THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT TO THE URIWERA COUNTRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 994, 20 March 1891, Page 23

THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT TO THE URIWERA COUNTRY.

DEPARTURE FROM AUCKLAND, PROGRAMME OF THE VISIT. (per press association.) Mercer, March 16. The Governor and party, including the Hon A. J. Cadman and Mr Lewis, Undersecretary of the Native Office, have left by train for Rotorua, on their way to the Uriwera country. The Countess of Ons.ow and Lady Charles Scott aeoompany the party as far as Rotorua. The Governor purposes to stay at Okoro Hot Springs to-nigbt, and go on to Rotorua by the coach to-morrow. Beyond Rotorua the journey will be completed on horseback, but so far the movements of the party are uncertain.. It is expected that the necessary information will be received from Mr Bush, who has been making arrangements, at a later stage of the 3 °lt D is y 'reported that 1500 Natives have assembled at Kutaki to meet tbe Governor, and that Te Keoti bos Veen holding a large meeting there. “It is understood the Natives are inclined to restrict the numoer of the Governor’s party, with the object of excluding any surveyors or gold seekers, but any unpleasantness of the kind is likely to be resented, and may possibly result m the journey being out short, or the visit made a very brief one. Huntley, March 16. News just received by the Governor has enabled His Excellency to more definitely decide upon bis plans. On Tuesday mght the Vice-Regal party will sleep at Rotorua ; they will then proceed to a camping ground at or near Lake Rotoiti ; on Thursday he will attend a Native Meeting at Tekoa, and another at Poroporo, which is within three miles of Ruotoki ; on Thursday night Bis Excellency will inform the Natives assembled at Poroporo that he will arrive at Ruotoki again on Friday morning, and that the whole day will be spent there in korero. it is expected the party will return to Auckland on the 26th inst. M . 17 Rotorua, March 17. Lord and Lady Onslow, accompanied by Lady Charles Scott, Miss Gardner and suite, left; Okoroire at half-past 7 o clock this morning, arriving in Rotorua at twenty minutes past 2, having stayed on the way to partake of lunch. The Governor and Gap-, tain Guthrie, A.D.C., rode on horseback, the ladies of the party being driven in one of his Excellency’s carriages by Mr Walrond, the Governor’s private secretary. a he day was beautifully fine, and the journey was very enjoyable. The Ministerial party, including Mr Cadman (the Native Miuister), Mr Lewis (Under Secretary), Mr Bate (private secretary to Mr Cadman), and the press representatives, arrived m Rotorua about two hours ahead of the vice-regal party His Excellency spent the afternoon in riding about the district, and visited the sanatorium and hospital, being shown over the buildings by Dr Ginders, the medical superintendent. To-morrow he starts for Kuatoke, proceeding by way of Roitoiti, in a steam launch. After Bpending the night in camp there, he wiil proceed on horsebaok to Mr Gould’s cattle station at Opuriau, some forty miles distant. At the great Native meeting at Ruatoke next day Te Kootl will be present. Some doubt has been expressed as to whether the TJriweras would be willing that the Governor should go further into their country than Ruatoki, but a telegram was received to-day from Mr Bush, R.M., stating that the Natives were anxious that the Governor and party should travel through the Uriwera country, and visit them at Ruatahuna. Te Kooti is said to be inducing the Natives to facilitate His Excellency’s progress. Rotorua, March 18. The Governor and party started at 10 this morning. They went across the lake In a steam launch, horses being sent round to meet them on the other side. Warbrick, who has just returned from the Uriwera Country, says the party will probably meet Te Kooti at Te Teko on Thursday, he being unable to wait at Ruatoki to meet the Governor. Warbrick sayH the Ufiweras under, stand that the object of the Governor s visit

is merely cna of curiousity or interest in a part of the country where very few white men have been j. also that the korero to take place at Ruatoki is not likely to. have any political significance. Te Kooti, at the recent meeting held at Ruatahuna to open his new house, told the TJriweras that they must not let the white man get foothold there. Wherever the Maoris had allowed the whites to mingle with them they introduced drink, obtained possesion of the land, and the Natives became demoralised. This sentiment was received by the TJriweras with unanimous approval. The meeting with the Governor at Knatoki is unlikely, therefore, to involve more than an interchange of friendly greetings. The Governor continued his journey to the Uriwera country to-day, starting Rotorua in the steam launch at half-past 9 o’clock. The party, which had been joined by Lord Ancrum and hi 3 travelling companion, Mr Fuller, disembarked near the Morea, on the eastern shore of Rotorua, the launch being taken down the Ohau stream, which connects Rotorua and Rotoiti. This is the first time a steamer has ever been on Rotoiti. After the party had re-embarked the steamer proceeded down the Lake to the small native village of Ruato, which was leached at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Here the party partook of lunch, and .on the arrival of their horses and camp equipage, it was decided to camp at Ruato for the night and proceed to Te Teko to-morrow. The ladies of the party (the Countess of Onslow, Lady Charles Scott, and Miss Gardner returned in the steam launch to the Morea, and drove thence to Tikitere and Rotorua. The weather was beautifully fine. Lord Onslow and the ladies of the party walked overland from Rotorua to Rotoiti, re-embarked there, and continued the trip across Lake Rotoiti in the launch. The water throughout the journey was as smooth as glass, and the weather beautifully fine and the distinguished visitors had a splendid view of the more notable places of interest en route. A landing was effected on Ruatoa on the further shore of the lake, where the party had luncheon, and were joined by Guide Maxwell, who brought round both ridiDg and pack horses, the latter being laden aB for a six months’ cruise. His Exoellency proposes to pash forward this afternoon for a distance of about fourteen miles on the way to Te Teko, and then camp out for the night. Should the Uriwera Natives wish to take the Governor ana party further inland than Ruatoki* it is understood he will decline on account of the short space of time at his disposal, but will promise, if circumstances permit, to make another visit into the interior next year.