TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 259, 9 November 1901, Page 5

TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME.

GATHERING AT

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

Sir Hector's programme for to-day commenced at nine o'clock this xaorning1. when he held a sort of informal levee in Government House Grounds. The gathering was arranged to give the Scottish settlers of Waipu and

their descendants an opportunity of seeing their distinguished country-

man, and some fifty of these pioneers and their families were present, while a good number of other Scotchmen attended. The Waipu pipers lent colour to the scene, which, strange to say, was graced with but one other kilt. The General, who was in civilian attire, was attended by Captain Boscuwen, A.D.C., and was received at the grounds by Mr D. B. McDonald (chairman of the Reception Committee). At first there might have been .-some disappointment at the fact that the General was not in uniform, bnt Sir Hector had not been amongst hiseountrymen a minute before it was realised that this man of action looks every inch a soldier, even in the quietest of morning- suits. A letter of welcome was handed to the General by Piper Campbell, of Waipu, on behalf of the Caledonian Society of that place, but beyond this there was no formality. Sir Hector walked about amongst the people, shaking- hands here and there, and bestowing a smile on the company in general —the pleasautest of smiles, too, in spite-of the grim Jook of determination which one notices on his face. AN INTERESTING INCIDENT. The most interesting incident in the function was the meeting between the General and two Maori veterans, Patara te Tuhi and Honana Maioha of Mangere. These old warriors are cousins of Tawhaio. Patara was sec-r-etary to the famous king at one time, and fought for the king in the Waikato war; while both were prominent men in the king- movement. As these two were presented to'the General the expansive and whole-souled smiles that lit up their extensively tattooed countenances were worth going- a long way to see. Honana, who acted as spokesman, wished the General to say something to them. "Tell them," said Sir Hector to Mr H. Keesing, who was intei-preting, "that I would like to have then- photographs, for they are two of the handsomest fellows I've seen in this country."

This answer caused considerable amusement, but did not at all satisfy the old warriors. Those were easily obtained, they said, and were mere trifles. Sir Hector came from the King and they wanted him. to say something1 about what His Majesty and English people thought of the Maoris. "Tell them," said Sir Hector, ! whose speech, by the. way, is characteristic of the man, each word being i clear cut and decisive, and not one ' superfluous, "tell thorn that the King land the English people greatly appreciated the offer of the Maoris to send I troops to the Transvaal." This was ! translated, and Honana asked the rea- ! so?! why their services were declined. ! "Well," said the General, "you see the British like fighting- every bit as much as the Maoris, and they thought i that if the Boers knew the Maoris were coming they would give up the struggle as hopeless." But Honana lenew quite well that Sir Hector was "getting1 at" him, and he replied, I "That's very nicely said, but it's only i said to please ust" and the bystanders | laughed to hear the old fellow score a point, Sir Hector then told them the real reason, which apparently satisfied them. The photographs of these two natives, wreathed in smiles, were then taken. Patara having remarked facetiously to Sir Hector that he only volunteered for service to better himself financially, Sir Hector replied, "Well, I'll make my fortune out of your two photographs." A PHOTOGRAPH. After this little "side show," the Waipu settlers wrere grouped on the verandah, and were photographed with the General in the centre. Hearty cheers were then given for Sir Hector and all Highlanders. These over, and it being realised that the visitor was about to depart, a rush was made at him by those present, more particularly by the feminine portion, and the General good-humouredly subjected himself to a fusillade of handshakes. Escaping at length from this engagement he drove ofi to the Domain. As an exhibition of hero worship the gathering was certainly edifying.