TAWHIAO AT MERCER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 1651, 4 August 1881, Page 5

TAWHIAO AT MERCER.

[BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Mercer, Wednesday. In my last report I forgot to mention the obligation Tawhiao and Major Mair were under to tho courtesy o£ Messrs. Whitson and sons, brewers, who placed at the disposal of Tawhiao and party the Point Russell Hotel for the accommodation of Rewi and his followers, house room being scarce. On being applied to the day previous Mr. Whitson, jun., camo up, and had the house cleaned out and handed over without guarantee or restriction whatever.

A Mercer correspondent writes : —" The entrance of Tawhiao and his followers into this township, the famed Te la, the boundary of the Maori kingdom, was a splendid sight to see. The men marched in good order, and kept good step. They were welcomed by the natives of the place in a most enthusiastic manner, and led to their several quarters. After making the necessary arrangements they dispersed about the township. In the afternoon they had service, at which they all behaved with a reverence that surprised me; While I was in tho township that evening I do not believe a pound was spent in liquor. The rations were apportioned out, and distributed in tho most orderly manner. Tawhiao was much affected when he entered Mercer, and appeared nervous and agitated. I was told that this was because he had just passed Rangiriri, and was in sight of Meremere and Te Koheroa, where so many of his relatives fell in battle."

One curious feature with respect to this visit of the King and his people to Waikato is that they have adopted a motto for their trip. That motto is Tara-hou, or " The cock-crow." The word Tara-hou, when uttered as the Maoris do, is exceedingly like the call of chanticleer, and they heighten the effect by imitating the aapping of wings. If you asked a Maori what was the meaning of their coming to Waikato at the present time, he would probably wave his arms and call out "Tara-hou!" and think it quite unnecessary to give any further explanation. The signification is, however, quite patent— namely, "The dawning of a new day." Wahanui is said to be the originator of the motto. Wahanui has only of late years become known as the most prominent counsellor of the King, and his present name is a new one. He was a very prominent man in the Kingite agitation before the war, when he was Known by the name of Te Ecihana Whakahoehoe.