GOVERNOR AND MAORI

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 86, 13 April 1899, Page 3

GOVERNOR AND MAORI

LOED RANFUKLY AND THE MAORI

KING.

MAHUTA VISITS GOVERNMENT

HOUSE

A NATIVE WELCOME

DEPUTATION OF WAIKATO

CHIEFS:

An interesting meeting which recalled memories of the old days when Sir George Grey was wont to receive his Maori rangitira visitors in the open air on Government House grounds, and there hear their grievances, took place on March ISth at Government House. His Excellency the Governor, Lord Rani'urly, who had returned here from the North in the Government steamer Tutanekai early that morning1, was waited on by Mahuta, the Maori King of Waikato, and a large number of Waikato chiefs, and was. accorded a hearty welcome to Auckland on the part of the Maori people. Mahuta, who had arranged some, time ago to meet the' Governor and the Premier, arrived here by train from Mercer, accompanied by a considerable number of Waikato chiefs and natives, in order to meet His Excellency. As Government House was not, owing to repairs proceeding1, in a state for receiving visitors, it was arranged to hold the conference outside on the lawn, under the shade of the ..trees in front of the vice - regal building. Shortly before 10.30 a.m. the Premier and the Hon. Mr. Carroll drove up to Government House, where the Governor had already arrived. The strains of music were heard soon afterwards, and a Maori procession, which had been formed near the foot of Queen-street, entered Government House grounds. Severa 1 carriages containing the 'King' and chiefs drove in, followed by a number of Waikato natives on foot and two native brass bands. These bands, which played lively airs on the way up to the grounds, via Shortland-street, were both from the Lower Waikato River, one being the 'Ngeangea' Brass Band from Waahi King Mahuta's settlement opposite Mercer and the other the 'Tautoru' Brass Band, from the Kohanga settlement. The order of the procession in the caiTiages was as follows: —In the first carriage rode Mahuta, the Waikato King, his brother Te Wherowhero and a chief named Mita Karaka; in the second carriage rode four chiefs of high rank from Waikato named Tihirahi. Te Aka Wharakura, and Te Arai; in the third were Mr C. Searancke (brother-in-law of Mahuta) Mr Henry Kaihau, M.H.R., Te Aho Karaka, and an aged tatooed chieftain named Te Ata, or Te Aria, who is a chief of the Ngatimahuta tribe; in the next carriage were Ngeangea, Parukau, Te Ruihana, and Ngatete Karaka. The next two carriages contained amongst others Hori Kukutai, Tompo, Tohi Kuri; Mr St. Clair, Mr A. Graham. The bands and rest of the people, in eluding some natives ladies, brought irp the rear.

His Excellency, who was accompanied by the Hon. R. J. Sedclon, the Hon. Mr'Carroll, Colonel Pole-Penton, Captain Alexander, and. Captain Wellesley, occupied seats under the trees, and opposite them setees were placed for Ma hut a and his chiefs. After all the chiefs had shaken hands with the Governor and Premier, they took their seats opposite the pakeha party, and the bandsmen and other natives sat down on the. ground behind their chiefs. The bands played 'God Save the Queen' before those present took their seats. ,

Lord Ranfurly was the first speaker. Addressing Mahuta and his followers, he said: 'I welcome you to Government House . I only wish T were in residence.here, so that I could entertain you in a fitting manner. I under-, stand that you have certain matters to say here, and I wish you to speak freely, and I will endeavour to reply.' (The Hon. J. Carroll acted as interpreter.) MAHUTA'S WELCOME. Mahuta, who is a man of about forty years of age (son of the lata King Tawhiao), rose and, through Mr Carroll, said: 'Salutations to you, oh Governor, who have welcomed, us so cordially to Government House. Let me reply that Aye also welcome the Governor. Welcome on this day the representative of the Queen; welcome the storehouse of words, the repository of 'mana,' welcome to this island, to "Aotearoa. I am exceedingly glad and my heart rejoices at meeting you. I will not diverge from the customs of my ancestors in welcoming you. At a meeting like this I can only use the old sayings and allusions of my forefathers. 1 am very glad to welcome you here, so that goodness may be bound securely to the Queen. In the days when my father was alive he ventured on a voyage to England, and submitted his word on reaching there. That word was returned here, and is now lying in the house of the chiefs. I greet you, the representative of our mother the Queen.

Mahuta concluded by saying:—'My heart is full of gladness. Welcome the Governor: welcome his Ministers. Welcome those who are in the possession of knowledge. . Kia orate Kawana! (May the Governor live). Long life to the Government and the Ministers.' .

ters. , THE PREMIER'S SPEECH. The Premier, Mr Seddon, addressing the natives, saluted Mahuta and his chiefs assembled, and went on to | say: 'I have looked forward to this I meeting for many clays. Cir.cum- ! stances transpired which prevented i Mahuta and his chiefs from'meeting the representative of the Queen,, and there have been those who said this, meeting woulld never take place. I am sure it will be for the benefit of both races .All doubts which have existed have now been removed. I have heard from the lips "of Mahuta his cordial welcome to the representative of the Queen. My ears tingled, and the sounds were pleasant, when I heard the band belonging to Mahuta playing "God save the Queen." It was pleasing to me to hear the reference made by Mahuta to his father paying a visit to England, and going, at great inconvenience to himself, to try and see his Queen, and to pay his homage. It is gladdening to me and all present that the worthy son of so worthy a father should be here to-day to greet the representative of Her Majesty the Queen, and express his good wishes towards her. I know it to be a fact, for I have heard it from 'the lips of His Excellency, that deep interest is taken in the Maoris by Her Majesty, 1 and that it is her desire that .-justice should be done to them, and that they should be preserevd for their own benefit and the benefit of this country. Enough. The Governor will di-

rectly express his wishes as representative of the Qxieen, and speak to the chiefs here assembled. Later on we, as advisers of the Governor, will go into matters of detail, which will be carefully considered. Again I welcome Mahuta, ilenare Kaihau, and the other chiefs who are here to-day. I sincere^ hope that our Good Father will shower every blessing on you, and that our meeting to-day will be for the good of both races. THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS. His Excellency, Lord Ranfurly, replying to Mahuta's welcome, said: 'Mahuta and chiefs of the native race here assembled, again I greet you. I hope that to-day a new era may be established amongst us, and that a , friendship as that of brothers should i exist amongst iis living in these islands, and that as brothers our friendship may grow firmer and steadier, and stronger. As my Premier has just informed you, you will have .an opportunity of placing before him any matters you may desire, to discuss. I know that he desires to in every way do what is right and just as regards the laws for the native race. I know that he is willing in every way to meet your wishes, as far as he can possibly do. But many of the matters may be matters that must be dealt with by Parliament, in which you also are represented. I am confident personally that everything you may put before him will be fairly and fully and properly looked into, and that the best that can be done will be done to assist you in your views. My Ministers are responsible to Parliament, and I am responsible to my sovereign. Her Majesty takes the deepest interest in your race, and she requires to be informed on all matters. This I make it my duty to do, and for that purpose I have visited a large number, of centres of native population. I have attended native gatherings wherever it lay in my power, such as that at Hastings, and that of a1 day or two ago at Waitangi. It shall ever be my endeavour to foster the friendship between pakeha and Maori. Even now to your young men almost every position in the State is open. Many of your race are taking a deep interest in the affairs of the colony, and it is my earnest hope that many more of your race will follow in their stejjs, and will endeavour with their pakeha brethren to build xip this colony to an even more prosperous condition than it is at the present time. In conclusion may I express -my great satisfaction in welcoming you, Mahuta, and the other chiefs here to-day. At no distant date I shall trust to make the acquaintance of many of .you here in your own districts, as I trust that during my stay as Her Majesty's representative here I may visit every native district in the colony, and make the friendly acquaintance of all your chiefs.' OTHER SPEECHES. Henar© Kaihau, M.H.R., for the Western Maori District, thanked the Governor on behalf of the chiefs for his remarks, and said that the loving messages of the hearts of these native people were all embodied in Mahuta's speech of welcome. He himself was glad of this opportunity of meeting the Governor, and hoped that this meeting would be productive of much benefit, and thart the lines of friendship indicated by the. Governor as to the methods on which they should work would be productive of a happier state of things.

The Premier said that before they separated he desired to express; to Mr Kaihau his thanks for his efforts in bring-ing1 about the meeting1 and for his desire to get the chiefs here so as to welcome the Governor. 'He had long" looked forward to meeting1 Mahivta here, and that the meeting1 had taken place showed that Mahuta and his chiefs had kept their word. He (Mr Seddon) was delighted when he heard His Excellency announce that he would meet the Waikato people in their awn homes, and make the acquaintance of their chiefs and of the people who werenof able to attend to-day .Mr Seddon also mentioned the help given by Mr W. A. Graham and Mr St. Clair in bring-ing1- about this meeting1, and concluded by saying that this day would be remembered as a bright day of sunshine on which light was let in on native matters. He also requested that Taingakawa te Waharoa (the Maori Premier, or Tumuaki'). who was not present, should be informed of his (Mr Seddon's) gnod wishes. He hoped Taing-akawa would soon be well ag-ain.

The formal speech-making being now over the Governor invited Mahuta and his chiefs into Government House, and entertained them there with champagne and biscuits, while their followers outside on the grass were also looked after.' Between twenty and thirty chiefs were present in Government House, where the toast of 'The Queen' was proposed by Mahuta. and hono-ured with 'God Rave -the Queen.' Mr Henare Kaihau then proposed ihe >>pnlth n* 'The Grvvpmor.' which, was drunk with enthusiasm and the Governor proposed the toast of 'Mahuta.' Tn doinrr' so he snake in warm terms regarding the friendship which he had formed with the Maori race, and said that when he left the colony it would not hp a "nse of 'out of sis-ht out of mind.' The Waikato 'king's' health was honoured enthusiastically, the pakehas present singing, 'For He's a Jolly Good Follow.' Mhhuta briefly responded, and after some conversation with the Governor and Premier he ami his chiefs retired.

CONFERENCE WITH THE PREMIER

In the afternoon a conference between the Premier and Mahnta and the Waikato chiefs on various political questions was held in Government House grounds. The chiefs present were members of the Nfiratimahtitn, Ngatinaho; Njratitipa, .Ngutiteatrt, Ngatipou, TSTsrntiw'hn-whakia and various other "Waikato tribes.