ECHOES OF PAST BATTLES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1681, 22 February 1913, Page 10

ECHOES OF PAST BATTLES.

THE GOVERNOR AT JERUSALEM. A BIG KORERO. It was a very warm welcome that hid Excellency tlio Governor and tho Countess of Liverpool received, from the Maoris' on their visit to Jerusalem on Hiursday, Sir Charles Bowen, bo tho Natives Bay; is tho only representative of the King to : havo received personal expressions of their loyalty, and tho actual visit of their Excellencies filled them with' profound delight. Tho Vice-Regal party, with tho Hons. W. H. Uemos (Native Minister), Dr.' PoinareandMrs. C. E. Mackay (tho Mayoress of AYanganui), in plaeo of tho Mayor, who was unablo to be present, travelled down the river to Jerusalem' ill Hori Pckehika's iino motor boat, which by Hi# way is u Maori canoo beautifully hppointed and fitted'up, only instead of tc- . quiring a large number of'hoes or tokos it is propelled by ljiodorn locomotion, viz., 0 powerful littlo oil engine. Tho party ; travelled down tho, river comfortably and expeditiously, arriving at Jerusalem' at about 10 o'clook. As the canoe pissed tlio kaingi (says the Wanganui "Chronicle"), voices wero heard giving a call of welcome, and an item hero occurred that. was not on tho programme, namely, a lijika .from some half-oaste Maori boy» who had been In for a morning dip. . Theso littlo water-rats had not expected . the vicc-rcg&l canoo so early, and when 1 tfcey Baw it rounding tho bond tliey linn-, lily got out of tho water and tried to Ect in.to their clothes. Some succeeded, others it( their excitement failed, and foino did n'jt get clothes other than tho shirt. II was all tlio same to them. They mad< tlio beat of tho situation, and tho tron» e:ts camo in handy for enthusiastic waving. The canoo 6wept past them. Tim littlo fellowp, who wero as enthusiastic! in their welcome to tho representative of Bia King ns wero their parents and tho old warriors in the kainea, gavo in lm-. promptu liaku, much to' tno amusement of Lord and Lady Liverpool, arid' tlio do-, light of tlio party. Dr. Pomnre in particular appeared to cnioy the unrehenped , incident immensely. At the landing stag® ' the canoo was met by Tutu (the sentinel), who carried a large flag, on which was . printed tho word "Moutoa." ' ■ ! Tiila word recalled tho flerca battle flinch took place on tho island of tbo > 6imo name, between mcmbors of tho sarao tribe, some of whom urged that tho waiganui township should be strongly attacked, whilst others'maintained' that tlio seat of war should bo confined to tho 'Waikato district. A pitched battle coiisequently took plaoe ill- which brother fought against brother and father against son, the fight eventually ■ resulting m victory for those .who. supported tho slu& : of-the Queen. Tho flay is an emblem of tho appreciation of her Majesty the. Queen of the loyalty of the Wanganul tribe? to her throne. Approaching the Kalnjja. 1 ijTlio procession wonded its way up tha hillsides, and before the entrance to the liainga was reached the i»rty woro> welcomed by-Mother Mary Aubert, whoso whole work for the Maori raco is too well known for'eulogy. AsvLord Liverpool ( father was well known to. her mother, 6lio presented his' Exoollency witlv a -buttonliole, and Lady Liverpool with a bouquet eis a memento. The graceful/act on tho part■ of tlio reverend mother was greatly, appreciated. About twenty buxom wahincj with pohuri, and generally gaily decorated ' with green leaves, led tho vice-regal party (io)vn to whero tho challenges were mad# find responded to in ancient fityle, Haka iind spear dances followed, and jn passing it is interesting! toAbtiwiiha grtpfrcpann from tlib"ancieitt stylo to'bne.'of tlio, modern; Instead of tha old .implements of ifnr, long lengths of titrefc and even umbrellas Wero found useful in tho brandishing operations, and, furthermore, to ma to ' lip well as a tattooed raco-the paint-pot* iind brush hod been freely used on tho faoa iind tho ; body, among - th« Maori men, who in tho haka wore stripped to the waist. .It was all in tho game,'and llho make-believe in" this respect was nona tlio less whole-hearted or enthusiastic, so far as the "welcome was concerned. ■ After, speech©? had been mado and ain< iter served, tho cooking of the food , being done by machinery,' their Excellencies wero entertained, by a poi danoo, beautifully executed by, four Maori maidens, tlio mu6io being provided by an accordion pliiyed by o: ,Maori lad;. _ 1 Before tho Cddnaßiiro .of their Excellencies; three cheers wen\ given, Mffl Wheraro ICiugi, on ofi tho assembled > tribes,' presented "his Excellency with a valuable mat of kiwi,: kaka,; and pigeon •feathers, Lady Liverpool with a mat of kiwi feathers, and tho. Won; W. H. Herries with:, a karowai. Mrs. llackay was aIM tho reclpiont of a valuable roat» whilst a Utus Maori girl gavo Lady Liverpool a beautiful, feather for lier hat. ' Tho gifts wer«| appropriately acknowledged. • .' , ; llis Excellency, thanked the Maoris foit, their great welcome, Which ho aaid bom lie and Lady' Liverpool had enjoyed'very much.' Ho also thanked them for their "ifts, which ho would plaeo beside those given to his father by their ancestors. Ho bid them good-bye, wishing tho Maori raco peace, happiness, and prosperity, and ho hoped at. snnio fuhiro dato to renew ucquaiiitanco with them so pleasantly bo- - gun that day. •' 1 • ! As their Excpllcncios left Pipiriki they carried away with thorn Very pleasing memories ci their first association with representatives of a noble and patriotio people, and on tho other hand tlio Maoris of wnnganui wero not slow to recognisa . tlie charming personality of both Lord . and Lady Liverpool. The latter, as well as his Excellency, at onoo ingratiated herself in the good books of this warmhearted peoplo,. dhd' tho complete absenca of formality gave her a warm place in tlio hearts.and affoctions : of tlio Natives of.' Wangauui." /' . ' '