TAWHIAO AT THE WAIKATO.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3156, 9 August 1881, Page 4

TAWHIAO AT THE WAIKATO.

Wβ learn from the New Zealand Herald that King Tawhiao made the following reply to the address presented to him by the Mayor and Council of Hamilton on the occasion of hie recent visit:—" It is God ! It is God ! It is God ! Salutations to you the people who lay down the laws for all these people. Your tribes who are here, salutations to you! I did it myself. It is my own doing. Heaven that is above, and the earth below, you, who are surrounding me, are my witnesses. We are travelling on fi'i.t We c-.Mtie to set: you, Let the woH be plain spoken. Do not keep anythins ba.-k that you think. i>o not turn aside. but look me straight in the face. It was my doing. That is why I tun here. I came to see this district —to Hamilton. 'J he chiefs are here, greeting you all. It is very good. lam muoh pleased." Three hearty oheere were then given for Tawhiao, who, it is said, was considerably affected by the warmth of his reception. Several ladies were presented to the King and his wife and sister, who were also present. The Herald further states that Tawhiao was much taken with the hat of the drum-major (Mr Edwards), as were many of Iris chiefs, and it was suggested that at should be presented to him. An inscription with the following words was at once printed in gold letters, and attached to the hatband : "Prnsenied to King Tawhiao by R. Edwards." Mr Gwynne handed the hat to the King in a few well chosen words. Tawhiao ?aid he was pleased with the hat, and hoped to sec iion many occasion*. [)e would ncceptit, iviit wuiil'l give it back, but still retain an mteivst in it, and claim it some day perhaps as his hut. A banquet was held in the evening, but the king asked to be excused from attending, on the ground of the length of the day's inarch and cold weather.

The unexpected and highly satisfactory phase which the " Native difficulty" has assumed within the past week, is a remarkable proof of the judiciousness of the policy which the present Government have adopted. For many years the settled policy of successive Native Ministers was to cajole the Matiree by mock embasips, negotiations, and lavish expenditure of public money. The coetly " flour and augar policy" was followed by the reign of diplomacy and great meetings, which flattered the vanity of the of the Natives and elevated Tawhiao to the position of an independant potentate. The memorable and complete failure of Sir George Grey's negotiations and abortive conferences was succeeded by a well conceived and let-alone policy, in which the Natives were left to their own devices bo long as they did not come into direct conflict with the law. The mountain would not go to Mahomet, and so Mahomet has come to the mountain. Disgusted with our indifference, and pining for that HOtoriotj and recognition which is so dear to »11 Kings, Tawhiao has voluntarily emerged from his isolation, given a •ignificanfc sign of his pacific intentions by laying down bis arms, and is now making royal progross through the Wftikato, hobnobbing at public banquets with the Pakeha, and giving utterance to the most effusive expressions of friendship, for this happy result the colony is chiefly

indebted to the tact and pmevionne of Mv"r Mxir, vi.a the weh-directcd influence? that he has always exercised over the minds of the natives. Discarded by the late Govei'nment when his assistance was absolutely indispensable to the success of their negotiations, Major Mair has achieved results exceeding their most sanguine expectations, and has untied the Gordian knot which baffled the skill of tho man who was supposed to be facile piinceps in dealing with aboriginal races. This Major Manlias accomplished without the aid of tho3e blandishments upon which the great Proconsul relied. He has not dazzled them wib'i a splendid retinue of officials; he has never distributed sacks of lollies amongst the pickaninnies ; charmed their ears with the dulcet strains of a German concertina ; or lavished umbrellas, side-aaddlos, porkpie hats, and crinolines upon the wahinos. but has won over one natives by trie niei'e exercise of his personal influence and experienced tact, and for this he is entitled to the gratitude of ail who have any regard for peace and progress. —Free Lance.