E PUNI’S FESTIVAL AT PITONE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XIII, Issue 1371, 22 September 1858, Page 2

E PUNI’S FESTIVAL AT PITONE.

Yesterday the Chief E Puni received a large number of his friends, both Native and European, at his new house near Pitone pah. A booth, one hundred and sixty feet long, was built adjoining the house; and two tables running along its -whole length were completely thronged -with guests closely packed. The tables were covered with white cloths, and the food was served in plates, with knives and forks, in the European style. After the meat and vegetables, plum-pudding was abundantly distributed. A select party of guests, consisting chiefly of the Captain and Cabin passengers of the Oliver Lang, were entertained in the house itself, where the table was covered, and the walls hung, with Kaitaka mats of the finest description. The room is furnished with sofa, chairs, and table; the windows tire hung with lace-work curtains; an excellent portrait of the chief, by Mr. Barraud of Wellington, and an American clock, ornament the walls : the wine was in decanters; the candlesticks, ornamented with paper frills, alternating with bouquets of flowers in vases. The guests were waited on by members of Epuni’s family, who displayed the utmost politeness and care for the comfort of their visitors. A large quantity of food, consisting of pigs roasted whole, baskets of loaves, cels and other fish, was distributed in the open air about I o’clock to those natives for whom no room could bo found in the booth. Before dinner was concluded, heavy rain, penetrating the booth in many places, threw some discouragement on tho assembled party: but when our informant loft, at about half-past nine, tho numbers had not begun to diminish. 'l ie native visitors wore, wo believe, chiefly of die Ngnliawa, Wanganui, and Ngatiruanui tribes, that is, from the West Coast ns for as Patea with the exception of Otaki and ManawatuTAiAiioA. tho Chief of Otago, was also present. Among the European visitors were tho Speaker

of the Provincial Council, Mr. Alfred Ludhun ; Mr. Wakefield, M.P.C.; Mr. Renall, M.HR.; Mr. W. Buller, the Interpreter; Captain Mundle of the Oliver Lang ; and Capt. Wilson of the Queen Steamer, who was third mate of the barque Tory in September 1839, when the purchase of this District by Colonel Wakqfield for the New Zealand Company took place at the same spot, and who was cordially recognized by the old Chief. The gathering appears to have been called for the purpose of discussing the propriety of following the example of some of the Northern tribes, by electing a “ Maori King." E Puni, however, upon whom the choice of most of those favourable to the movement would probably fall, is himself totally adverse to the plan. If the white people were to join in naming him to any dignity, he playfully says, he should say “ Yes;’’ bt- a laughs at the Maori “ Kingdom.” No distinct speeches, on one side or the other, had been made by any one when our informant left. Every’ one was struck by the dignified, graceful, and polite manner in which the old Chief superintended, and his younger relatives executed, all the arrangements for this vast hospitality.