THE AUCKLAND FREE LANCE UPON SIR GEORGE AND THE KING OF THE MAORIES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 701, 21 May 1879, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND FREE LANCE UPON SIR GEORGE AND THE KING OF THE MAORIES.

There is no doubt that the conduct of the Maori Potentate has been to some extent a suprise. All but the blindest followers of Sir George Grey have for some time past seen that the great expectation so recklessly raised were doomed to disappointment, but few, perhaps none had any idea that Tawhiao would take such high ground as that shadowed forth m his opeding speech on Wednesday. It is difficult to see what could have induced the Premier to place himself m so false and humiliating a position. It was obvious that he was not wanted at Kopua or he would have been invited. He must have strongly felt the importance of getting an mvi tation or he would not have descended to so undignified a course as to tout for one. For weeks, nay months past no efforts have been spared by the officers and adherents — both European and native — of the Government to procure an invitation but with no success. From what we know of the attempts made, the true story would be very entertaining though destructive of all self-respect. Sir George Grey must have ' taken for his model the impudent school boy, who on going home for the holiday)* and finding his neighbour giving an entertainment to which he craves an invitation, first parades himself m front of the house, then asked to be invited, and when all fails sneaks m at the back door an unwelcome guest. Can any but one result be expected from such contemptible proceedings. The Europeans at Kopua must feel abashed at the painful contrast between the two principal actors ; on the one side they see arrogant overbearing dignity, on the other pitiful cringing humiety. Well many we .Europeans feel keenly the ignominious position m which our representative has placed us. We were / amazed at what appeaaed to us the^h^. foolhardiness of Sir George Grey if^ going to the meeting under the circumstances, and our only hope was that he possessed some information which would justify his doing so, but the proceedings of the last few days have dashed [that hope to the ground. Aa was to be expected, on his, arrival at Kopua, there was wanting on the part of the Kingites even the formal "welcme, welcome to Waikato." No friendly visit was paid; or received by the King, and when his Majesty did come forth, and ostentatiously guarded by numerous well-armed royal guards, appears to have altogether ignored the presence of tha Premier. On t the second day of the meeting he did' not even deign to honour it with his presence, nor condescend to offer even an excus/j or apology for his absence, and his adherents behaved m a disrespectful and contemptuous manner. is at present the unhappy position of the great Maori Policy, and unless Sir George has some secret information which we cannot appreciate, we are at a loss to understand why he should remain to have further indignities heaped upon him. It is true the meeting has not been formally concluded, but we have now no hope — we never had much— that any good can result. No doubt it is difficult and hard for Sir George Grey to realise his position — he is evidently staggered — and he clings with, tenacity to the hope, however forlorn, that something may yet turn up. , Whatever happens he has at all events been taught the lesson that however easy it may be to humbug Europeans with sparkling buncome, the wary Kingites cannot be so easily caught with succh false glitter.