AUCKLAND ARRANGEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 126, 29 May 1901, Page 2

AUCKLAND ARRANGEMENTS.

r MARITIME COMMITTEJ

£HE CANOE DISPLAY ABANDONED

1 The Maritime Commitee met yesterday afternoon, His Worship the jfayor in the chair. There.were also present Messrs ('. Hanson, R. Hobbs, Heather, J. M. Shera, and the Hon. K. jMitchelson.

The meeting was called to consider jwhat should be done re communicating with Mahuta as to the canoe display, in view of the Premier's telegram to the Mayor, declining to allow Mahuta to "present an address. The Mayor explained the situation. and thought Mahuta should be informed that he could not present an address.

Mr Hobbs said that it would cost some £400 to £500 to bring the natives down to Auckland, and under ,Ihc present circumstances he did not ifeel disposed to collect it. He wished to explain that he and Mr Mitchelson had gone to interview Mahuta and invite him to Auckland at the request <of the Auckland citizens, and not to embarrass the Government. The citizens as a whole wished Mahuta to present his address, and wished to see the canoe display. They had lost a gTeat opportunity of making a unique 'display. Mr 'Hanson thought they should -abandon the canoe, display, as he thought the Ophir would anchor here at daylight. Mr Shera spoke strongly against the Government's action, which he described as petty tyranny unworthy lof a colonial Government. Mr Mitchelson agreed with Mr Shera that the Premier's attitude was unfortunate, but after the Premier's strongly worded telegram he thought they should let. the matter drop. If ithe' Ophir arrived early in the morning, there could be no canoe display, and he would not care to invite the natives to Auckland unless they were to be allowed to give the Royal visitors some sort of welcome. He would therefore move, "That as the Government so strongly object to any native Hisplay being held in Auckland during the. visit of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York, Mahuta fee informed that this committee regret that in face of the telegram received by the Mayor from the Premier it would be unwise for him or any of his people to come to Auckland in any capacity other than that tof visitors."

Mr Hobbs seconded, and said it iwould be wrong to encourage the naJtives to bring their canoes and leave itheir chief at home. He liked to treat a native chief as a native chief sought to be treated. Mr Mitehelson's motion was adopted, and on the motion of Mr Shera, seconded by Mr Eanson, it was decided to recommend the Executive Committee to invite Mahuta to the reception platform as a private citizen.