THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO WAIKATO.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3394, 2 June 1868, Page 7

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO WAIKATO.

It would not be difficult on principles of nature and reason to find some justification for the sentiment of loyalty, Practical mo a cannot ignore it though they may be inclined to sneer at it ; and, so long as it exists, it is a duty of raonarchs and governors, and of those who control public expenditure, to provide for the expression of wbafc is at wor-it an aininble folly of luitnau nature, and one vthich, if balked of its .natural course, may, by some process of moral chemistry, be converted into follies more dangerous and troublesome. ' s His Excellency and party left Government House on 'May 18, at about 11 o'clock a.m., in one of Measrs." Quick's coaches. 'They 'stopped at Drury to change 1 horses, an'd found the village decorated with flag* and boughs. A considerable number of the principal inhabitants 'of the neigh bourhood were introduced to his Excellency. Mr. Mellsop, the Rev. Mr. Norrie, and several 'other gentlemen joined the party at luncheon, .which was neatly sot out by 'Mr. Godkin, of the Farmers' Hotel. After lunch an address was read by Mr." Cossey, the oldest setfcler in the neighbourhood^ as follows :—: — " To his Excellency Sir George Ferguson Bo wen, K.C.G-. of^he most distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Governor and Com-mander-iu-Chief in and over her Majesty's colony of New Zealand and its dependencies, and Vice- Admiral of the name. "May it please your, Excellenoy, — We, the residents of D,rury, desire to give you hearty welcomein your arrival here, on your way to the Waikato.' We trust that your Excellency's visit to the Waikato country may be productive of good, and that the different settlements may prosper i under your Excellency's administration. " We hope that the peace we are now enjoying may be long continued, and that her Majesty's subjecta of both races may see ib to be their k,me interest to live on friendly terms with each other., " Wishiug health' and prosperity to yourself and Lady Bowen during your residence in New Zealand, we have the honour to remain your Excellency's " obedient servants, " (Signed) WILMAM COSSEY, , , ' ' On behalf of the residents of Drury. " To which his Excellency replied as follows :— " Gentlemen, — I thank you for this address, and for the hearty welcome which you have given me on my 'first visit to Dvury. "I have enjoyed (very much my drive to-day through . your prosperous settlements, which recall the scenery and the'lifeof our mother country more than most parts of the Australasian colonies. ' > "No efforts thall, be wonting on my part to per- ' form efficieutly the duties assigned by the free constitution of this colony to- the representative of their Sovereign; and I earnestly trust that, with the advice and assistance of, the Ministers and- of the Legislature, I shall bo enabled to preserve the blessings of peace, and to promote the welfare of both races of her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand. • "In conclusion, I thank you all for your good wishes for Lady Bowen and my family, and pray that Divine Providence may pour plenty in your garners and happiness in your homes. ("Signed) G. F. Bo WEN. "May 18, 1868." ' , Cheers were then called for for his Excellency and Lady Bowen, which were responded to in a most enthusiastic manner, A levee then took place, when » number of the «etfclers were pre* sented by Mr. MeHsop, our respected Resident Magistrate, after which his Excellency, in a most affable manuer, conversed with many of those present, and at abou>- three o'clock took hiB departure from the hotel. > The Governor appears to have been very favourably impressed with the character of the country on the road. The bush clearings about Ramaram* and Pokeuo, in the opinion of a practical bushraao, deserve all praise and admiration, and promise by their rich sward to repay the heavy outlay of toil and .money which has produced theta. The few inhabitants of Mercer had decorated their houses, aud turned out to meet the coach on its arrival. A small party of about twenty natives, chiefly women, joined in the greeting, aud the girls brought up a pot of eels, as a present, chanting that peculiar music which deserves the name, if ever,wtren heard by the, banks or on the waters of the Waikato; The ground in. and, ab,out the village was sloppy from the recent unsettled weather, but the wharf enabled the Governor aud-rsuite to enjoy a Walk of an hour before dinner, <fo nrJew of the placid river. Ifc was twilight, ,and the mellow sky and deep shadows of the forest to the westward filled the landscape looking down the river with soothing beauty. Tourists know that scenes of soothing beauty do not impair the appetite, and Mr. Waltera's preparations were such as to content and surprise any one who did not previously know his skill, and who had , thought of the banks of the Waikato as a place won j from the wilderness but a couple of years back. Everything is clean, orderly, and liberal in Mr. Walters's house. On Tuesday his Excellency resumed his journey at nine o'clock. Above Mercer the road is unformed, but nevertheless is level, dry, and good for a oountry track, and all the creeks are well bridged. It follows nearly the course of the proper right bank of the river, passing in sight of the prosperous fhx mill of Mr. ,on the creek, and running through the lines of Meremere, how almost effaced. The coach changed horses at Rangiriri, his Excellency and party getting out at the top of tbo low hill on which the little redoubt and trenches are situated, the scene of the memorable engagement. Major Heaphy, V.C , acted as guide to the details of the loc»lity, and did his best to make it intelligible how one hundred and eighty-five gallant fellows were killed 'and wounded ia taking a position not in appearance very strong either by nature or art, whilst our leaders had at command all the appliances of modern war. The view of the Waikare lake iv descending'to Rangiriri is very soft and lovely. Myriads of ducks are said tp doc its surface, which may be credited from the number upon the small pool below the scene of battle. The party visited the tombs of-'the gallant men who fell in the assault, and Mr. Richmond gave immedialJe orders that the ground should be put in order, and a substantial fence erected round it. A good luncheon was provided at Rangiriri. Passing onwards through an uncultivated country, there is little, except the wreck of poor Mr. Armitage's farm, to show that the laud is capable of anything uutil you approach the gorge. Then you see the uative settlement at W»hi, the coal-pit, and several homesteads ;< a little further, the old mission station of Pepepe, occupied now by the Rev. Heta Tarawhiti, the sacred hill of Taupiri, and the schoolhouse and dwelling of the Church Mission, where the Rev. Mr. Pritt, formerly of the Melanesian Mission, lives. Mr. Pritt is pastor to the whole of Waikato, and is beginning a native school. A mile or two onwards brings you to the ferry. Ngaruawahia and its little population had done their utmost to receive his Excellency. Two arches of evergreens had been erected — one by Europeans, the other by Maorig ; the latter upon a track leading to a singular little wooden edifice called Potatau's tomb. The tomb iis a small Cockney cottage, on a scale suited to General Tom Thumb, and rather the worse foriweather. ' Addresses were read, and replies made by his Excellency.andanativerueetingappoinfced for the following day. The entertainment at the hotel, at Ngaruawahia, was. excellent. Colonel Moule, Captain. Brown, the Rev. Mr. Pritfc, Mr. Searancke, Te Wheoro, aad Nini Kukutai joined the dinner party. In the evening,' a display of fireworks was made by the settlers, and firelight hakas were performedby the natives.' The fireworks were enthusiastically appreciated , by the Maoris, who, thanks to their chiefs Wi Patene aud Te Wheoro, were as sober and orderly as possible. On Wednesday, at half-pa«t ten, the native meeting opened with » war dance— a very poor'one compared to those which Ngaruawahia has seen in other days ; but this is an act. whose decay few people will mourn over. A number, of speeches of welcome were made by Te Wheoro, Kukutai, Patene, Heta Tarawhiti, Hone te One, Hetarak* Nero* and other chiefs of more or less note. These/were generally commonplace in their matter. One doubt was expressed as to the Treaty I of Waitangi (which several speakers had read, in I 1860 at Kohimarama), whether instill subsisted; His Excellency^ in his reply, set the doubt at rest. On an appeal Jby Nini Kukutai, the meeting assented in chorus to Ms Excellency as Governor,' and warmly t concurred in the ppinion that he Bhould live at Auckland. After luncheon his Excellency set but for Hamilton: „, Time did not allow, nor did the unsettled weather allow, a visit to Pailsakarjki, the dwelling, of Wi Patene and his family, where.* f-chool i« 'carried on by his daughter Marth*. Mr. Richmond andMr. Mackay, however, made a forced march thither. * The school has been, partially disorganised by the, burning down of the school-house ; but the new timber building is just completed, and the orderly demeanour of the pupils shows that they have not materially suffered by the interregnnmi' About ten of them are able to read English intellii gently," and some of these can speak common'iihrasei^ The whole appearance «f the pluoe must be cfheVribg

td th <se who interest themselves in the Maori race, or in education generally; and one would gladly emplor phrases not hackneyed on less worthy occa-ions, to pray a tribute of respect to thi« young native woman, Ma»tha B»rt -n, who Las achieved to ,much by her patieat care and skill, and whoso , personal character is spreading its leaven around in S thin, little settlement. There must be hope in'the i remnant of a race which, m the first generation after emnibalism, cauproJucesueh phenomena. ',i' TT i b< k r u* d , t0 pHamilf p HamiIfc on passes along the delta, on the left bank of the Waikato proper (or Horotiu). Alter a couple of miles, signs of cultivation i begin, but the road is bordered for a sjreat part of •its length by extensive swamp*. The country is aJmost absolutely level. The township of Hamilton lies on both sales of the river, and,, as the settlers have very many of them cultivated their town acres, it presents a oheer/ul scattered appearance A fine arch of evergreens was erected on iht> road iv West Hamilton, with the old Gaelic motto of welcome— " Cead millia faeltha." The Royal Hotel, the chief inn, is in East Hamilton ; and, after hearing and replying to, an address from the inhabitants, read by Captain A. W. East, his Excellency crossed the river. The ferry-boat was decorated with evergreen-? 'and a welcome in tbe Greek language and characters ;' showed that something of the aroma of European t culture hangs about., the plains of Waikato not yet half subdued to the milder arts. The weather was ,un propitious, and the Royal Hotel soon received the 1 ■ visitors. About 140 of the Ngatihaua welcomed his ' Excellency ; among them, Hakariwhi [Hargreave], ,who tendered an address from Raihi, and |Hoterene Waharoa, the elder !son of William ! Thompson Tarapipipi. The f aithfuljTe Wheoro and •Wi Patene followed from Ngaru&wahia. The dinner party included Colonels Lyon «nd Moule, Major Yon I Tempsky, Captains Brojvn and East, Mr. Pritt, Mr. | Searancke, Mr. Pennington, and several other rest- ! dents in Hamilton, besides Hakariwhi, Raihi, Wi , Patene, and Te Wheoro. The entertainment < was up to the Waikato standard. . It must be recorded that Thompson's tribe were by Ino means so orderly as thoie of the lower river. ! There was much noise and drinking but no riofc of a more serious kind. Thursday was wet from morning till night, and all hope of extending the excursibn was abandoned. Mr. Searancke entertained his Excellency and party ■at lauch, after which a meeting of natives was held in one of the houses in thu redoubt. The speeches • were not distinguished by any notable point. There I were more songs and responses than at Ngaruawahia, 1 I and more of the ancient wildness psrvaded the proI ceedings.- One spaaker, replying to his Excellency's i appeal to the tribes to bring in the stray sheep, complained that the run was gone and there was no ! dwelling for them ; to which hia Excellency replied I that the run was and always would be a public highj w,ay for peaceful traflic, and referred to the ' numerous reserves in Waikato, at Mangere, Urakei, and elsewhere, which awaited the peaceful return oi the King party. The meetiug was quite friendly, bai not so cordially loyal as that at Ngaruawahia. t'n JMJay, at 9 o'clock,, the ram still continuing, his Excellency embarked on board the ' Bluenose steamer, and dropped down the river. A hasty luncheon was taken at Ngaruawahia, which place ought to be Doted for the very best cup of coffee that can be had in New Zealand, made and administered by hands that enhance its pleasantness. Rain continued the greater part of the day, but the clou Is lifted in the evening sufficiently to renew the soft suuset view at Mercer which welcomed his Excelleocy on bis arrival from town. On fcaturday, at 9 o'clock, tke pai ly started for town. Rain, rain, rain, aud,grey clouds making the emerald meadows of OLahuhu more emerald than ever. The coach reached Government House at 2 o'clock punctual to the i-iomise of Mr. "Quick. The coaching, it need hardly be said, was comfortable, rapid, and without a hitch or accident of any kind. "Progresses" such as this are not unimportant matters, and it is a uarrow and short-sighted utilitarianism which wouUl pretend to despise them. The British have not been so destitute of good government and goodmonaichs as to have lost personal respect for the head of the Executive. A Governor under oar present system has little of definite work to perform, but it ib a high privilege and an important function to be , placed in prominence as the type of social manners and morals ; and this, a higher office perhaps than any merely political one, ' is left to colonial Governors. To lead under the attentive scrutiny of the public a blameless private life ; to be 'firm, faithful, and candid in public matters ; courteous, genial, sympathising, and ready to make sacrifices of personal convenience in the society of his inferiors in position, is to be a good Governor : and if to this be added, the possession of a cultivated and liberal mind, the influence of a man in such a position is wide aiid deep, and all the wider and deeper that ib is not impaired by his identification with the political partizanship of the day. Such a position it seems likely, from what has been seen of him, Sir G. Bowen intends to occupy; and it will be greatly for the good of the country if his visits are extended over every corner of these islands.

The Governor's Speech to the Maoris assembled at the Meeting at Ngaruaw*hia, May 20, 1868. M O my friends, O chiefs and people of Waikato, my heart is rejoiced by the addresses which you have presented to me, and by the words which you have now spoken, full of loyalty to the Queen and of' goodwill to myself as the representative of the Queen. I pray that Heaven m»y pour its choicest blesairtgs on your homes. ' '"This i 9 the word of the Queen : Her desire is, and always has been, that her Maori children should live in. peace and harmony with her European children. Her prayer is that, with the blessing of God, the Maori and the pakeha may henceforward become as one people, and pursue the same course. Look, Omy friends, at the rivers Waipa and Horotiu beside us j how, rising from different sources, and with waters of different colours, they meet here at Ngaruawahia, the old Maori capital, and, mingling in oue stream, the stream of the Waikato, flow. together in peace onward to the sea. So may it be with the races of the pakeha anil the Maori. " The Queen sent her son the Duke of Edinburgh to visit you, and to assure you of her love and her protection. You all' know the unhappy circumstances which have prevented the Queen's son from ooming to this country on the present occasion. He has written to me and requested me to tell pakeha and Maori alike that he w deeply grieved and disappoioted, that his heart is very dark because he has been unable to visit this land. I have forwarded to the Queen and to the Prince the addresses of my friends Wiremu te Wheoro and of the other Maori chiefs and tribes ; and I know that those addresses will be received with royal sympathy and graciousness. "I was much pleased with the beautiful arches of flowers and flowering trees which have been erectedhere in my honour. I pray that, with the ble3sing of God, peace and brotherhood among the Maori tribes may flourish even like the everlasting green of your native forest. " And now, 0 my friends, I hope that the industry which formerly existed in this district may be te L newed. Only a few yeais ago, much wheat and other agricultural produce were grown here by the M*oris, and flour mills and other useful buildings were erected all around. Let this profitable industry be renewed once more. The Maoris should supply the pakehas with the fruits of the earbb, and the pakehas in return should supply the Maoris with the clothing and the other articles which they require _ for their health and oomfort. " Ifc has been asked by one of the speakers at the present meeting if the Treaty of Waitangi is still in force. That speaker truly said thxt the Treaty of Waitangi was made with the consent of the Ngapuhis and of the Waikato?, of Tamati Waka Nene, of Potatau te Wherowhero, and of all the principal tribes and chiefs of the Maori nation. The sovereignty of the Queen in New Zealand was founded- on the willing love and loyalty of the Maoris. And now, Omy friends, hearken well to my wor.ds. The faith of the Queen will be preserved inviolate. The Queen will perform her part under the treaty, and she expects the Maoris to perform their part. "The Treaty of Waitangi is still in force. The only, jdi^erence of late years is, that the disposal of their lands is now placed more entirely at the discretion of the Maori owners. By the treaty, the right of purchase was reserved to the Queen alone. j but now the Maoris can sell and lease their lands to whomsoever, they please. 1 ''The right of property will be safe under the shadow of the Queen and of the law.' Hearken to this word — The Treaty of Waitangi h«s not been broken • it has, on the contrary, been strengthened an&exterided. • "(Again, it has been stated by several speakers fchat'the Governor should always reside in Auckland. Now, hearken to my words oa this point *lao. There are Maoris in the North, and there aie Maoris in the South. <I will live part of the year at Auckland, and visit the Maoris in the North ; and patf of the year: at Wellington, and visit the Maoris in the South. Let this be clear to you. " ' " One word now, And I will conclude : We have met o thu day- near the tomb of f'otatau te, Wherowhero. ' i

" The Qiieen'B Government -will cause this%apab be repaired and preserved in honour of a'Wno chief of the old time, who never made wan on tl Queen, and who lived for many years in peace at harmony with, his pakeha neighbours. O Wajkafc 1 pray to God that, if there be still any hatred or il will between the pakehas and the Maoris, those bs feelings may be buried for ever in the tomb of Pot) ' tan to Wheroirhero. ",£ address these words to you, O Waikato, b't I they apply to *H the tribes of New Zealand ; an .my desire is that they may go forth throughout tt , length and breadth of this land." — — —

"To 'his Excellency Sir Geoige Ferguson Bowei Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguishes Order of St. Michael and St. George, Gjoverno 'and Commander-in-Chief in and over her Majesty' Colony of Isew Zealand and its Dependencies &c, &c. " We, the undesigned, a committee appointed ai a publio meeting held on the 22nd day of April, 186S, to prepare and present to your Excellency si address on your arrival at our township of Hamilton heartily bid your Excellency welcome, and trusi ■that what you may see of ua, and the p»rt of th« district in which we reside, and of. which we. arc pioneer settlers, may give you a favourable opinion of our enterprise, of the resources of the laud of out adoption, aud inthice you to extend to us a friendship that may prove lasting and beneficial. , "We must premise that, as a settlement, we are yet but m a state of infancy ; that originally, owing to native disturbances, we were for a iength of time debarred from commencing farming operations. This and other drawbacks, over which we hud no control, have prevented to a great extent the development of this portion of the delta, which otherwise .might by this time have presented a scene of smiling prosperity. We believp, however, that the worst of our difficulties are surmounted j and it is only a question! of time, ere the plains of Waikato shall be at onco the envy and the admiration of the whole o< New Zealand. We trust that, under your beneficent rule, all hindrances to our progress will disappear; that, our erstwhile antagonist, the aborigine, minced' to obey the same law ai the colonist, and truly acknowledging the Queen's supremacy, may not only cease to trouble the land, but also materially assist in promoting the prosperity of the .country, and raisiug it to that pre-eminence in the Australian group which its position and resources fully entitle it to attain. "We wish your Excellency and Lady Bowen, health, strength, and happiuess to support you in. your present duties : and we fervently hope that any, comparison you may be induced to draw between the colony you lately governed, and the one in which you now represent her Most Gracious Mrjes'y, may result in favour of the infant Britain of the South. "Assuring your Excellency of our loyalty and devotion to the Crown, and our deep regret at the traitorous attempt on the life of the favourite son of our beloved Queen, and its unfortunate issue in depriving us of the honour and pleasure of a visit' fiom H.K.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, ; " We most respectfully subscribe ourselves, "Alfred W. East, J. P., Chairman j of Committee. "W. Steele, Capfain A.M. "H. G. BLACKMdBE." His Excellency replied shortly, and promised to forirard a written reply on an early date.

Address to his Excellency Sir G. I\ Bpwenf G.C.M.G., presented by the Ngatihau* f itfbe at Hamilton, Waikato, on May 21, 1868. " Salutations, 0 Sir George Bowen, the (JfrVternor for this island. It is good for you to «pme to Waikato to see your people of the two rKtet, th© Maori and the European. Welcome to yotjr lan&, to Waikato, and to your people. You have been, sent by our Queen to bo a protector for this Uui^ for New Zealand, to cause good to go forth ©Vee tiiirf island, bo that the thoughts of men may be good, and their hearts may be inclined to cultivate the' land, so that they may prosper, and that men may return to the good customs which formerly carted ; tbat tbe wars between the Maoris and the Europeans' may cease* " Salutations to you, O Governor Sir George Bowep. May you be a barrier against the erils of this island ; may you be strong to upholji good within this island, and to put down the evil of Both the Maoris and the Europeans. The thoughts of th© people are dark on account of the misfortune which happened to the son of the Queen, which prevented our seeing him, as we greatly dwired to have seen that young chief ; but it cannot be btlpsd; when evil has befallen him. i " We npir pray to God to carefully protect you,' your wife and children, during the days of you/ residence among us in New Zealand ; and ire ask' that you miy eDjoy health, that you may be able to perform all lawful act", so that good may objmin to all persons throughout the whole of this island.—' All, (Signed) " Te Hakiriwhl •' Te Raihi. " Pjsnetito. "TeniPonui. " Te Hctejrenb TjUuih!4.»a."

The Governor's Speech %o the Maoris assembled at the Meeting at Hamilton, May 21, 1868. "0 my Friends,— l am very glad to see hera assembled the people of Ngatihaua, and I thank you for coming so far to welcome me, and for your loyal 1 speeches. I have heard aud read much of your lat£ chief William Thompson, who was long foremost among Maoris in, the acts of peace. I have aW6' heatd that none are more distinguished than your 3 tribe for bravery in war. War has now ended, and I see with pleasure Maori and pakeha meeting herein mutual trust and friendship. The energies which,: have been employed iv strife may now again' be-' directed to those »rts which William Thompson once' loved, and pakeha and Maori may emulate eachother in making this beautiful land more beautiful still, by covering it with gardens and orchards— 1 with cornfields, pastures, and towns. This is the' desire of the Queen, who has sent me to be' her representative ; this is my desire, and the desire 61 the Ministers, of the Legislature, and of ail the Europeans in. New Zealand. If my coming among you can ia any way bind closer the friendshfp of the two races, it will be my -greatest pleasure often to visit the place where they dwell together. I hope next year I nuy be able to see you at you* own kaingas, and to stay longer among you. Meantime let your work be untiring to spread peace and goodwill — to bring back the stray sheep of the Maori race. My band and the hand of my Government ltf stretched out to receive them. "I had hoped that the coming of the Prince, the Queen's son, might have been the occasion of ending all bitterness and anger. His visit has been prevented 1 by evil mcD, bub it will rejoice the heart of the Queen to know how wide and how warm have been the. indignation and 'sympathy excited by the crime against her son. He has requested me to say ta both, races how greac is his sorrow that he could nofc visit New Zealand. " As for what was said' by one of the speakers respecting the river, hearken ye to my word. Th© river is, and always has been, the common highway: of both races — of the pakeha and of the Maori. All who go up and down upon the river on theur lawful errands will be protected by the law. • •'With regard to what was said reepectfcg the land, listen again to my word. The Govwnmenf; gave due warning that those who rebelled •aaiurt' the Queen and the law would be puniihet by the loss of their lands. But large reserves of land have, been made in the Waikato, and also at MangerV near Auckland, and in many other district!, with the object of rewarding the loyal, and of providing homes aid subsistence for all those who deijre 'to, return to the paths of peace and quietness. Let all such apply to the Government in the lawful afcnner,, and full provision will be made for them. ' im " And now, oh my friends, in conclusion, I qbanaf you for your good wishes for myself, for my wif£ and for our children. Your loyal and friendly Word* will strengthen my hands to labour strenuously fo* law, peace, and union."