GISBORNE PRESENT TO LORD ROBERTS,

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 62, 14 March 1901, Page 3

GISBORNE PRESENT TO LORD ROBERTS,

Tub London correspondent of tho Lyttelton Times, writing on Feb. 2, says On Tuesday the Hon. W.‘ P. Beeves, the Agent-General for Now Zealand, transmitted to Lord Roberts the 'fine greenstone mere forwarded through the New Zealand Government for presentation on behalf of the influential Maori chief, Tuta Nihoniho, and his people. Mr Beeves in sending the historic weapon, which the papers persist in describing as a tomahawk, and which was enclosed in a handsome case of New Zealand wood, said that he would have esteemed it a great honor to have presented it personally, but knowing that the Com-mander-in-Chief must have very heavy calls on his time at present, he forwarded the heirloom. Accompanying the weapon was a letter in Maori, stating that it was sent as “ a token of great admiration for Lord Roberts, the warrior general who has so bravely upheld the authority of our exalted sovereign Queen Victoria, to the honor of England, the glory of which will ever be reflected in New Zealand. Great, indeed, is the sympathy of your Maori friends for you on the death of your sou, who died so gallanty fighting in the war. It has ever been my wish that I and your Maori friends should join in the war in which you are involved, to be attached to your feet, and to have tho honor of being in tho jaws of death, even though we suffer as did your son. So then may God have you in His safe keeping. From your loving friends, etc. God save the Queen. E te Atua toliungia te Kuini.” The name of the mere is “ Porourangi,” and it originally belonged to the famous chief Kalmkauronui, the native “ Duke of Wellington,” from whom it has been handed down through nineteen generations. No doubt a reply will be rooeryod from Lord Boberts as soon as the Queen’s funeral is over.