An Interesting Ceremony

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxii, Issue 6457, 29 December 1904, Page 2

An Interesting Ceremony

United Press Association. —By Eleotrio Tel egrn ph—Copy r igh t Wellington, Dae. 28 In the year 1891 the Hon Huia Onslow, son of fcho E&jfl o£ Onslow, then Governor of New Zealand,' wag inducted ac a chief tain of the Ngatihuia tribe, rat O'fcaki. He was then about a year old, Last week Lady Onslow returned on a visit to the co'ony, bringing Huia with her, find to-day the lad was welcomed by a great gathering of Ngatihuias and Ngateraukawas atOfcaki. Thero were a great many visitors present, among them being Mr Seddon and Sir Joseph Ward,. The Cjimtess of Onslow and her son were met on' therf arrival by a number of prominent Nativ63, and driven to the meeting-house. Along the road bands of Maoris sang songs of welcome. At the meeting-house an address^? welcome was presented to Huia, expressive of the Maoris' pleasure at his return. He and his sister, Lady Dorothy, were also presented with valuable i»ats. The tribal forum in front of tho meeting-houss had been gravelled and turfed and planted with nikau palms and tree ferns. The front was a bower of nikau fronds. From a tall flagstaff floated tho tribal ensign,' the gift of Lord Ooalow to the Ngatihuia tribe. After the preliminary welcome, the guests were entertained &t lunch by the Maoris, whose hospitality was of a lavish character.