THE GOVERNOES MOVEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8500, 26 February 1891, Page 5

THE GOVERNOES MOVEMENTS.

VISIT TO THE UREWERA COUNTRY. INVITATION FROM THE NATIVES. It will be remembered that shortly after last session it was the intention of His Excellency the Governor to pay a visit to the Urewera country. At the request of the natives, however, it was decided to postpone the trip for a month or two, to allow them time to give His Excellency a suitable reception. A cordial invitation has now been received from the Urewera chiefs, asking the Governor to meet them at Ruatoki, on the 20th March. The invitation is as follows :— Rnatoki, February 10th, 1891. To His Excellency the Governor. Salutations to you. This is an invitation to you to come to Ruatoki, so that you may see us, and we you. We are unable to invite you this month, as we have several other engagements, bvU the chiefs of Tuhoe (i.e., Urewera) invite you for the 20th of March, 1891. When you come on that day, the whole of Tuhoe will assemble at Ruatoki. We wish to see you present in person on the 20th of March. These are all the words to you. (Signed) Kerero Tjs Pckenui, Eruati Tamaikoha, Hetaraka Wakaunpa, Renata Te Uanumia, . Makarini Wharrhoia, Tcttakangahao Tapoi (From all Tuhoe). This invitation was forwarded through Mr. Bush, R.M., who in a note accompanying it explains that the invitation, so far as the Tuhoe (Ureweras) are concerned, comes from them without having been in any ay sought after. We are informed that it is the intention of His Excellency to accept the invitation. He intends to start from Auckland in time to reach Ruatoki on the 20th of March, and will go via Rotorua, across by Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoma to Whakatane. From Whakatane he will follow up the Whakatane River through the Urewera country, and then strike across the Rangitaiki River and the Kaingaroa plains to Taupo, and thence back to Auckland. His Excellency intends to return to Auckland on the2Sth of March in time for the military sports and the citizens' ball. After Lord Onslow's return to Auckland ho will go on the trip to the Thames, which was recently postponed owing to the Hinemoa not being available. VISIT TO THE TRUANT SCHOOL. Yesterday His Excellency the Governor telephoned to His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Upton) expressing a desire to visit the Truant School. The Mayor at. once telephoned to the offices of the Board of Education with a view of getting Mr. Udy (the chairman of the Board) to accompany the vice-regal party. Mr. Udy, however, was found to be away in Waikato, consequently the Mayor undertook the duty. Lord Onslow and the Countess, accompanied by Captain Guthrie, A.D.C., and Mr. Fuller (a gentleman from England interested in educational matters), unostentatiously walked over to the Albert - street school, where, by arrangement the Mayor met the party, and showed them over the school. The headmaster (Mr. Burlinson), the senior assistant (Mrs. Skeen), and Miss Cleveland put the children through their educational exercises. His Excellency expressed himself as much pleased with their proficiency and discipline, and carefully inspected the exercise books and slate work. Referring to the article on "Gutter Children in Melbourne," in the Herald of that morning, His Excellency expressed to Mr. Burlinson his opinion that the methods of teaching and training adopted in the Truant School would meet the requirements of the gutter children in Melbourne. His Excellency stated (to the great delight of the children) that he hoped shortly to entertain the children ab Government House, and said jocularly that no child playing truant in the interval would be entitled to bo present. The Countess was also much interested in the children, and asked quite a number of questions regarding the working of the school, the progress of the pupils, and the methods adopted for maintaining order and discipline. The visit of the vice-regal party was a source of great pleasure to the youngsters, to whom the phrase " the j Governor" had been simply a figure of speech, but who have now a much better notion of the Queen's representative than they have hitherto had. It may be mentioned in this connection that Inspector Goodwin, in his report oil the school, under the heading, " Methods, and Quality of Instruction," says:—"Good. Mr. Burlinson has special qualifications for the particular kind of work required in this school. He is ably assisted by Mrs. Skeen and Miss Cleveland." VISIT TO THE LIBRARY. In the afternoon Lord and Lady Onslow and suite paid a visit to the Free Library, where the various treasures were shown to them by Sir George Grey. The vice-regal party were astonished and very much pleased with the many curious and valuable books, documents, and other articles which were exhibited to them, and their pleasure was heightened by the fact that in Sir George Grey they had the best possible guide to the treasures with which he has enriched the city of Auckland. . Sir George Gray is always on the look out for objects of interest to add to the Library collection, and at his request Lord Onslow has kindly presented to him, for preservation in the Library, the invitation from the Urewera chiefs and other documents connected with the approaching visit of His Excellency to the Urewera country. This visit being the first made to this practically unknown country, these documents will naturally be of much historic interest.