TAWHIAO ON HIS TRAVELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7003, 28 April 1884, Page 4 (Supplement)

TAWHIAO ON HIS TRAVELS.

On Maroh' 29, Tawhiao , (accompanied by between twenty and thirty. Maoris) came down by train from Mercer,, the meeting there having terminated. Three hundred natives came down the river with Tawhiao, and thio number was augmented at the meeting by- a ' considerable number from the Thames and other parts, who came overland to Mercer. There was, of course, a tangi.and.speeches of farewell. Amongst "the natives who, have come to Auckland with Tawhiao are: Te Wheoro (M.H.R.), Topia Turoa, Patara te Tuhi, Honana te Mai6ha, 'Te Ngakan, Whitiora Tareranui (of the Thames). Te Wheoro, who is acting as the[ business man of the party, on Saturday, wigaged'" five passages for the party —Tawhiao, Te Wheoro, Topia Turoa, Patara. te Tuhi, and Mr. Skidmore as interpreter. They left by the Tarawera for Sydney on April 1, thenca to Melbourne and England by the Sorata, which leaves • Sydney on April" 12, and goes by way of the. Sea " TAWHIACS CROWN.

Tawhiao came out on Monday with a strong iusertion of his kingly dignity. He appeared in Queen-street with a moit extraordinary head-dress, in the shape of an imperial •Crown.. It was apparently constructed of wire, covered ; with briliiantly-coloured flax to imitate gold and gems. It was made by ; Maoris, and it certainly reflects credit on the designer and artificer. 4 It attracted an immense amount of attention. Its assumption shows that Tawhiao has no intention of abdicating, although he is about to face the great' monarch, on whose dominion the sun never lets* - . VISIT TO THE TSUKUBA. On Monday afternoon, Tawhiao, accompanied by Patara te Tuhi, Honana te Maioha, Hauauru Poutama, Te Heuhen Tukino, Whitiora, Te Ngakan, Te Rata Tawhiao, Parakn Rapana, Henare Kaihau, Te Ika, Mr. - Skidmore, Mr. R. Isaacs, and Mr, E. T. Dufaur, paid a visit to the Japanese war vessel Tsnkuba. Mr. C. O. Davis went with the party, and acted as interpreter. The King and hia companions "were courteously received by Captain Ariji, the commander of the war vessel, and his first lieutenant, and were Bhown over the vessel, and the various objects of interest pointed ont and explained to them Tawhiao and his suite examined the various armaments with much curiosity and interest. Before leaving, the party were invited into the captain's cabin, where cigars and refreshments were produced. Out of regard for Tawhiao's temperance principles none of the party partook of wine. Captain Ariji, Tawhiao, expressed his pleasure at the King's visit, and said that he would inform the Emperor of Japan, who would no doubt be equally pleased that the King had visited- one of his warship*. The captain added, that he believed the Japanese and Maoris to bo one race, and remarked £hat there was a similarity in the two languages. It may bo stated here that the Maoris alao noticed a similarity. The captain thenprsented the King with a handsome suit of Japanese armour, richly embroidered with gold; The King appeared grsatly delighted with the present, and. in return gave the captain a.kaitaka mat, a whalebone weapon called a hoeroa, and a kawerapa, a sort of knapsack formerly used by the Maoris when engaged in war. Tawhiao said theae articles \yere heirlooms of his ancestors. He also expressed his pleasure at the kind manner in which he had been received. The . party then returned to the shore. • Prior to the departure of Tawhiao he sent the following letter to this journal:— POROPOROAKI. XI TE ETITA O TE HEBABA. * ; E hoa, tena koe 1 Tukua atu aku kupa Ida kite kia mobio nga iwi erua e hoho i te gootu nei Pakeha Maori. Ka haere atu ahau i Nui Tireni ki Ingarangi. Taku kupu iho Hi koutu i muri nei, Kia pai te noho ; kaua rawa e tnwhera etahi raruraru ki runga i nga whenna Maori, ahakoa kooti whenua rori tango monei ranei a te Maori me nga raihana waipiro, ara, nga tikanga e tau ana ki rongtf i nga whenua Maori, ite mea hoki e whai tikanga ana ahau ki enei whenua Vntna. Koia te take o taku kupu kei pokanoa tetshi tangata Maori Pakeha hoki ki'te mahi enei mahi i muri i taku haerenga atu. Waiho marire kia hoki ma iahau, ka whakaputaiaa a ahau te kupu whakaotinga,—Na Kxso^Tawuiao.

[Translation. 1 A FAREWELL. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. _ ! Friend, greeting ! Publish my sentiments 80 thjit both races living in this island, both Europeans and Maoris, may see them. lam going from New to England. This is my word, which .1 leave with you : After iny departure, dwell all of you in peace. In no wise allow any disturbance to take place during .my absence, in the - Land Courts, or in re»pect to roads or the taking of money by Maoris, i.e., accepting instalments on lands, or permitting any publican's license, or introducing any matter affecting Maori lands, as I have an interest in the -whole of the Maori territory. These are the grounds of my counsel, to prevent any JSuropean or Maori from heedlessly doing' anything herein mentioned in my absence. 'Let matters remain in abeyance till my return, and I will then make known the decision. —Tawhiao, King. This is rather a cleverly-worded document. Tawhiao aims at preserving the status quo till his return, warning the natives against entering into any land transactions, and claiming an interest in the whole of the Maori territory. INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR. His Excellenoy the Governor, having heart} that.Tawhiao would like to see him before he left for England, kindly intimated to him that he would be glad to receive a visit from him at any time. Tawhiao at once determined to go, and proceeded on Tuesday to Government House, accompanied by Patara te.Tnhi and Topia Taroa. Mr. C. O. Davis went as interpreter, and Mr. Brame as representing the committee of the Temperanoe mission. The natives were introduced to His Excillenoy by Mr. C. O, Davis. -'•His Excellency said he was glad to see Tawhiao. • He would have seen him some time ago when he was at Alexandra, but he was accidentally prevented from going to Whatiwhatihoe. He was now glad to meet tlim, and he hoped he would have a pleasant voyage.to' England. On his return he would see the Governor, and tell him of the things he saw and heard in the mother oonntry. By the route they were going to England they would have an opportunity of seeing Sydney, 'Melbourne, Aden, the Red Sea, Malta, and Gibraltar. They would also see that celebrated city LondoD, where ha (Sir W.Jervois) had- resided for twenty years. That city had a population ten times •greater; than the whole population of New. Zealand. They would probably meet with some people in London who knew him (His Excellency), and they were to tell them that he was welL He waa glad to see that they wore'the blue ribbon. He hoped they would wear it all the way, and bring it hack with them. He was glad indeed to -find that a number of Maoris had adopted this badge, because it waa a very excellent thing. If anything came before him officially .affecting the Maoris in regard to this question he'.would be glad to'give it his most serious consideration. -

Tawhiao said: I rejoice exceedingly that I have had this opportunity of meeting your Excellenoy, I heard of your arrival at Alexandra some time since, and I expected you .to visit' me at'Whatiwhatihoe. But I find that accidental circumstances; prevented .you from coming. I am goiog to England, and jqst as I am about to embark I have the 'opportunity of seeing you, . I did not see you'during my excursions through the country. I am therefore the more rejoiced to" .meet you, and to say farewell! I shall ; have,.the opportunity of seeing new places .and new countries. You are new to me now,- that is to say, this is the first time I have seen your face, and heard from your •.own liijs your sentiments, although I know • something about your utterances at Kawhia ; on tho drink .question in relation to .Europeans and Maoris. Your sentiments were imcst Bjcdellent. I am bidding, farewell to Sir George Grey and to you. When I:get to London, '.the people will be asking me if I sat? the Governor, and I shall say, *Yesj I * have aeon him, and he is well, and Sir George <Grey : also.' I have also seen the strangers * in''Auckland here from Germany [Tawhiao •here refers to his having been on board the ■ German '• man-of-war, ' on his ~ last visit to • Auckland], and I have also seen those "Strange people, the Japanese. I shall also 'see many strange and 'many strange countries. I shall feast my eyes on those "people and- places, 'and judge for myself. 'This! is my proverb, *"Ka whakapapa to *poueamu te moano, ka tore te karohirohi •JWhen the sea is calm, like the polished greenstone, there are signs in tho atmo*

sphere." This figure denotes that I am going on a.peaceful mission, that everything is bnght and clear. It is a feeling of my own heart. My heart rejoices in the fact of my meeting you face to face, and hearing from your own lips your utterances, which I consider very good. Pat aha then asked the Governor for a map that they might understand the countries through which they would have to pass. His Excellency said he would obtain a suitable msip and mark the route, and send it to the Governor Browne Hotel. He pointed out on a small map which he had by him the different rontes from N6W Zealand to England. Both Tawhiao and Patara were much interested. Mr. C. O. Davis interpreted throughout the interview. His Excellency then shook hands with his visitors, and then: left, Tawhiao exclaiming when they got outside the door, "He is a fine man. How clear were his words, and ho looked so pleasant through all 1" THE EMBARKATION. Tawhiao and a large number of Maoris went on board the Tarawera at five o'clock, the hour at which she was advertised to sail. The steamer, however, did not leave till eight o'clock. A considerable number of Europeans visited the. ship to bid the voyasers good-bye. In addition to Tawhiao, Te Wheoro, Patara, and Topia, a native named Hori Ropiha, of Taupo, also went. They were all decorated with the blue ribbon, i which was. attached by neat silver buckles, made in Auokland to the order of Mr. C. O. Davis. Amongst those who bade the natives good-bye at the last were Father Walter McDonald, and Mr. Mcßeth. Patara Baid they would have likec to have taken Mr. Mcßeth with them, but they had not funds enough. ■Hi 3 Excellency the Governor Bent a large and handsome map to show them the ronte of travel, and they were much gratified at this mark of attention. Shortly before the vessel was to leave the natives all assembled on the poop, and held a religious service, which was led by the two Wanganui chiefs—Topiha and Ropia. Tawhiao asked Mr, Davis to pay a visit occasionally to hiß people at Whatiwhatihoe, to see that everything was going on well. The natives who were on board then took an affectionate farewell of their relatives who were going on to England, and the Tarawera went on her voyage. , .