THE GOVERNOR IN THE KING COUNTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8966, 17 April 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE GOVERNOR IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Mercer, April I,

This morning a special train left for Otorohanga, in the King Country, the scene of the proposed large Native meeting. The party consisted of the Governor, Lady Onslow and suite, Sir Frederick and the Misses Whitaker, Mr Mitohelson, the Mayor of Auckland, and others. The trip was an important one, inasmuch aa this is the first time the Governor of tire Colony has crossed the aukati line of the King Country. The party expect to reach Otnrohanga about 2.30 p.m. The meeting com mences soon after arrival. ' A large number of leading chiefs of the principal tribes are already assembled, and it is expected that Wahanui, Taonui, Kewi, and other leading men will be present to-morrow. 'I ho re. cently discovered Waiotomo caves will be visited, the party proceeding there on horseback and canoes. On the following day other sights of the King Country will be inspected, and the party returns to town about Friday. Te Awamutu, April 1. Otorohanga, a email village of some dozen or fifteen houses in, the King Country, was the scene of a very important gatheving this afternoon. The occasion was important in so far as it was the first time a New Zealand Governor had crossed the “aukati” line, dividing the Native from European territory. His Excellency the Governor and party reached Otorohanga by rail between 2.and 3 o’clock in tho afternoon, the trip up having been a very pleasant one of rather more than five hours. The weather was beautifully fine, and admirably adapted for travelling,’ The only incident of importance on the journey was the fire in one of the hdrse.boxes, by which two of his Excellency's horses were rather badly burned. The outbreak was discovered at Frankton station, where a stoppage had been made for a few moments. Smoke was observed issuing from the trucks, and it was found that the loose straw was on fire. No damage was done beyond injury to the horses. The cause of the accident could not be ascertained, but it is believed that a match had been lying amongst the straw and was trodden on by one of the horses. On arrival at Otorohanga it was found that a crowd of Maoris and Europeans, numbering several hundreds, were in waiting to receive the Governor. A triumphal arch had been erected near the railway station, and on the curve of this were the words “Haeremai” or welcome. The Governor and party having alighted from the train were met by several prominent residents, and proceeded toward the hall owned By the Natives, where a meeting was to be held. The whole crowd walked In the same direction in groups, the Maori women singing a. song of welcome. Amongst the chiefs present were Rewi, Ngatima, and 55 Ngatimaniopotos, Wahanui, Paonui, JJanauru, and Rangituatea, These are leading chiefs of the three most important tribes of the dis-trioti-At the entrance to the hall the Governor was met by the Chief Rewi and welcomed to the King Country. The assemblage having been seated In the hall with the guests on a platform, John Ormsby, a young chief, came forward and read an address in Maori, of which the following ia a translation :

To Lord Onslow, Governor of New Zealand.—Greeting. We the chiefs and people of Ngatimaniopto, Ngaraukawa, and Ngatihikairo, welcome you and Lady Onslow in consequence of this, your first visit to, ns,; also, wo most cordially welcome yon as the representative of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of England. ' We also welcome you because your visit to ns takes place during the year of the Jubilee of this Colony. During the 50 years that

have passed away a number of important matters that have brought about trouble have taken place between the two race?, viz., the Maoris and the Europeans* The other tribes of this island have for some time past been living on good terms with the Europeans. As you are the first Governor who has visited this district we are exceedingly glad to welcome you, and sincerely hope that this is only the J prelude to other visits from yourself and I other Governors in the future. Sufficient.” Several chiefs then rose, and according to the usual Maori custom addressed words of welcome to his Excellency, two of the speaksrs also chanting a song. The speakers were Hone Wetere oa Kauriao, Pena .ha (of the Ngatiraukawa), Hanarnand Tauhana (of Ngatimaniopoto), and also a woman, who appealed to the Governor for redress against a wrong she said • had been done her by the cutting up of her laud into roads since the railway was made. All her lands, she said, wore now nothing bat roads, and one might pity hrr, The speaking having ceased, his Excellency replied. He said—“ You are all strangers to me, with one exception, and that is Rewi. He came to Auckland on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Colony', but then I had just arrived in the land. I received a message from Taonui and Hanaura, a message of greeting ; and, as I told them then, I made a point of coming hare to greet you. I now greet you all. lain glad to have an opportunity of seeing the tribe that has moat recently mingled"* itself with the Europeans. You have said that I was the firat Governor that visited you, but it is not likely that governor 3 will come unless they know they are welcome, .is so in ;s 1 knew you ■: ad liuked you selves w?:'-. the Europeans I hastened to meet you, ~iid I hope 1 shell be able to visit, under similar circumstances, every tribe in the Colony. One great principle of the Queen’s Government is that all people are equal. 'the Queen knows no difference between those born in New Zealand and those horn in England, a'l have the same courts of justice and the same Parliament. I did not expect that you all couid be present here to-dav, but I shall travel through different parts of the Colony, and 1 hope to greet and be greeted by all tribes. I have yet to learn your local wants—the wants of your locality—and I will begin to-morrow by riding over the road that has been referred to on our way to the caves. I thank you all heartily on behalf ot the Queen I represent, and also thank you on behalf of Lady Onslow, whom we have here to-day'. I shall cherish your address as a memorial of my visit.” The conclusion of his Excellency’s address was received by the stamping of feet as applause, after the European fashion. And Mr Mitohelson having expressed his willingness to meet these who wished to see him, the meeting terminated. The Governor and his party spent the afternoon wandering round the settlement inspecting the objects of interest, and was accompanied hither and thither by a crowd of eager Natives as spectators. It is intended to visit the Waiotomo oaves to-mor-row, when the Governor and Captain Savile, both of whom are expert amateur photographers, will take a series of views. The Governor and suite have brought a tent, and are camping out. Some of the party are sleeping in railway carriages, and other visitors are staying at the hotel. Otobohanua, April 2.

Tha only matter of general importance dealt with at the meeting last night was a request to remove the restrictions from the whole of the King Country, an area of six million acres, so that the Natives may deal with it as they please. At present only the Government have,power to deal for any of these lands. Mr Mitchelaon said the Govern', meat could not think of granting the request on any consideration, and refused to entertain the proposal. Wahann), who followed, said Mr Mitchelson was quite right in re. fusing, and the desire to remove the restrictions from the country was not general. Otorohanga was very lively last night, a number of Natives being in the township. European and Native dances were in progress, while in the Public. Hall, Mr Mitchelson (Native Minister) held a meeting with the Natives, the Governor being also present. The meeting was very important in one respect. A number of years ago it was the Government who urged the Maoris to allow roads to bo made and work to be done in the King Country, and at that time a man would be shot for attempting such work. Last night, on the contrary, it was the Maoris who pleaded with the representative of the Government to make roads, bridge the rivers and construct cattle sidings. So far as railway matters went, Mr Mitchelson said he would lay them before the Commissioners ; various other requests were promised consideration. The meeting will be continued to-night, when individual grievances will be discussed. The Governor and I ady Onslow have brought with them a staff of attendants ami a large tent- The Viceregal party therefore camped out for the night in their tent, and also used some of the railway carriages. Sir p. Whitaker, Mr B. Mitchelson, and other guests stayed at the comfortable little hotel in the village. It is stated in the address that Lord Onslow was the first Governor who crossed the aukuti . line and visited the King Country, This is true only so far as the period since the war is concerned. Jlefore the war Sir George Grey was repeatedly through the whole of this country, and occasionally was accompanied by Bishop Selwyn. At this time the Natives had made much industrial progress, and had their own flour mills. After the war they fell back into the old style of nessThe expedition from Wellington to view the proposed route of the North Island Main Trunk Kailway is expected to reach Poro-_o-tarau Tunnel on the Bth or 9tfa, and will return down the Wanganui river, under the guidance of Mr Hursthouso, who is here.' The weather this morning is again beautifully fine. The Governor and party are just (9 a.m.) about setting out for the remarkable Waitomo caves on horseback. • Te Awametu, April 3, The recently-discovered Waiotomo caves were visited to day by his Excellency the Governor and a largo party of Europeans and Natives, and a most enjoyable day was spent. One section of the party, including Lord and Lady Onslow and Misses Whitaker,' rode the whole distance of ten miles to the caves on horseback. The others, among whom were Sir Frederick Whitaker, Mr E. Mitchelson and Mr J, H. Upton (Mayor of Auckland), travelled by train to flongitiki, a distance of six miles, and then walked a mile and a half, and did the final four miles and a half on horseback. This .arrangement enabled the latter party to see something of the King country beyond Otorohanga, and they were well repaid for their trouble. The scenery is beautiful, the undulating country stretching away as far as the eye can reach, with here and there a peaceful valley, in the cent re of which are the raupo whares and maize clearings, indicating the existence of a Maori settlement. Occasionally a pretty winding stream varies the view, and renders it more enchanting to the eye. One is struck with the luxuriance of the cultivation and evident richness of the soil. Here is. some of the finest land in the Colony, and the fact is important that it is now under negotiation and ere long will be covered with numerous homesteads. The Government hope to be able to put the first settlers on it this year, and are endeavouring to acquire an immense area of similar country, the soil of Which is splendid. The scene at Waiotomo when the party, which formed quite a cavalcade, arrived there was a picturesque one. Waiotcupo, is a valley, or, more ooirreotly speaking, a saddle, between two high ranges of hills, and at the foot of this saddle runs the Waiotomo River. Crossing the saddle, the slope beyond was covered by a motley assemblage of Maoris, who chanted a song of welcome when Lard and Lady Onslow appeared. His Excellency shook hands with several of the chiefs and suitably acknowledged their greetings. A start was then made for the caves. Entrance is made by a water stream, some 20 feet wide, flowing underground. The party were conveyed, three hr-four at a time, through the cavernous entrance, a distance of

about 50 yards, and landed in the first chamber. The caves are of limestone formation, and are mosr remarkable in appearance—indeed, as a sight they surpass the famous Fink and White Terraces of Rotorua. The interior of the cavern by which entrance is gains i is weird in the extreme, immense stalactites of earthen colour hanging from the roof and projecting from the sides, giving the chamber an uncanny appearance. Indeed, the fact that the caves remained so long undiscovered was due to the dreed the Maoris had of the entrance, which they believed was haunted by taniwhas. A stream runs all the way through the caves, which are somewhat intricate in their windings, tiaverting a distance of nearly half a mile. The whole of this is done on foot. The interior is beautiful beyond description. One of the largest chambers, which is probably 40ft high, resembles the interior of a Gothic cathedral, with a vaulted ceiling carved out beautifully, as if it had been done by the chisel of a mason. Immense columns and pillars of limestone deposit rise to the ceiling. Beyond this is a glow worm chamber, so called because the roof is illumined by millions of glowworm's, which gluten like countless gems. Another chamber is called the Native Lauds Court, from the fact that stalagmites form figures corresponding in detail with the occupants of a Court of Justice. Ascending by meins of ladders, other chambers are reached, and in these the formations are of every conceivable form, and wonderfully beautiful. Some re-enable woollen fabric?, and others are like chiselled folds of pure and trans parent marble, and other.-* again possess the graceful outlines of the loveliest statuary. Scarcely two formations are alike. From the roof depend immense numbers of stalactites, which might be more graphically described as crystal pendants, some being for all the world like bunches of parsnips, and others being fully two foot long, and no thicker than a pencil. The organ gallery contains a good imitation of an organ in pure marble, while in the uaxt chamber may be seen a remarkable phenomenon. From the ceiling hangs what might he taken for the folds of a blanket, but what is really limestone formation. It is sub transparent, and if a light is held behind ■ it, one can plainly see the green stripes of a blanket just where they would be. There is a beautiful imitation m miniature of the White Terraces, the surface of which is covered with glistening white silica. Another phenomenon is the formation of black terraces amongst the white crystallised formation. Probably the loveliest spot of all is the Fairy Grotto, which from its appearance might have been hollowed out of pure white marble. Here again the stalactites have resumed the moat fantastic shapes, and are charming in their loveliness. The party finally emerged on the side of the hill, 50ft above the spot where they entered. It was the general opinion that the Waiotomo Caves will ere long be one of the most popular resorts for tourists, and certainly they are now one of the most attractive. The,Governor and party proceeded along the railway Hue to see the recently constructed route to Kapm, where an immense amount of money has boea spent to avoid the defeent of the line into the valley. Otorohanga was reached shortly after dark. The Maoris have arranged a number of hakas and other native dances for the amusement of the Governor and Lady Onslow to-night.