HIS EXCELLENCY'S JOURNEY TO WANGANUI.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 819, 19 January 1867, Page 4

HIS EXCELLENCY'S JOURNEY TO WANGANUI.

(From the Southern Cross Jan. 8.) Our Tauranga correspondent . intimates that the Governor had safely reached Rotoaire, in advance of his party, escorted by a strong body of armed Arawas. Everywhere he had been well received. The social and political importance of this journey cannot be overlooked ; and the whole colony otfght to feel grateful to his Excellency for the resolution which he displayed in undertaking it in the face of rumours which might well have deterred a brave man. Since writing the foregoing we have been i obligingly furnished with the following letter by the Superintendent, which his Honor received from the Governor. The letter will be read, no doubt, with satisfaction and pleasure by the people of Auckland. It is to be hoped that the way opened by his Excellency will be traversed by Europeans of the right stamp, and that the friendly intercourse of the races, based on mutual benefits, will be extended in the interior. The difficulty at Tauranga, with judicious management, may be got over without disturbing the natives elsewhere. The follovying is his Excellency's letter : — "Rotoaire, December 81, 1866. " His Honor F. Whitaker, Esq., Auckland. "My dear sir, — In. fulfilment of my promise, I write to say. that the whole country, from Tauranga and Orakei Korako, on the Waikato, to this place, is in a most satisfactory state. I believe the same state of things prevails on to Wanganui, for which place lam just starting. The people everywhere are anxious to have Europeans amongst them ; and travellers may rely on being treated with the greatest kindness. In some places, they have already built, and at others they are about to build, guest houses where travellers can obtain necessaries. This part of New Zealand is in a better state than I have ever known it. The natives show a greater desire to have Europeans amongst them, and to follow our customs, than at any previous time. lam sure you would have been pleased if you could have seen the delight that has been everywhere shown at the Governor coming into the country, and the certainty they now feel that Europeans ' will soon follow the Governor. Many of them are anxious to let their lands for sheep runs. u We have just come down from Tongariro. I thought it better to go up the mountain to show that the whole country was truly open, and that their old foolish ideas were at an end. We had a miserable day, misty — and terrible wind and cold. I saw nothing but fog and smoke, and was almost perished with cold, but thought it better to accomplish the object I had in view ; and any one who likes may now go up the mountain, if they take two or three guides at the rate of ten shillings a man. This will really hardly pay for shoe-leather. I congratulate you heartily at the state of this large part of the province of Auckland, and trust that your Government will seize this opportunity of permanently uniting the the natives of the interior to the European race. — Truly yours, " (Signed) G. Grey."