A ROYAL DEPARTURE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3623, 14 April 1914, Page 7

A ROYAL DEPARTURE.

.MAORI “KING” LEAVES FOR LONDON. FAKEWEI.LED BY HIS SUBJECTS. CBY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL COSEESPOIVnENT] _ AUCKLAND, April 13. “ there he is! That's the King!" And then after an incredulous comment, “Well, if it isn't the King it must be the Prime Minister.” As a matter of fact it was neither, but the ourist who had made these remarks oil Saturday morning aboard the Niagara snapped the gentleman in question and if the film develops the resulting print will no doubt be shown to Home friends as the picture of “a King sort of person somewhere in the Pacific or Australia, don’t you know.” The individual embalmed in the traveller’s Vade Aleeum attracted spontaneous attention. He was a Alaori. At an angle he wore a “topper” not in the first flush of its youth and, thrown over the shoulder of his morning cat, was a korowai mat done in blue, red, and green worsted, this being worn after the rashiou of.„the sleeveless garments of the Austrian hussars so dear to the composers of musical comedies. Glasses and' a pair of suede gloves of a subdued hue, and an umbrella rolled more or less in the style that attains perfection in Piccadilly, (completed what might truthfully be called a striking toilette. He was apparently the master of ceremonies of a small band of Waikato Alaoris who had paid their twopences to be allowed inside the Harbor Board’s barriers so that they might say farewell to the reigning monarch of the dynasty founded by the late Potatau. When Rata, his burly majesty, appeared on the gangway, the assembled subjects said “Pip, pip. ’ooray!” three times rapidly in succession, and, in response, the "'King’’ gracefully raised his hat. As the hour for the steamer’s departure became imminent, the native “subjects” drew up in two lines facing one another, and lie of the weird sartorial equipment, brandishing his "Sairey Gamp,” gave them the time for the well-known chant "Ka mate, ka

mate.” Occasionally tilings were slightly disorganised by the erruption of an express the driver of which was in a hurry, but his only added variety to the scene. A call from the steamer’s deck“ Give us a haka” was treated with the contempt. it deserved. While the royal departure was rather amusing to the ordinary pakeha, one at least of the travellers is quite in earnest about the matter. Hapu Haingakawa is an old man entitled to respect both from his descent and his own character. Tn his time he has played no unimportant part. He is convinced that there have been violations of the Treaty of Waitangi, more especially in regard to dealings with Maori land. He thinks he has not received the satisfaction from the New Zealand Government the case demands. He lias come to the conclusion that it is no use “talking to the son” as the Maoris say, and he is now going right to the King “the father.” Armed with letters of introduction from the Government to the High Commissioner and Lord. Emmott, this aged Maori is taking his grievances Home. He is accompanied by “King Rata, and Mr G. Paul goes as official interpreter, while Huita Ivaraka also makes one of the party. There has been a good deal of discussion about the trip among the Maoris at Waahi, the royal village on the Waikato River, and opinions are divided as to the wisdom of the royal tour. ’ Those who went away, on Saturday morning say that the objection comes from a very small section and is put down chiefly to personal -reasons. Hie partv l is travelling first saloon. N° definite plans have been made as to the cause of action once London is reached, hut, whatever happens, the travellers will no doubt -have n very interesting story to tell when they get back to the banks of the Waikato River.