VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR TO THE NORTH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 1425, 23 May 1876, Page 4

VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR TO THE NORTH.

AT THE BAY OF ISLAKDS. (Auckland Wccldy Herald, / May 13.) The official .visit of his Excellenoy the Governor to the North has for some timte past been anxiouslyexpectedand earnestly desired, nob. only by the ' industrious and thriving European settlers of this important district, but also by the powerful and loyali tribes of Ngapuhi and'Te Rawara. , Since the visit of Governor Fergusson m H.M.S. Blanche, m. 1874, the natives had not been gladdened with the presence of her Majesty's representative, to whom they have on every occasion accorded a loyal and . hearty welcome. The natives were also elated at the prospect ofja visit from Sir Donald McLean, 'G.CiM.G.j whom they had not seen since the Northern tour of Governor Sir. George Bb wen m 1870, and the unveiling of : Tamati ■Walia'a monument, where Sir' Donald received the same cordial welcome as he always receives from the native tribes everywhere m New. Zealand. When it is borne m mind that the Maori population of Hokianga numbers 27oo, and of the Bay of Islands district 2650, it will be seen how important are the interests represented. It is unnecessary here to dilate on the high reputation which the Northern tribes have always borne , their aptitude for. civilisation, their industry; 'and the readiness with which they have adapted European institutions ; and customs, as contrasted with their former war-like character. To the student of Maori 'history, perhaps there is no part of New Zea4 land more interesting than the northern portion of jthe "province of Auckland. Here at Russell we are on storied ground. Here it was that European civilisation wa3 first planted and took root, spreading out its branches like a stately tree. From the window of the rpom m which I am writing I cast my eyes across the Bay to the spot where the famous treaty of Wai(angi was signed.' The associations of that ground are recalled by the circum"stances of to-day, so, to its Historic . character. . Not, far;. away from 'th'e. very: place where the treaty was concluded three hundred natives are now assembled m readiness to give the Governor : as loyal and enthusiastic a welcome. as it it possible for a", warm 1 hear ted-, and; loyal ■people to gire. Looking in the opposite direction, I behold the green hill upon "which Hone Heke cut down the flagstaff, and insulted, , * ; •• ; The flag that braved a thousand years The battle and the breeze. Nay, I can see with. a naked eye the spot whereon the flagstaff .stood, There is another flagstaff there nbw^ from which the old flag flutters peacefully iij \the breeze. Near the^ same place is the site of. the old .stockade surprised by Hone Heke at greydawn, when its little garrison had unsuspectingly; gone out to. learn the Tcause of the. firing m the yalley. below. Lbbkingout ihto/the bay' l see. the place from .which H.M.S Hazard thundered destruction ..upon' the little town ' of Kbrorareka ; and from the back windows T obtain a ' vievy' of the old /church aud school house . through which ' the round shot went, crushing and ' splintering :.on that memorable day. . That place .is historically hallowed as the scene of deeds of bravery which ,recaU the glories of Eng-

land's Navy. It was close to. that church that Commander Robertson, pf.H.M.S. Hazard, with a mere handful of bluejackets, met and defeated m a hand-to-hand fight-a native war party outnumbering his own fourfold, and composed of the flower of the Maori " toss " of those days. In that fight, the memory of which has not faded out of the native mind, the brave commander cut down with his good sword the renowned chief Pumuka, and severed the handle of the tomahawk with which a devoted follower and henchman shielded the head of the great rangatira Kawhiti. The " oldest inhabitants " will show you a deep dent m a strong post, which tradition says was.meant.;for--the. head of a Maori foe*. T don't know whether or not the story is' apocryphal, but I give it as it -..was given to me. At all events, the post -is, there, and the dent is there, and if you want to disprove the tradition, you must have lived a good many years m Kororareka. But Commander Robertson performed so many brave deeds on this spot that one. can easily understand that his memory should be fresh and green amongst the hale, hearty "old identities "of the Bay of Islands. He said he would drive the natives out of Kororareka cr they should pass over his body. He fell, pierced by four bullet wounds ; the natives passed over him as he lay m the. fern. His brave blue jackets drove the natives out of Kororareka, returned, picked up their commander, and conveyed him on . board, and he recovered, and lived to serve his Queen and ■ country again. This is^ oniy one of the few men of whom old settlers here, are justly proud. . . But their old stories have been penned by abler hands than mine,- and so I pass on. The first official intimation of the intended visit of his Excellency the Governor was communicated on Thursday last. The 'ne nb rapidly spread to the remotest kaingas, and at once preparations were made to receive the distinguished visitor m a manner befitting to his rank and position. The place of assemblage having been fixed bj Te Ti, the natives repaired thither from near and far... From Waimater—the scene of the pioneer labors of those devoted missionaries, the late Archdeacon Williams, George Clarke, Richard Davis, James Kemp, arid King — the natives began to assemble. From Kerikeri, where Mr Kemp labored so long and ear-nestly-'from Kaikohe, where Mr Davis is still held m veneration ; from, Ohaeawai, the scene of the. memorable- battle between, the Ngapuhis under Hone Heke and the renowned Tamati Waka with his loyal followers, with Colonel Hiilme commanding- the 58fch Regiment — the scene of the death of the gallant Lieutenant Philpotts, R.N., — the chiefs and people swelled the loyal, tide. Marsh Brown, son of the famous Kawiti, Hone Heke's lieutenant-general, came with his people ; from Kawakawa, and from the far Kokianga, Hori Karaka .Tawiti, M.H.R., came over flood and field) through pelting rain, and over rough bush roads, a distance of from thirty- to forty miles, to .welcome his Excellency the Gfovernor and Sir Donald M'Lean. '. ' " .7% '.' :