Sir Hector Macdonald

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 261, 13 November 1901, Page 2

Sir Hector Macdonald

NATIVE WELCOME AT OHINEMURI. (Special to Times.) Auckland, last night. Boers and everything connected with tho present war are exciting considerable interest amongst the Maoris. When General Sir Hector Macdonald was at Rotorua, ho was welcomed at Ohinemuri settlement by Chief Tuipara, who, on behalf of the Ngatiwhakane tribe, accorded a greeting to the General. Ho said the Maoris were willing to go abroad and fight for the Empire, and he wound up by requesting the General to represent to the British Parliament that New Zealand would be tho place to send a thousand or two of Boor prisoners. Tho Ngatiwhakane tribe alone would bo glad to take and provide land for a hundred or two of them. They would see that they would work, and not be allowed to starve. General Macdonald, in reply, stated that the bravery of the Maori was well known, and he remembered while in Egypt and Africa of hearing of their offer to assist; but, in regard to South Africa, it was not deemed well to introduce the racial feeling into A contest between Europeans. In regard to the question of introducing Boer prisoners into New Zealand, ho reminded Tetupara that England’s proud boast was that under her flag slavery could not exist, and that after the war the Boer prisoners would be released, and no doubt then Tetupara’s offer of homes for them as settlers would be appreciated.