GOVERNOR’S GIFT

Evening Star, Issue 21099, 11 May 1932, Page 4

GOVERNOR’S GIFT

HISTORIC WAITANGI PRESENTED TO NATION [Pan United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 10. New Zealand’s most historic spot, Waitangi, where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, together with 1,000 acres of land belonging to an adjoining estate, has been purchased by Lord and Lady Blcdisloe and presented to the nation. Tho Treaty of Waitangi, which was signed ninety-two years ago bv Governor Hobson, on behalf of Queen Victoria and leading Maori chiefs, not only established British sovereignty in New Zealand, but safeguarded for all time the rights and privileges of the Maori race. Tho property, which includes the old British Residency, will be administered by a national trust, of which Lord and Lady Blcdisloe are members. It. is hoped to restore the Residency building, which has fallen into disrepair. In a letter to the Prime Minister (Hon. G. W. Forbes), Lord Blcdisloe says: “I trust tho gift may bo accepted as a humble token of our sincere appreciation of the friendly kindness we have everywhere experienced from all classes of the warm-hearted New Zealand people since it has been our happy lot to sojourn amongst them.” Tho members of the trust are Lord and Lady Blcdisloe, tho Prime Minister, the Minister in Charge of Scenery Preservation, the Minister of Native Affairs, a member of the family of Archdeacon Henry Williams (at first Mr K. S. Williams, M.P.), a member of the Heke, of .Kawhiti, of Waaka None, or Pomare family as signatories of the treaty (one of each description), thg Northern Maori member of parliament (at first Mr Tan Henare, M.P.), one member of a Maori tribe outside North Auckland, one representative of Bay of Islands residents (at first Mr Vernon, Reed), one representative of tho South Island, either British or Maori (at first Sir Heaton Rhodes), a representative of the family of Edward Gibbon Wakefield (at first Sir Francis Bell), and the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates.