THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO NAPIER.

Otago Witness, Issue 747, 24 March 1866, Page 15

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO NAPIER.

From the WeJHrgcon Independent.

Sir George Grey arrived in the Napier roadstead, in H.M.S. Eclipse, on the evening of Sunday, the 25th ult. His Excellency landed next morning under a salute from Gore Browne Barracks and the ship of war, whilst a gunrd of honor of the 12th Regiment under Major Miller, was drawn up to receive him on the spit. He was accompanied by Hori Kingi, iha jrreat Wangauui chief. Te Ua, the great Hauhau prophet and originator of the fanaticism, was also on board the Eclipse, and ■was permitted to come ashore under surveillance. The same afternoon a large native meeting was held in the Council Chamber. Ou Tuesday morning a deputation waited upon His Excellency with the following address, which was duly presented : — "To His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Governor and Commander-ia-chief in the Colony of New Zealand. " We, the undersigned, inhabitants of the Province of Hawke's Bay, beg to express the great pleasure we feel at this visit from your Excellency. "The success which hap recently attended the joint operations of Her Majesty's troops and the Colonial forces mu9t be a source of pride to every colonist, and "we feel that much of that success must be attributed to the firmness and wisdom ihown by your Excellency and your responsible advisers, in devising and directing those movements on both the East and We9t Coasts, which have been so important in their result. "As colonists, we also feel that we should express our gratification at the manly tone assumed by your Excellency in vindicating the policy of your Excellency's Government against the aspersions of powerfuJ, although mistaken, adversaries. " We trust that, under your Excellency's Government, the arduous question of settling all difficulties -with the native race is approaching a solution, and that before long your Excellency will have the satisfaction of asserting in its integrity the supremacy of the British Crown throughout the Colony, to the lasting benefit of both races of its inhabitants." His Excellency then read the following reply : — "Gentlemen — I thank you for the addres3 with which you have received me on my arrival here. " It is with great pleasure that I see on every side 50 many proofs of the rapid progress and success of this Province, in the welfare of which I have taken a deep interest, from the time that the formation of a European settlement at this place was first contemplated. " In common ?/ith yourselves, I rejoice at the great success which has attended the joint operations of her Majesty's regular and Colonial forces, a success for which we are mainly indebted to the skill and valor oi the officers commanding, and of the men comprising these forces. " I recognise also, with you, the debt of gratitude we owe to my responsible advisers, for the large and valuable assistance they have from time to time given in making those preparations and in maturing those plans, without which those successes could not have b:-en achieved. But standing as I do in this Province, I must say that myself, my responsible advisers, and the inhabitants of this Colony, owe a large debt of gratitude to your Superintendent, Mr M'Lean, for the large share he has had in bringing about the successes which haye attended our operations on the East Coast of this island. "I trust and believe with you that the termination of these difficulties which have so long unfortunately prevailed with a portion of the native race is fast approaching. Until this end is fully achieved, I am convinced that the Government "will continue to receive from yourselves and the inhabitants of New Zealand generally, both European and native, as large and generous an assistance as has hitherto been offered to it. (Signed) "G. Grex. " Napier, 27th Feb., 1866."

His Excellency left Napier in H.M.S. Eclipse, on the afternoon of Thursday, the Ist instant, accompanied by his Honor the Superintendent, who sailed at the same time in the St. Kilda. Early on Friday morning, his Excellency landed at the Wairoa, and proceeded to the stockade, where he was met by a guard of honor under Captain Homer of the 12th Regiment, and a large body oi Europeans and natives, who had assembled to meet him. The Governor, accompanied by the Superintendent, Captain Freraantle, and Major Fraser, proceeded to Taylor's Hotel, where they breakfasted* They afterwards attended a large native meeting, where several speeches of welcome were made by the chiefs Paora to Apatu, Te Waka, Kopu, Maihi, Kaimoana and others. His Excellency seemed much pleased with the feneral appearance of the Wairoa and its ne river.

At half-past 1 p m., his Excellency embarked and sailed for Poverty Bay. The St. Kilda, with the Superintendent on board, having preceded him by a few hours. At Poverty Bay, His Excellency was received by a guard of military settlers, under Lieutenant Wilson, and a number of the Ngatiporou, under Henare Potae. Thf re were some war dances, and afterwards a meeting, at which about 800 natives were present. The speeches were of an animated and cnn^ratii'atnry character, ex prcs.«i\'e of sa-i-Cutj n at the Hau-hau superstition hiving been practically extinguished, by the leading prophet being a prisoner in the hinds of the Governor and the chief Hori Kingi, of Whanganui. His Exceliney complimented the natives on the decided and active part taken by them to punish the rebellious and evil agitators of Hau hau-ism, naying that their conduct was fully appreciated by the Government, and that their acts in upholding what was just and true against error and superstition would always he favorably remembered by the Europeans. After the speeches were ended, his Excellency visited the house where the brave Sergeant Welsh was lying, and had some conversation, in which he complimented him on his bravery. Afterwards, Sir George visited the Wilson redoubt, which he considered a very creditable erection, and kept in excellent order.

The Superintendent in the mean time was making arrangements for embarking prisoners for the Chatham Islands, and, at 10 p.m., the Eclipse sailed for Auckland — the St. Kilda returning to Napier with the Superintendent and about 80 or 100 of the worst of the prisoners taken at Waerengaahika.