TEE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO THE WAIKATO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5491, 23 June 1879, Page 5

TEE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO THE WAIKATO.

[BY OtTR SPECIAL REPORTER.] Saturday morning found the good people oE Cambridge early astir. Owing to the number of visitors, the hotel accommodation was totally insufficient, and a considerable number were indebted to the kind hospitality of the private residents for sleeping accommodation. As already stated, his Excellency the Governor, Colouel Whitmore, Colonial Secretary, Captain St. John, aide-de-camp, and the Hey. Meaey-Thompson, Private Tecretary, procee led to Fen Court on the previous night, where they were most hospitably entertained by Mr. Every McLean. The Hon. Mr. Sheehau, Rewi, Mr. J. C. young, Land Purchase Agent, Mr. W. H. Grace, and the remainder of the suite remained in Cambridge at the Criterion Hotel, and after tea these gentlemen had a busy time of it with the natives up to & late hour. Saturday morning broke very fine. A sharp frost had prevailed during the night, a ad in the morning the surface of the country had assumed a white veil, whioh glittered in the sun, and gave quite a feature of interest to the surroucding scenery. It was certainly cold, but everything foretold a fine enjoyable day, and the promise was kept to the letter. At half-past 9 o'clock His Excellency, and those who had accompanied him to Fen Court, drove up to the front of the hotel, where the carriages were in waiting and everything ready for a start on the round trip to Ohaupo, via Kihikihi and Te Awamutu. An immense crowd of Europeans aud natives had collected around the hotel, and when the vice-regal party drove off there were very hearty cheers given for His .Excellency and for Rewi, whose presence appeared to create a vast amount of interest. Te Hitine, of Taupo, did not accompany the party past Cambridge, but Mr. Robert Graham aud Wi Maihi joined them, and accompanied them all day. The roads were very heavy, but the aspect of the country was interesting and charming, so that although the journey was necessarily elow, the visitors enjoyed the trip highly. KIHIKini: PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR. Nothing of special interest occurred, until the party arrived at Kihikihi. The resident Europeans and Maoris turned out en masse at the Kihikihi Hotel, where the welcome given was of the most hearty description. Rewi was here met by hie wife and daughter, and seeined much pleased at arriving so near home, after what to him must have been a long absence amougst the wonders of civilization. The Kibikihi and Alpha hotels were both tastefully festooned with fern and nikau fronds, and a large wreath of evergreens spanned the road. When Hia Excellency alighted, he was received on behalf of the natives by Tupotahi, an influential chief and cousin of Rewi Maniaopoto. It had at first been intended that Rew i should receive the viceregal party himself, and make the presentation intended, but aa Ileni had dettrmiued to go on with the party to Te Awatnuta, tha duty devolved upon Tnpotahi, who performed it very gracefully Ho was surrounded by a largo number of the members of his tribe, and on advancing to His Excellency he said—"Salutations to you, 0 Governor, as you have arrived at this country, to the part where evil has arisen. Now you have arrived, it is for you to adjust matters which have been in dispute. That is all I have to eay." Tupotabi then presented to His Excellency a handsome stone mere, to which there is a history attached, as foliows :—"lt was taken by a Bay of Islands chief about 200 years ago from the South Island. It was afterwards taken again in a battle of great slaughter by a Waikato chief, and retaken from him by a Ngatiinaniapoto chief called Terama Apakura, from whom it has descended to Rewi. The song in connection with the stono is very expressive. 'I he hearty nature of the welcome accorded to His Excellency may bo estimated by the presentation of a weapon which the tribe values so highly. His Excellency, in reply, after receiving the present, said (Mr. Grace interpreting) : 1 am very much obliged to you for yonr reception and this present, and hopo with you that my coming may be an augury of good, and that the two race 3 may live happily together, and continue to advance. The visitors then re-entered their carriages, and departed for Te Awamntu, amidst the cheers of these assembled, Rewi continuing his journey as before ia the Governor's carriage. TE AWAMUTU : CAVALRY REVIEW. At Te Awamutu there was a large gathering of Europeans and Maoris to receive His Excellency, and as he was driven up it became apparent that the reoeption would be a hearty one. The principal feature of the display was to be a review of the Cavalry Volunteers, who had assembled to the number of 105, and the fine band, in Mr. White's paddock, a short distance outside the township. His Excellency was received by Colonel Lyon, the officer in command of the district, Major Jackson, in command of the troops, Lieutenant Whitaker, who acted as aide-de-camp to the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, and the other officers. The troops presented a really fine soldier-like appearance, the m;n being well mounted and accoutred, and the manner in which they performed tho evolutions shewed that they were efficiently drilled. As His Excellency approached, the troop, which was drawn up in line, received him with the generul salute, the band playing the appropriate music. They then marched past by squadrons, reversed front, and marched past by files, reversed front, again aud marched past by sections, galloped past in column in line, retired by troops from the right, advanced in review order again, gave the general salute, and formed three sides of a square. His Excellency addressed the troops as follows : I am very much pieuaed at tho efficiency which you have this day displayed ia carrying out the movements just completed. All here are laying the foundation of a country deitiued to a great future, and it must not be forgotten that readiness for self-defence i 3 an important factor in the framing of a free country. I wish to you and the other Volunteers o£ New Zealand vitality and success. (Oheers.) Major Jackson, on behalf of the troops, thanked His Excellency for hia kind remarks, and for his presence amongst them. The attendance waanot so largeon parade 33it would have been had longer notice been given, as many of the men had to come a distance of 20 miles. All those living within easy diatancos were, however, present. Ho called for three hearty cheers for His Excellency, which -vrere curdially given by the troops and the assembled crowd. His Excellency then called for three cheers for Her Majesty the Queen, which were loyally given, and the parade was dismissed, the vico-regal party aiijourning to lunch at Mr. Devin's Hotel, while the troopers and others made arrangements for holding a race meeting in honour of hie (the Governor's) arrival. Several races by Cavalry horses and by Maoris took place, and if the pace was Blow, the contests were keen, at this the first race meeting attended by that patron of tho turf, Sir Hercules Kobiuson, in New Zealand. KEWI'S FAREWELL. At half-past three o'clock the vice-regal party re-entered their carriages in front of the hotel, the whole of the people assembling round to eee them off, and cheer them on their road. Before the carriages started, The Chief Rewi, who was here to bid His Excellency aud the Hon. Minietere and other friends farewell, and return to his own people, advanced to the side of the carriage, and addressing His Exeellenc3', eaid : Friends,—ln bidding you farewell temporarily, to you—the Governor and the people of Auckland—l wish to express my thanks for the kind sentiments which havo been expressed towards mo, and the attention which I have received during my stay amongst you. This viait of the Governor is a flying one, and you are leaving me at my home. Yon, the Governor and myself, with Grey and Sheehan, are to meet soon again. I am satisfied that good results will accrue from the work which has been commenced, and the adverse opinions whioh are offered from different sources should not be heeded, for in tho long run everything will go smoothly. iiHis Excellency briefly replied. He was pleased to have made the acquaintance of Rewi and his people, and joined in the hope that good results would follow the work whioh had been commenced. The vice-regal party then drove off, amidst great cheering, to Ohanpo, where the special train, with Mr. A. V. Macdonald, general manager, were in waiting. Mr. Mason, the engine driver, had a good head of steam on, and Mr. G. F. Stewart, the guard, had everything in his department ia readiness. Hie Excellency and party entered the

train at ten minutes past 5 o'clock, and notwithstanding a stoppage of 15 minutes at Hamilton and another at Mercer, the ran to towa was made in four bonrs, the train reaching the Auckland station at 20 minutes to 10 o'clock. Carriages were in waiting, and the party were at onca driven off to Government House.