Natives and the Duke.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 101, 8 May 1901, Page 2

Natives and the Duke.

(.Special to Times.) Auckland, last night. The Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, has received a pile of letters from leading Maoris 'in all parts of the North Island and several villages in the South, cordially approving of the great coining assembage of representatives of the tribes at Rotorua in honor of the visit of tho Royal party to that beautiful place of resort. Many offor contributions of food.

The distinguished rangatira, Mohi Turei, writing to the Native Minister, says: “We are unanimously in accord with ■ your proposals about the way of showm-* respect to the distinguished whose coming is like that of the white crane flitting over the great ocean.” I may explain that the white crane is a which tradition says is only seen in New Zeeland once in a generation, and is always the harbinger of great events. Te Pokiha (the fox), who fought so bravely under the Queen’s flag in the East Coast war, has written a pathetic letter to Mr Carroll, in which he laments his inability, through infirmity of body, to take part in the welcome to the illustrious Prince and his consort. Like Dickens* immortal Silas Wegg, Te Pokiha “ drops into poetry.” I extract tho following couplet:— “ By feathers birds fly, '■ By winds clouds cover the sky.” He is a son of the most famous survivors of the fierce and sanguinary internecino wars of the early days of tho colony. That old veteran used to show a whalebone mere, the handle of which bore seven or eight nicks, which kept tally of the men whom he had slain with his own hand,