THE RAROTOSGAN EMBASSY

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 127, 7 November 1885, Page 4

THE RAROTOSGAN EMBASSY

On Oct. 30, by the Janet Nicoll, Makea Ariki, Queen of Earotooga, her consort, and suite started for their island home. They teem to have been very pleased with their visit and much that they have seen, but it i is greatly to be regretted that the weather during their stay has been so unreasonable i as to causa them to return soonei* than they might have done under | other circumstances. A day or so before leaving, we learn that tho party visited the Rev J. Robertson and took tea at hi* house. While there, they looked over the clans-rooms at the back of the church, and the hall, which was f-till decorated as fcr the meeting at which it was expect"d they would be present. The members of the party were very pleaded with what they saw, and exptessed themselves very sorry that the King's illneFS had prevented their being able to attend. Yesterday Mr and Mrt« Robertson, Mr 8. J. Kdmoud*, and H. R. Warner called upon them. Mrs Robertson gave the Queen a cushion from the Ladies' Sewing Circle of the Bere-ford street Congregational Church, Mr Warner gave the King "the banner with the strange device," viz , the motto in the Rat otorigran language expressing the welcome. Mr Edna- nds presented Makea with a bound volume of "Te Korimaka" with an I inscription in Rarotongan and containing a map nf the South Seas showing Australia New Zealand, and the islands from which the visitors came. Before leaving Mr Robertson, as their minister for the time, com mended them to God in prayer, asking 1 for them a ?afe and happy voyage to their home and friends, peace and prosperity for them and their people, and a meeting again, if not on earth, at last in the better world on the other shore. Mr Edmonds repeated the prayer in Maori, po that all were able to unite in it. Tho visitors manifested some feeling at parting, and eetmed very eorry that the time had come to say good-bye. They will take away much to tell their fellow countrymen ; they leave behind a deep impression of their worthy character and conbictency, and many are the good wishes that follow them.

Political Fruits of the Mission. In the course of hip interview with Queen Makea yesterday, the Hoj. Mr Ballonce i pointed out the desirability of a reciprocity treaty being arranged between thi* colony and the Cook Islands The question of establishing a New Zealand Resident on Karotonga was alee touched upon. Her Majesty received the suggestions most favourably, but paid it would be necessary to consult Queen Mere Paa and other chiefs on the Island before a dtcisive reply could be given. As T&pou expressed it after- | wards, the sentiment was, " My heart is | with 3 ou, but I must keep my mouth | closed. " No doubt if it were desired j to effect the establishmf nt of a protectorate over these heads, the simple course would be for a Cabinet Minister to go down in the Hinemoa, wheu the matter could be settled without delay. \ A result of the visit so far will, it is hoped, ' be the remission of the import duty on Ip/and coffees, the Rarotongans ou their part offering increased facilities to New Zealand shipping. Economical results of an important kind will doubtless flow from the visit of the (slanders. They have taken with them larce stores of gooHs purchased in Auckland, the sight of which will cause a greater demand to spring up in the Islands for New Zealand products and merchandise. Sir George Grey, in the course of his visit to Queen Makea, brought under the notice of the strangers a particular Peruvian plant of which he would send them a supply, which they would find most suitable for the making of ropes, and he ab»o promised to send them a supply of insectivorous birds suitable for Karotonga, and severa volumes of interesting books. Socially considered, ■he result of the visit of the Rarorongane has been to awaken here an affectionate interest in those interesting people. A large number of Auckland people turned on t last night to witness the departure of the strangers, and the parting scene on the steamer between the Rarotongane and their Auckland relatives, Messrs Glover and Caffrey, was most affecting — the Queen and others of the party being moved to tears The younger members of the em baney, however, are hopeful of again being able to visit New Zealand at a warmer season of the year, along with the other rulers of those islands not included in the la^e party. All return highly gratified wit h the attention shown them, and delighted with the many wonderful sights they have seen

Edith 0 'Gorman has just been lecturing in the Thames Valley to large audiences. S. Luke and Hons, Wellington, are the successful tenderers, at £909, for handriveted boiler for one of tbe Government steamers. Mr G. Fraeer's tender was £1,506. Lady (to old gentleman): I hope our voices don't disturb you, «r? Old gentle man : Oh, dear no, madam ! I've been married for 40 yeara.