VALEDICTORY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2071, 4 May 1907, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

A number of Maoris and Europeans met at the Masonic Hotel last night to make a presentation to Air R,. M. Birrell, who is about to leave on a trip to the Old Country. Mr Te Kani Pore was in the chair. The presentation consisted of a Maori war-dance mat, a feather mat, and an inganga (a small piece of He highest form of greenstone). The feather mat was a beautiful piece of work. It was in a draught-board pattern, the squares being colored red, green, and yellow, and the natural brown of some of tho feathers. I.t, was made in the TJrewera country, and is stated that its manufacture would take almost three years. The chairman, in an eloquent speech, bore testimony to the high regard in which Mr. Birrell was held by both Europeans and Maoris, and said that Mr Birrell and other European settlers had done a great work in educating the Maoris; but if the Maoris had not thoroughly adopted the civilisation brought to them the Maoris should not altogether i e blamed—the Maoris blamed the different Governments in power for this. The number present was small, but ha felt sure they were throughly representative of tho Maori and European population of the Bay.

Mr. 11. DeGosta also spoke, am said he remembered the day, nine teen years ago, when Air. Birrel landed in Gisborne.

Mr. T. G. Lawless said the “powers that be"’ and the times themselves had been in Mr. Birrell’s favor, and he hoped he would have a successful trip -. ~( Air. B. Cole made a few remarks oi? behalf of sports, Air. Birrell having been connected with every sports movement for the past decade. Alessrs A, Zachariah, Henarc Burn, McKenzie, and Oxenham also spoke. Air. Delamere also paid a tribute in metre to Air. Birrell. Air Birrell, in reply, said he would not fail to tell the people of Great Britain of the warm-heartedness and hospitality of the Alaori people, and of the other good qualities he had found in them. He (the speaker) was one of those who first persuadedthe Hon. Jas. Carroll, to stand for Parliament. He felt deeply t-ho kindly feelings which prompted the presentation that night, and ,ho thanked all tho speakers for their kind words regarding himself.