PRESENATION OF SWORDS OF HONOUR TO NATIVE CHIEFS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 651, 24 June 1870, Page 3

PRESENATION OF SWORDS OF HONOUR TO NATIVE CHIEFS.

♦> {From the Wellington Independent, June 21.) The ceremony of presenting swords of honour to Kemp, Ropata, and Morgan, three of the friendly chiefs, who have rendered such important services during the recent campaigns, took place yesterday at noon in the barrack square at the Mount Cook Barracks. The weather was extremely unpropitious, but, notwithstanding, a goodly assemblage was present to witness the proceedings, amongst whom we noticed the Hon. the Premier, the Native Minister, Majors Bichmond and Richardson, Hon. G. L. Lee, Messrs A. F. flolconobe, Carrington, Tancred, Studholme, and a number of the members of both Houses. Several la dies also, courageously braving the heavy rain, and its disagreeable accompaniment of muddy roads, graced the scene with their presence. The Armed Constabulary, under Mr Inspector Branigan, paraded in open order in front of the depot, and attracted much attention from their soldierly appearance. Shortly after noon his Excellency, attended by his aidts-de-camp, Captains Pitt and Smith, arrived, and was received with presented arms by the force. After a short delay, the Constabulary formed fours right, and marched off to the parade ground, where the ceremony of presentation was to take place, followed by bis Excellency the Governor, the Ministers, and those assembled. On arriving, the Constabulary were formed into a hollow square, and his Excellency, having on his right the Hon the Premier and Mrs Fox, Hon. Native Minister, &c, addressed the recipients of the mark of royal favour as follows, beginning with Kemp : — My friends— Ta Kepa, Ropata, and Makena : — The Queen has sent out from Eng'and swords of honour to be presented to you and certain other Maori ebiefs, in recognition of your loyalty to her Crown, and of your gallant services in support of her Government, and of the cause of law and order in New Zealand. Her Majesty has commanded me, as her representative, to invest you with theße swords, as tokens of her royal favour. I now proceed to perform this honourable duty on this day, the 20th of June, which is the 33rd anniversary of the accession of the Quean, who soon after she ascended the throne of England, became, through the Treaty of Waitangi, the sovereign also of this cotintry. lam glad, moreover, to carry out the commands of our Qeeen by bestowing on you these marks of distinction in the presence of the Ministers and other chief officers of the Government and of many members of the Parliament. And now to you, Te Kepa, I deliver this sword. Never shall I forget how, when I went to Wanganui in November, 1868, at a time of much danger and distress, and called upon your tribe again to take arms for the Queen and the law, reminding you of the dying words of your great chief and near kinsman Hori Kingi Te Anana ; never shall I forget, I say, how you, Te Kepa, sprung forward, with the gallant spirit of your ancestors, and declared that you were again ready to take the field. Since that day you have been almost constantly on active service against the enemies of the Queen; and your march across this island from Wanganui to Upotiki, in spite of many and great difficulties, is an exploit thoroughly appreciated both here and in England. You | have been ably and bravely assisted by your friend Topia Turoa, on whom also a mark of the approval of the Queen's Government will be hereafter bestowed. Te Kepa, here is your sword. It bears on the blade this inscrip-

tioh " Given by Queen Victoria to Te Kapa for bis unfailing loyalty and valour." May you long wear it in health and honour ! To you, Ropata and Mokena, I now present in the name of the Queen these swords, which also bear your names and similar inscriptions with that presented to Te Kepa. Your tribe, the Ngatiporou, have rivalled the Wanganui in loyalty to the Crown, in goodwill to your English neighbours, and in gallantry in war. Your services in many a severe conflict on the East Coast since 1865. as well as at Ngatapa and elsewhere, and your late expedil tion through the Urewera country, are wel known and thoroughly appreciated ; and lam confident that you will continue your efforts, in co-operation with the other forces of the Government, and with the other loyal Maori tribes, until peace shall have been • permanently established throughout this island. Here, Ropata and Mokena, are your swords, presented to you by the Queen. May you also long wear them in health and honour. And now, my friend*, I trust that the ceremony of this day may be auspicious, and that, by the blessing of God, before another anniversary of the Queen's accession shall arrive, her heart may be gladdened with the tidings that the clouds of war and evil have passed away from this fair land, and that both races, the pakeha and Maori, are dwelling together under equal laws and in friendship and prosperity. This address was translated to the chiefs by Mr Young, the interpreter. At the conclusion of the address, his Excellency handed the swords to Mrs Fox, who invested the chiefs with them. Mrs Fox, in presenting the sword*, ssid: lam very glad to present you with these swords, but I trust that they will never be used except as ornaments; and that we shall always live together in unity. Te Kepa replied as follows : Victoria by the grace of God, may you long live, may your children long live; the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, and also the Princesses. I thank Victoria, the Queen of this world, for turning her eyes to this land and upon me— one of a dark skinned tribe— a forgetful tribe, and a naked. I thank the Queen very heartily for this proof of her love in sending me this sword across the great ocean. Here it is before me. This is the sickle with which all these evils will be cut. Your ance»tors have been protected by God; even to the present day, you stand in the place where your ancestors stood before you. The sun shines over this dark land through you the possessor of great power. I thank you the Governor. I hope the younger and the elder brother will live together in love. During years gone past, the elder and the younger brother have been divided, bnt now they will be bound together under the Queen. Therefore I gave myself up for the Queen according to the word of Hori Kingi, who told Mete and myself to remain loyal to the Queen. That is all. Long may the Queen live, and in peace. I also thank Governor Bowen, may he and '■■ ady Bowen and children live long and in peace. I also thank the Government, may they live long and in peace. This is all. Morgan spoke as follows : What I have to say is this. The first proof of the Queen's love to us was the sending of the missonaries. Secondly, the law. These were proofs of her love to us. I thank you O Governor for this proof of her affection towards me. Salutations to you O Queen. 'Ropata said : I can say nothing to what has been said by Te Kepa. I thank the Queen for her token of love. This is all. Salutations to you all present, and to you, O Queen. The Hon. Premier then called for three cheers for the Queen, which were heartily responded to, and the ceremony terminated. His Excellency then proceeded to inspect the Constabulary, who went through the bayonet exercise and other evolutions in a highly creditable manner, his Excellency expressing his high commendation of the manner in which the various manoeuvres were carried out.