THE ROTORUA RECEPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 131, 4 June 1901, Page 5

THE ROTORUA RECEPTION.

The Hon. James Carroll, Native Minister, left here for Rotorua this morning, in order to see for himself how the arrangements for the Maori, reception of the Duke of York are proceeding. He will meet Captain Gilbert Mair, who is in general charge of the preparations at Rotorua. and will discuss with him and with the principal chiefs of the assembled tribes the programme of.the native ceremonies in honour of the Duke. Mr Carroll will probably return to town on Friday. A further contingent, numbering some 350 natives, chiefly members of the Ngatiporou tribe, of the East Coast, left for Rotorua to-day by special train. Of these Ngatiporou about 150 men are in training for the war dances. A large party of Northern natives is expected to arrive in town this week by the s.s. Well'mgtoiL from Whangarei. A' considerable number of Bay of Plenty natives, belonging to the Whanau-a-Apanui arid Whakatohea tribes, are also expected this week. Their steamer has been delayed by bad weather on the coast. Some of the visiting natives who came up the West Coast from New Plymouth complain strongly of the overcrowding of the steamers. One steamer had 440 native passengers, many of whom were lying sick about the decks all night, and they say they fancy' some of them Would have gone overboard had the weather, been very rough. They have no complaint against the steamers, but in view of the fact that they will have to travel back the same way in three weeks' time or so they hope that arrangements will be made to convey the tribes back in smaller detachments spread over several steamer trips, so that the inconveniences experienced on first voyage will be removed,