THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAORIS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1680, 21 February 1913, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAORIS.

4 A HEARTY RECEPTION. . . GIFTS & ADDRESSES. SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY. (By Tolecraph.—Special Correspondent.) Ohakune, February 20. Until yesterday only two New Zealand Governors have been officially received by the iNntivv! tribes of Upper Wanganui —Sir George Grey, who about 1818 walked from Auckland to Pipiriki in company with Bishop Sohvyn, and many years at-' tenvards Sir Gcorgo'Bowcn. Tho Earl of Livorpool, although only in tho Dominion a couple of months, has found great favour with these tribes by attending yesterday • a bis reception held in his honour. 'His Excellency was accompanied by the Countess of Liverpool. Every arrangement for the complete success of the gathering was made by the Hon. Dr. Pomnre, and the day being beautifully fine tho function ( passed off without a hitch. A great many addresses of welcome were given, and gifts of valuable mats wero made to their Excellencies, also to the Hon. W. H. Herries, who was present to investigate alleged grievances, and to ■ Mrs, Mackay (Mayoress of Wanganui), who represented the Mayor on account of his unavoidable absence.' Devotion to tho Crown. His Excellency, in reply, said: "Before I make allusion to any other subject, I want to give you .1 message which, the King sends to all tho people of Maoriland: 'Tell the people how interested I am in everything .which concerns their welfare and , their happiness and what pleasant recollections tho Queen and myself retain of our visit to Maoriland.' As the representative of King George I thank you for your expressions, of loyalty, a ldyalty whicli you "hare shown not only by woi'd, but in deeds; for it has not been forgotten' that in troublous times, now happily long past, tou proved your devotion to the British Crown by deeds of valour, and associated yourselves in all the difficulties which confronted the Imperial forces.. I myself have passed many years in the service of the Crown, and, speaking as a soldier, can assure you that the noble deeds of Major Kemp will never be forgotten, and' which, as you arcs aware, earned for him a special distinction' from the hands of our late well beloved Queen Victoria. I am anxious to tell you that although I . myself have never been in Maoriland before, I have hearu"a great deal about the country from my father, who during his service as a sailor served three years in theso waters in .the .Royal Navy during the period' to whicli I. have, alluded. From him I learnt of the many gallant actions lJhich took plaaj during those years,: and how much no appreciated being associated with tho men of your race. He told mo of your unrivalled scenery and your pride in everything connected with your oountry. ' It has therefore been a source of great- gratification to myself that his Majesty has selected me to be his representative in this Dominion, and that I havo. ; thus, been enabled to-come and see this land' with my own eyes, and I can assure you that it will. be the endeavour both of the Countess of Liverpool and myself to 'do all we can to further the interests of the people during our stay in the Dominion. •

• A Great Bond of U,nion. '■ 'Tor' 0110 moment . lot mo carry you back to the Treaty-of Waitangi in lb-10. in, that - - treaty you accepted tlio British Sovereign, as. your Sovereign, and by -so doing .you. gained all the. rights adherent: to' ttte British constitution. , • You know: that when; in- difficulty'-y.oir : ,always; have the British flag ;to protect' you, and British .justice to. guard-, you. ' Tliat . charter has always stood for ever a British subject ;.niay be,;: it., is a great bond of union,', and as you know well, our Sovereign oyer one race, but over various'races speaking many languages and belonging to different creeds, but all know that' they ; arc '.all -oitizens of;,the great Empire:over* which . King George rules, and have equal rights to share all the privileges that are bestowed on its members. I have, touched this point because we all realise what prompted your spontaneous and patriotic offer during/the South African war.. _You, like inahy, others of our fellow-subjects, realised, the difficulties and danger's which bosei; the Empiro at that, time, and • you whole-heartedly and . will-, ingly proffered ' your ; help. - Every British subject was proud ofthat oiler, not only on account of the .spiritm which it was made, but b3co.uS3 it demon-' stralod to all observers 'that the British Empire was w"dded together by a bond which cannot ba broken,' and that ■ tho flag which : .has braved a.'thousand yearstho battle and breeze is 1 still your flag and mine, and will be to those' who follow long after we'have'passed away. Lastly, .remcinber . your great traditions. Don t forget that you have., ever been counted warriors worthy of your, steel, and though •wo live-in tr.mes, when byi the mercy of Providence' war and bloodshed no longer, rei-gn:in theso fair islands,'you have still got your part to play.. Do all you can to maintnin that race from which you spring, und of which you are so' justly proud by leading industrious, lives and turning and- bringing to good account overy inch of the land wTiich belongs to you. So will you: not only .uphold tho reputation and stamina of-your -race,"but_you will maintain in a high position the Empire to which we -are all proud, to belong. Let there bo no dividing line-one King, one Empire; so that unity and prosperity may flourish and abound in our coasts, and that unity-may be ft symbol, not of mennce, but for 1 tho peaco and goodwill of the world. • ' ' -' ■ Speech by Mr. Harries. Following his Excellency's the Hon. Vf. il. Herries gavo a brief address. He said tho present generation was thankful to those,- both Maori aild pakeha, who fought for Queen Victoria, and great was the respect held for the Wanganui tribes in this connection. Ho was glad that some of tho Maori War veterans were still living and with, them that day, and he was very' glad to see some of them medals givon them by the Queen. All lionour to those who stood by the Queen. At the same time, he was glad to know that those who fought on the opposite side were now united with those who fought for their Sovereign. He was glad to be able to accompany the Governor and meet tho Maoris at Jerusalem, and would bo glad to hear their wants because, ho was tie mouthpiece of the Government so far. as tho laws affecting the Natives' were concerned.. He had- also

the privilege of (jiving, advice to his Excellency on Native matters, and hoped during the term as Native Minister never to be so unfortunate as to give bad ad-, vice. Ho fully realised the great honour conferred upon him in being given , the portfolio of Native Minister,. because more was imposed on him than any other Minister so far as Natives were concerned, inasmuch as that a single word or action of his might. destroy, or give life to the whole Native race. _ He trusted that with the help of Erovidenco he wouldi when his term of office was up, leave tho Maoris better off than he found them. In order to do this, ,he would require all the assistance he could pet from tho Natives themselves. He had now come to hear what they had to say, so that he might, be ablo to. give further advico to his Excellency. If the Maoris thero present, as well as those in other parts of the Dominion, .'extended a helping hand to him in the futuro efforts he made on behalf of the raoo he felt snro he would bo ablo to adviso his Excellency on Native matters on sound lines, and that the ultimate result would bo exceedingly beneficial to the Maoris. Ho felt sure that both his Excellency and himpolf would ever .remember with pleasure the day they visited Hiruharama. His Excellency, before leaving, thanked tho tribes for their valuable gifts, which, he said, he would place side by side with thoso which their ancestors had given to his father a great many years ago. Mother Mary Aubert, who has spent tho best yoirs of her long lifo among the Maoris, and who ako know the Earl of Liverpool's father, paid a graceful little tribute by presenting his Ex'ccllency with a buttrm-holc and tito Countess of Liverpool with a bouquet. Their Excellencies returned to Pipiriki this evenins. greatly enchanted with tho Wangamii Uiver, and deenly impressed with tho fidelity to tho Throne of tho Native tribes of this part of the Dominion, To-dny they left for Oliakune, and his Excellency, en route, attended the Waimarine A, and F, shoir at JktUM.