrebary of bhe Aborigines' Probection Socieby) had charge of both parties and arranged their "lionising." He was told thab Taiwhanga was but a dubious description of native notoriety, bub ib suited his Committee's purpose to have a couple of niggers on show at thab time, and so to all letters and remonstrances on the parb of Anglo-lNew. Zealanders he turned a deaf ear. Taiwhanga played his<parb admirably. He posed aa a prop of, bhe temperance party, and made many speeches ab frequent meetings. The big crushes of the season . were honoured by his and his comrade's presence, and they " hobnobbed " with bishops and duchesses and Cabinet Ministers in (as everyone said) " a moab intelligent manner." When they began to bo a bib of a nuisance bhose Maoris were packed off back to i.ew Zealand, and there Mr Chesson, no doubt, hoped the matter .would end. Bub ib.did nothing of the sort. New Zealand was vastly amused at Taiwhauga's beine treated in London society as a Maori chief of the highest rank, and the following year aba meeting of the Colonial Institute Nemesis descended on MrChosson. I foreab now who his executioner was, but he did his work with convincing efficiency, giving a sketch ot Mr Sydney Taiwhanga as known in New Zealand, and quoting a Dumber of entertaining rather than edifying incidents of the halt-caste's career. Poor old Chesson made the best defence he could, bub he gob terribly chaffed. Tawhiao and party arrived whilsb bhis incidenb was comparatively fresh. They came by Orient liner, and I have still a vivid recollection of meeting them at Gravesend, and scaling the mountainous side of the vessel by means of a rope ladder. My companion and myself wore top hats, and the spectacle wo presented to tho passengers looking over the side aa we clambered nervously, nob to say tremblingly, up the steep side, must have been very funny. Anyhow, we wero greeted with roars "of laughter. After they bad stayed some days aba City hotel we took rooms amongst us for tho Maoris aba large and rather smart boarding house in Montague Place, Russell Square. All pressmen were referred to Mr Chesson for information concerning the parby. He blew Tawhiao's brumpeb loudly, bub king or no king 'socieby' had bad enough of Maoris for the time being, and influential folks.would have none of them. They attended, however, a number of mis-ionary and other meetings during the day, and ab nighb they drove down either to the Empire or the Alhambra and occupied the royal box. The King, who sab glum enough ab bhe Exeter Hall reunions, and pronounced the House of Commons "dam fools," woke up at the Empire, and ejiortled-with rapture over tbe ballet. We got the manager of the Alhambra to take us behind the scenes one night, and Tawhaio made the longest speech 1 have ever heard him attempt to the premiere dansense. This was the buxom Pentholde, and ber ample charms fairly "mashed" the Maori monarch. The interpreter translated his majesty's compliments and proposals generally, which was just as well. Had the lady understood the nature of the latter, there would certainly have been • trouble. V • ■--■-, The King's Secretary could speak some English, and was by way of beinga wit of the Dawkv sort. At one of the missionary meetings Mr Chesson asked him to say afew words. He was to testify to his personal knowledge of the missionaries in New Zealand, and to their good works. Amidst an. impressive gjlence, tbe old Maori said :—-" I know lots of missionaries. They ver' nice men, ver' good mon, make Maori do whab they please. When mi.s'n'ries come first Maori have plenty land everywhere. They say * Let us praa-y, let us pra-a-y.' We pray and shut our eyes so we see nothing at all. Wheri we open dem again the land had gone !'" There was a moment's silence, and then ..missionaries and laymen alike roared with daughter, The Maori sab down looking bhe picturo of innocenb unconsclousneee, A

rev. Bontloman fcrlett bo explain tbe native , didn't In bhe least mean whab he'd said, tint nobody believed him.