LORD KITCHENER AT ROTORUA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 762, 10 March 1910, Page 6

LORD KITCHENER AT ROTORUA.

■ ■■: ■;.'-DECLINES A SWOED. ;' ;' ; Lord Kitchener and party spent' Friday .and Saturday in' viewing the sights of the North Island thermal district, doing the round trip' and the four lakes trip. On Saturday" night he attended a Maori entertainment-in the' Assembly Hall; and, on 'leaving was. heartily cheered. ■ ■'•'."! '.. On Suftday afternoon Wairoa" was soaped by-Mrs. Parker, and in'about half an hour' gave "a':' splendid eruption. There: must have been 'Over 1200 people' present.; On his arrival-at'th«i gate of the. pa iTaxa-'" kawa, an old Maori addressed a speech of welcome to the distinguished visitor, and handed .to him a sword left by Captain' Cook with the Arawa tribe in 1777, requesting him to take charge of it, and 'return it to His..Majesty the King. In reply, Lord Kitchener said: "I am very sensible of the loyalty of the Arawa tribe to the Crown of England, but with regard to the sword, I think it would be best for you to keep it as a, memento handed down from.your ancestors." '■'■"■'■ Lord Kitchener .then shook, hands with Tarakawa, and handed.the sword back to him. He then entered the modelpa, inspecting the system of fortification with great interest. From: the pa he ■ passed • through the reserve/ to Wairoa geyser. The party left this morning forNapieiv ,via Waiotapu,.Wairakei, and Taupo.';'