HAWKE'S BAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 96, 16 March 1866, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY.

The Hawked Bay Herald of the 6th inst., gives the following account of his Excellency's visit to Napier and the East Coast : —

The most noticeable incident of the month is the visit to Napier of his Excellency the Governor, who arrived m the roadstead m H.M.S. Eclipse on the evening of Sunday, the 2;ltk inst. His Excellency landed next morning, under a salute from Gore Browne Barracks and the ship of war, whilst a guard of honor of the 12th Regiment, under Major Miller, was drawn up to receive him on the Spit. He was accompanied by Hori Kiugi, ths great Wangauui chief. Te Uaj 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 m the Council Chamber. On 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 Commandor-iii-Chicf m 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 has recently attended the joint operations of her Majesty's troops and the Colonial Forces, must be a source of pride to every colonist, and we feel that much of that success must be attributed to the firmness and wisdom shown by your Excellency and your responsible advisers, m devising and directing those movements on both the East and West Coasts, which have boeu so important m their result. As colonists, we also feel that we should express our gratification at the manly tone assumed by your Excellency m vindicating the policy of your Excellency's Government against the aspersions of powerful, although mistaken, adversaries. We trust that, under your Excellency's goernment, 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 m its integrity the supremacy of the British Crown throughout the colony, to the lasting benefit of both races of the inhabitants. His Excellency then read the following reply : — Gentlemen, — I thank you for the address with which you have received me on my arrival here. It is with great pleasure that I see on every side so many proofs of the rapid progress and success of this province, m 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 commou with yourselves, I rejoice at the great success which has attended the joint operations of her Majesty's regular and Colonial forces, a succes for which we are mainly indebted to the skill and valour of the officer commanding, and of the men composing these forces. I recognise also, with you, the debt of gratitude we owe to my res]Minsil>le advisers, for the large and valuable assistance they have from time to time given m making those preparations and fill maturing those plans, without which those successes could not have been achieved. But standing as I do m 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 m bringing about the successes which have attended ouroperations 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 afforded us. (Signed) G. Gkev. Napier, February 27, 1866. Meetings were held m the Council Chamber each day that the Governor remained m Napier. Many of the dissatisfied Natives took the opportunity of his Excellency's presence to tender their submission, and Sir George, m the most patient manner, delayed his departure till that could be effected. On the 2Sth, Hapuku's people, with those of Petane, and on the Ist instant, Paora Toki himself took the oath of allegiance. On the latter day the flag called Rongokaka was brought m, and handed to the Governor as a relinquishment of the Hauhau faith. A messenger went up to Poukawa, on the afternoon of the 28th to fetch the flags from that quarter, but the horse knocking up he did not return until after his Excellency's departure on the Ist. He, however, brought m thirteen flags, namely : seven from Poukawa, four from Whctarariki, and two from Korongata. These are now m charge of the Superintendent, and will be forwarded to the Governor by the first opportunity. These may be regarded as signs that a large portion of the natives who have adhered to the Hauhau superstition have seen the folly of persevering m such a course. The action taken by General Chute, and by the Colonial troops, has shown them, on the one hand, that defeat and disaster will follow persistence m rebellion ; while on the other hand, the spectacle of their leading prophet, not merely a prisoner, but j openly abjuring the faith he was first to promul-

gate, must have had a great moral effect upon their minds. The recent acts of submission, ! coupled as they were with a formal renunciation j of their superstitious belief, and surrender of the Hauhau flags, cannot fail we think to exercise a beneficial influence throughout the province. His Excellency left Napier m H.M.S. Eclipse on the afternoon of Thursday, the Ist instant, accompanied by his Honor the Sujieriiitendeut, j who sailed at the same time m 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 of Europeans and Natives, who had assembled to meet him. The Governor, accompanied by the Superintendent, Captain Freemantle, 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 Te Apatu, Te Wakn, Kopu, Maihi, Kaimoana, and others. His Excellency seemed much pleased with the loyal and friendly tone evinced by the Natives, as well as with the general appearance of the Wairoa and its line river. At half-past one p.m., his Excellency embarked and sailed for Poverty Bay ; the St. K'lda, 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 Hen.are Potae. There were some war dances, and afterwards a meeting, at which about 800 Natives were present The speeches were of an animated and congratulatory character, expressive of satisfaction at the Hauhau superstition having been practically extinguished, by the leading prophet being a prismier m the hands of the Governor and the chief Uori Kingi of Whanganui. The St. Kilda returned to Napier on Sunday last, having on board a large number of prisoners en route to the Chatham Islands, to which they are immediately to be transported. This is the first decided step towards dealing with the question of Native prisoners, and we believe the effect on the Native wind will be good, no punishment being more felt than that of being sent away from the Island, while escape will be rendered all but impossible. The news from Wairoa is not important, but the submissions had been numerous, and only a small body of the enemy remained m arms at Waikare Moana. Should this party hold out, another appeal to aims may be found necessary.