MEETING OF NATIVES AT ORAKEI.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1351, 20 November 1860, Page 3

MEETING OF NATIVES AT ORAKEI.

On Saturday His Excellency the Governor proceeded to Orakei to visit the natives at present encamped in that Bay. It was * beautiful morning for the expedition : bright sky and smooth water. At about eleven o'clock the barge of H.M.S. "Iris"— with the Governor, Mrs. Gore Browne, Commodore Loring, Capt. Stewart, and Mr. McLean — arrived oft" the Bay. The natives, who had been preparing to receive them the whole of the morning, immediately crossed over from Orakei to the next further Bay, which is better adapted for a Maori reception than the confined space about Cain's house, where they were encamped. They consisted of Orakei, Mahurangi, and Kapara natives, and must have numbered about two hundred men They were dressed in every variety of costume ; but carried no guns, or at least only a few. The greater part had paddles, spears, and stricks, whilst a Maori adze was to be seen in one man's hand, and a European walking stick in another's. The principal chiefs with the party were Kawhau, Manukau, Kain, and others. These seemed rather to eschew all savage insignia of chieftainship, and' some of them dressed in sombre black contrasted oddty with their halfnakedfolloweis. On the Governor's barge Approaching the beach the natives, drawn up in the ripple of the tide with the British flag hoisted above them, gave three heatuy cheers and commenced » saltatory performance which made the water fly in every direction. Manukau, chief of Lower Kaipara, was particularly active, and shewed a perfect indifference on the subject of wot feet, dancing up to his waist in the tide. The landing was at last effected, and the natives having drawn themselves up in two lines facing inwards, the Governor's party passed between them, amidst loud cheering, to where the British flag was hoisted on a green sward. After a short delay, and many thoroughly English "Hip hip hurrahs, a war dance was performed. There \i as nothing very awful about it, nor was it such a dance as we remember in olden times. The natives kept time, but could not keep their ranks, and finished every set — if one may so call it — by a good hearty laugh. The war inspiration seemed wanting to make it a true war-dance. Some of the younger men it is true — and the fact is highly significative — appeared to wish to do the thing in legitimate style, and endeavoured to turn up their eyes and stick out their tongues according to true orthodox traditions ; but it was a failure, and the old chiefs, who remembered old wars and old dances, smiled benignantly upon them and with an expression that seemed to say — " Ah, my boys, you should have seen the dances of old." The dance over, the ( 'kor4ro" "began, a rude dias formed of a sea chest and Maori mats having been prepared for his Excellency and Mrs. Browne's acoonxmodation. The speeches made by the Chiefs were to the effect that they had welcomed the first Governor, the second, the third, and the fourth ; that the Governors were thenparents who preserved them from the surrounding tribe by \s hom they were formerly attacked ; that they should live under the shadow of the Governor wings for ever, and be faithful adherents to the Queen the Governor and the Europeans as long as they lived, they had welcomed the Europeans to their land, and were bound to protect them if danger threatened from any other tribes. His Excellency, through Mr. McLean, spoke to the following effect as nearly as we could gather : — Welcome chiefs of Ngatiwhatua and te Uriohau. I am always glad to see you when you came to visit myself and your good old Chief, Te Kawau. It is true you have Bold the land about here to the Queen, and you have ever since been friendly to the Europeans. It is also true you hear of disturbances, and threats against the Europeans. I do not attach much importance to all that is said. Some few robberies have been committed on out settlers ; but I am assured that the Chiefs of Waikato oppose these nets of a few of their followers. I am thankful for your friendly sentiments, and I believe'that similar sentiments prevail elsewhere. My desire is for peace and order, and that the disturbances at Toranaki should be confined to that place, jroru all parts, notwithstanding •occasional disputes of little moment, I receive assurances of friendship, and believe them to be sincere. I trust Potatau's words for good will be observed by Waikato, and that the Chiefs will continue as they are now doing to exert themselves to fulfil his parting injunction!, to be friendly to the Europeans. Welcome Chiefs of Ngatiwhatua, to the land of your ancestors come at all times when you feel disposed to visit your Chief Kawau, and to see your friends the Europeans. Geneial approbation followed the Governor's speech, another dance was performed, and then the visitors embarked, the natWes accompanying them to the beach, and giving them a farewell cheer which had more of the true-hearted British than the wild Maori character about it.