A MAORI BANQUET.

Press, Volume XL, Issue 5755, 28 February 1884, Page 7

A MAORI BANQUET.

AUCKLAND, February 13. - Sawkuo, the Maori king, Tα Tawhaio, lie eon, m Tβ Wheoro, M.H.K., and the iet of the party who have come down ~from Waikato,-were entertained at dinner ait the Auckland Hotel by the Bey. W. Pomare and Te Hemare of Mahurangi.

After dinner, the Bey. W. Pomare, who occupied the chair, rose to propose the fret toast He -was apparently in some littje difficulty about the order, but at length he compromised by proposing " The health of the Queen and King." He hoped they would both long be spared to aelgn over and to take care of the Maoris and Europeans. The toast was drunk cordially, all standing, but not noisily, there being no " Jolly good fellow " business. Tawhaio then passed several times up and down the roon. Apparently, he did not feel his dignity hurt by being placed after the Queen, and no doubt he is willing to giro precedence to her as a lady. He aid—l am initiated, and my heart is breaking on account of the sentiment. I feel I am a dark-skinned man, *nd my utterances are dark also, hot let us all be equal, Maoris and Enropears, If Ipass away without carrying onk my projects then those who come after a* iul rarely be able to do something for "fie TreD-being of my people. Although my face ie black, yet my heart is like jumr. I dssire in all my actions to «wte to the great principle. I shall i 2™"*&. <a»Md myself and my sone. *«•» e» my ems sitting here. I shall **?> we cmt ocean that lies between wß»*BttEog!»ai i w iii go in the canoes **f*«*np*ndTeAturehia, because they «*ffl£t»jwxrtacestors. [These are two «»» Wonging to the Ngateratau, and pM**uj Ibwhiao meant that he was going »«tte oanse of the Maori people.] The |«c wing for us all is to adhere steadMaaytoprißapie. As for the old lady to "Bβ you Lave referred, it ie quite right Jon would speak of her in connection with myself. All the great ancestors of the JW$» haTe disappeared from the face of «• arth, and only these are left. I say, «t a all etand on the same level, whether *»oe white or black. tt Enuxß again proposed " The health «the Queen and of Tawbiao." May they Mv be preserved and keep together and the Maori people and Pakehas for [Ake, ake, ake/J Whboso spoke a few words, and the JNoeeduige terminated.