MAORI CHIEFS IN LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 166, 14 July 1914, Page 11

MAORI CHIEFS IN LONDON.

RECEIVED AT BUCKINGII.\AI PALACE. ffroin Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, June .I. A pictures-pip and interesting ceremony took place yesterday at Buckingham Palace, when tlic three Maori chiefs, -who arc in this country intent on laying before the Imperial Government certain alleged grievances iv connection with their tenure of land, paid homage to 11 is Majesty King George and Queen Mary. The party of visitors received at tlie Palace were Te Rata llaiuta. Taingakawa Wireniu Tamohana. and Mita Kareka. with Mr. Ueorge Paul. Maori interpreter, and Mr. A. C. -M. Lambert, head of the Dominions Department of the Colonial Office, attended to present tlie visitors to the Kins:. The presentation was of a purely ceremonial character, it bavin? been arranged tliat any question jf grievances should be conveyed through the usual constitutional channels. The chiefs drove to the Palace in the conventional dress of western civilisation, . eavo that each wore in the bands of tlieir silk hats a liuia feather. Rut before entering tlie Throne Room this dress was discarded for their own native ceremonial eosturae. and on approaching the Throne east at the King's feet their robes, which they knelt upon whilst . they paid homage. The King. who. it is stated, greeted the Maori:, with "Kia Ora." received . the -chiefs with much -cordiality, aud after he and the Queen had shaken bands with their visitors, and Te Rata had handed to 11 is Majesty a letter, ex- ' pressing the loyalty of the Maoris to the Crown, said. "1 am glad to welcome you, more especially as you are the first Maoris. 1 believe, to gain access to the Throne of England." Thereafter, it appear-, the conversation between the King and Queen and their chiefs, which was carried on with the aid of the interpreter, manly concerned the former's experiences among " the Maoris when in New Zealand, and the latter's experiences on this side of the world. During the conversation the King is reported to have said. "I will not forget my Maori people, but will always protect them, and look after their interests." At the close of the interview the with s.ime "meres" were placed in a heap before the Kin?-, and. bending in obeisance, the chief begged that they Bhouild be accepted. The King graciously intimated his pleasure in accepting the tributes, and expressed the hops {ha*t his visitor.-.' stay in the "Motherland would be enjoyable and beneficial. The visitors were then ushered from the Royal present-. Afterwards one of the |„irty. describing his impressions of the audience, "lid that their Majestirs made them feel at home at once. "I cannot tell you. however, what th- King was dressed in.' was hi- human confession ,of the scattering effect of being received •oj RoyaJty. -As to England," he went ■on, "my greatest a.-tonisihmcnt was that . the list of my food was presented to -c in French. I had to ask for it to retranslated into English." • I*. mn^ '*. ty' the way, lie something infinitely worse than merely "unconstitutional" to suggest that the King can !»«« a mistake, hut at the risk of being incarcerated in the deepest dungfon beneath the Tower Moat, one may venture to suggest that if King George "ally did welcome big visitors as the "fit Maoris to gain access to the inrone. he „as in error. I am more Wan doubtful at this distance of time Whether Tahviho ever paid homage to Ween Mctoria. but it is. I believe, a »« that away hac-.k in the middle of «Bt century a Maori chief was received » audience by the late Queen at Buck"•gham Palace.