THE MAORI ADDRESS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12883, 17 June 1913, Page 5

THE MAORI ADDRESS.

The Maori people y«-ero not so far behind tho Europeans in tho cordiality of their, welcome, ian;d they, too! asked Captain Halsey's acceptance of an illuminated address,; accompanied .by p. lino mat. Mr.' R. G M. Bark acted ns interpreter,, and read as follows:—

Wa'nganui, N.Z.. Juno 16.. 1913. To CanLnin Halsoy;, R.X., Commander

of H.M. Battleship Xew Zealand. We, on behalf of tho aboriginal natives of Wanganui., desire to welcome you and the. officers and men of tho New Zealand who. aro associated witli you to our shores in our,own mode of -honouring a guest of your distinction. Wo regret that your stay lie.ro is so short as not to allow of your landing and meeting ur, at our settlement of Putiki. where our welcome would have been moro to our tasto as-demonstrat-ing the waiinth. of our welcome in; native fashion.

However, under the circumstances, wo aro happy to tako this historic occasion of thanking; you for this vis?£ so as to enable us to vie.v tho great war canoe —our £ift to the greatest Navy in. tho. world,' which- entitles us aT a united people to claim that "Britain rules tho waves."

Wo can assure you most hoartilv that tho Maoris aro grateful' indeed tb.at such a. magnificent warship is und<v yoni* ablo command, and we tnist that when tho time arrives, if ever ii» floes, for tho New Zeal-Mid to assist i-\ maintaining tho supromacv of our Bmnire, that you and those asso-oiafavi with you (as wo do not denbt will be I.ho faot") will sust:iin tho b?st trsditioiVr, of tho Xaw. "

W<v aro also placl to T<Mn nniber t'Jiat tbo Dromiso of our lai^ Mo th<>i\ Ouoei Victoria, in tho Treaty of AVoitangji, to protect tho (Maori race for all time, h"_r. been fulfilled by her. and her illustrious successors.

It is tho intention of tlio Mnori people to send represent■»• "vc:; from yout.hr: fo lenrn. mwW th™ ''idcit';'7» •> cf tho Admiralty, tho art of sea war-

fare, and we trust that through your assistance-" wo shall be able, to.have* tho honour of your instruction to emaolo our youths to york hand in hand -witn our whito brethresi in upholding thes nianr."and sovereignty of the British Crown., .

In conclusion, we wish you one and all-happiness-and prosperity, and trust that when you again return to Wanganui (as yto hope;you may do),you will bo able to stay-with. us for some time, in. order that we may show our appreciation fof the honour you havo bestowed upon us bY this visit.

W; TAITORO KINGI. TAKmANGI METE KINGI. , KINGI TOPIA TUROA. BAHAMA TAKA.PA. WERA PUHAKI.' HEREIHA NGATARA. H. T. WHATAHORO. T. PEINA. X TEC) TEO EMTA. TIKI R. PAAfCA. Whereroa Kingi. a local chieftain, addressing Captain Halsey, extended to him and his ship a hearty welcome, and trusted that he Avould live happily And prosper. He trusted that the captain would rightly guido the ship''in her work of assisting to maintain tho pe-aco of the World.-"Theiv elders instructed them.to'be"'always loyal to the British Crown, and they would1 always bear tho injunction in mind.

Takarangi Mete Kingi followed, and . expressed pleasure to see the captain and men who had 'been appointed ti> look after the New Zealand's- greav, war canoe. The-Maoris were very sor;ry indeed that time would not allow of tho officers and--men to come ashotv? and receive a weleomo at the hands of tho Maoris. Those who were able to sco tho ship would tell their friends of what they had seen. Tho Maori people were grateful that the .battleship had come to Wanganui, and the speaker could say that his race were not behind the pakeha in, loyalty to tho King. They would always remember tho visit of this great war canoe. Kingi Turoa- endorsed the sentiments oxpressed by tho previous speakers. He hoped to sco the battleship again, and trusted that when Captain Halsey returned to England ho would tell tho King pf tho loyalty and patriotism of tho Maori people. Tho natives each presented Captain Halsey with a mat in accordance with their custom. : An impromptu Maori haka was given at the conclusion of tho speeches.

CAPTAIN HALSEY'S REPLY

Captain Halsey, in reply to the addresses of welcome, thanked the speakcrr, ancl f tho people ct Wanganui for th«> welcome extended to him and tho battleship New Zealand. H© was at n lost to adequately givo expression to his feelings in reply to tho sentiments expressed thero that morning. Ho regretted that ho was unable to stav^ j longer at Wangiriui, but had he tho timo to do so, ho was perfectly certain that tho reception that -would bi» i accorded at Wanganui would bo second !to i one. From the many telegrams and i requests that had been received from Wanganui, ho was assured that the hospitality, too, would bo second, to- none. Tho hospitality given throughout New ' Zealand, he said, would bo hard to beat. Tho ship to whiph ho had tho honour to belong, tho ship that had been so magnanimously given to, tho ' British .Empire, had been' given by1 tho people ■of-,jNew Zealand ait'-a'timo when, tho, ' 'Empiro was'sorely in need of. help. Tho examplo giyon by tho Dominion <f , .New* Zen land in tho gift of-'tHe Dread- " nought' had-been followed by other Dominions of tho Empire. The New Zealand's mission was one of peace, and the Dominions' ' 'and naivy of Jiho Empiro, -word united- t,o maintain - "peaco. But if their efforts be of no.av&il, i then wo have to be ready to fight, ami | f.o win. Ho was perfectly certain fruiu what ho had^ seen while in New Zoa-' .land, that wlfateyer happened, this Dominion was one link in tlie Empire that would never bo broken. Oaptain Halsey thanked tho burgesses of Wanganui very much indeed for their iacidres,s. Ho regarded itr riot only as a memento of tho battleship's stay at Wanganui, but taking tHo will for the deed, for ,t ho kindnesses' whieJi would have been bestowed upon him and his officers ami men had they the time to stay longer. | Captain Halsey.also thanked the native 'population'fin* their handsome address and tho sentiments expressed by them. Tho people of the British Empire were undoubtedly a loyal and devoted lot, and ; ho -was perfectly certain that JS Te\v Zealand people were as loyal and truo as any in the Empire. He congratulated tho Empire on .having such, a people as tho Alaons. The British realised now the Maoris fought and the valour - they had shown in the past, and no was confident that if it was; re^uivtn. they would givo their best service for tho King, rfo woujcl be glad indeed to have the Maoris, who have bt^r* ■/•jyal -people-to the Crown, trained to servo in the navy. Concluding, Captam Halsey thanked the party again for their hearty reception which would always remain in hi 3 memory.