ARRIVAL AT TE AWAMUTU. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1420, 9 August 1881, Page 2

ARRIVAL AT TE AWAMUTU. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Te Awamutu, Saturday. Therk was quite a state of excitement again here to-day at the return of His Majesty King Tavvhiao on his way from Ngaruawdhia. As many poor suiloreis have had to endure great misery in trying to get over the Royal name, I may say that I have carefully ascertained fioni the best authorities that the correct pronunciation is "Taffiow." This, besides being highly gratifying to eveiyone hopelessly struggling with superfluous vowels, will, I am sure, be an indirect source of pride to the Welsh element in the colony as proving that his Maori Majesty is a Taffy. Tawhiao and his party did not stay at Te Awamutu for more than a couple of hours on their way to Kihikihi, though if the people of the place had pressed them to stay the night, they would have done so ; and on the principal of investing a sprat to catch a mackarel, it might have paid to have found them entertainment. His Majesty was attired in a white belltopper and long ulster coat, and looked a highly respectable gentleman, as kings go. The Royal baby, borne by its nurse, was assisted by Mr yloane, of this place, from the carriage, and the party were ushered into Mr Lewis's hotel to partake. It was generally remarked by the ladies present that the piccaninny and the ladies of the Court looked very much better and better clothed than on the occasion of the former visit. Some representatives of tnbes as far south as Wauganui were to be seen among the hundreds who sat down on the green, or lounged about with their guns slung across thenshoulders. Every man was armed, and they looked a very picturesque, theatricallooking group. After a couple of hours the buggies were packed up again, Tawhiao and the women occupying one buggy, and big bugs after their kind two and two, occupying the others. The body guard was mounted. What became of Te Wahanui I couldn't say, though feeling sure that any meie mortal buggy must inevitably break down under his weight, I watched for him with interest. That he arrived safely at Kihikihi I was subsequently informed.