OHJNEMUTU VISITED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11680, 15 June 1901, Page 5

OHJNEMUTU VISITED.

HEARTY NATIVE WELCOME

SI A.OB t PRESENTATIONS.

QL'AINT CEREMONIES

'I hi> liitln cerciiiotiy over '..heir Rojat Hiy'urt-K.-.es re-e.itered the coach and drove iliKiteds lie.' Siinaroriuui irronnds to OhiuoMiiitii. Ih-i'e iho Maori* oi the Arawti, tribe, ,\!io iiih.'.iiii the ritlage, v.tte in .i.-iiuo; to give a tills .'.i.iori \voici>;UO to (he yi'uriUaOU of the t.ie.it- Queeii, uuder whose Leiifclicent rule the Ai-ioiis have changed flora tierce and «iU - -lovi:)g salvages to peaceful aiul loyal idlizciui of the Empire over which the Qtieoii, wii'iri) they k-anied to love ami adr.)ive so much, so long held se.vuv. 'i'he usual l.vii'd of native women were at the entraiH'.a to the village waving their branches, tlii-riHiig their see.timents of welcome, and giving unrestrained expression to their glee at. the arrival in their midst of the rep re,-* :;i.',",.; of the Royal House v.ho hud come so tar to sea them. Some AGO Maoris were gathered in the nuwae or silhi;;« sf|uare. The women woie krnoai mat-', and \;eie lavishly dieoraicil with feathers, while soiJK- of Hie me:) were ihe.aseci in ears Kiwi nnd ; suiii mats, 'i i,< \ formed three sides of a >•;:!. the v.-ov,ioii'(ieein>yii : the ride first a]tproy.«lied by the Royal visitors. their Highnesses stoitl in front of the wharo runiu'iga., or meeting-house, in full view of i he inbled natives.

As soon as the Duke, and Duchess had (alum tip their positions the wild chant of welcome iotnn;en'"'d. The \omeu waved their bony!.:., keepin ■ i ieie to the swint; of the ihtint, while the nv':i, with bared chest-, resulted a most in:-] iriiing see. ;te as i hey swung ilei-ir ti'.w»i:tt;!v.;i< fv.rr their

he ■,•!-; end we void in v.eivd s! ,c». aed wdd eesti.'idat'oos to their unbounded joy at tho gree.; hoe,mr roufci'tt-d on the tribe in h in.,r s ,.ei.;a!!v visited.

V.'!u?ti the greetings vwie over iiieir TTij.di!oes?s we?e cseovtett to a pnsi'ion irfeh:g il.e nmomiieni erected in honour of the late Queen Vietorii. where f'.oy were pnsented wiih a due preenstooe mere, kits, and mats.

When the I,'ir'ts of aroha (love) vete handed over to the Royal ju:e.-'ts. pipiri M.-i----i'i;v,!. ~ a chief of the .Arawa,, said:

"We are s|»!'R;ulinjr these Maori ewmpnts before you and before the statue of Tier late M.iie.-fv the Queen. This is in accordance with t!i° Viori custom of hiving offerings in ir.tMnory oi' those who are der-crted. .i,s a ■:.-:: id our love. Therefore, we beg vmir Royal rrit;lir.-?.S!<cH not to d'onvxard those sih.dii presents, unwirthy ti>o-Jt;h (hey be: but in take then with '..-mi, that is rill. Thee a.v frcifl ih~ Aiw«s " His rtovj'tl Hiifiiinis? lift.?.'! his hat in 1.--ken of Id:. 1 hunks to the Maoris, ami in-«ti-i.iPlfd (Vote in >.Tair to :<*>p to the eon- ■-■ •-■.-. i :.' t> of (It "'■ft* to the flraild Hotel, ■:•!,.„ she I-;'---; v~,H:H round the rm* • ..I ehi<\'. A or Pov. who v-iis seeded iJs! in front of his trib;*m?n. in his fine m.>J n f pvnipvip woi-kmiiii-b;)!, i.Mi) swi«vd iii ha-d he n.f.ih. a very .ii.'dfi.-! old ikm'-e. \Y'i)i much -iinw of fpi:;><«;t for the lush 0.-I'sona.ue who was? visit Hie pa. the <dd chief Pirsrnl d the Tluke v.itb a heao'ifrdly-m'-vfd id::, v.dli a vcrv i iiliiib'.-.' l>it e of ■;• :■ r '. ,';:■ til;.. ! ;.< liio hi •'!. Til* [iii].-,. ih.-nked ll.e :i'v-f»o+ drniw v.-m-.'iv, a.id ;:v-: : .,'d him th.at. ill? /lit WOUki :.!v.»vs he in — d. .«( ;}.,. , .■.;.'::. ' ( - A ■ ( the h< ii- the .ir- •■ 'j'..';, ■.!<'•: .'' i.r '>■■' " lit i'o-' the iTTi'rtt. wh'ii inolher Vi.-'-ori-'i. ! ; ie fiillovin;; he.ii.i lr,w.htion of the fiv.it few linos: — Keek )e.'J.r. search I'.-.r. I'.-.:• re is nor Owtfi.' i , ;>ho lias ..-..-. ~M . .. ' . I'alran; to toe <-■- ■> ■"?:■ place: io Hie ~".i!.e.-!-i:.'?-iiia.'o ui :.i! earthiv liv.uiures The Brcalflts3 of K'ibU'jhl he.3 iovr,