THE DUKE'S VISIT TO AUCKLAND,

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 525, 29 May 1869, Page 3

THE DUKE'S VISIT TO AUCKLAND,

NATIVE KORERO AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. On the 15th, about 150 native chiefs assembled at the office of the Civil Commissioner, James Mackay, jun., and proceeded in a body to Government House, carrying with them the mats and other presents to be presented to his Royal Highness ; Messrs J. C. Young, J. Preece, E. Braithwaite, C. 0. Davis, and W. Graham, accompanied them as interpreters. Shortly afterwards, his Royal Highness, accompanied by his Excellency the Governor and the members of his suite, and the Hon Dr Pollen, came out of Government House, and took his stand immediately in front of the flight of steps leading to the main entrance, and about ten yards from the natives. Mr Mackay, Civil Commissioner, who acted as interpreter, said : — This is the son of Queen Victoria—the Duke of Edinburgh. He says to you : " Salutations to you, the natives of New Zealand." Several native speeches having been made, and an -address having been presented, the presents, which consisted of several mats of a rare and valuable kind, were then laid in a heap before the Prince, and theMoutoa flag was received by Capt. Pitt. Hi 3 Royal Highness replied as follows : Oh, my friends, it was with no ordinary feelings of gratification and interest that I found myself for the first time on the shores of New Zealand, your beautiful and interesting country, I am indeed deeply touched by the cordiality with which I have been welcomed by the Maori inhabitants in the northern portion of the North Island of New Zealand. For the address which you have presented to me, and for the kindly welcome which you have given me, I beg you to accept the hearty thanks which, in "the name of her Majesty, my mother, and the Royal family, I offer you. Be assured that the Queen will receive with no little satisfaction the account of my reception amongst you> proving, as it does that her feelings towards the Maoris are met on their part by the most devoted loyal attachment to herself, her Throne and family. It is the. most earnest wish of your Queen that, by the blessing of Almighty God, war may cease for ever between the Maori and the pakeha, that the two races may henceforth live in peace and harmony together, and that within the limits of New Zealand two races of different color, language and habits may be united under the same laws by a com-* mon loyalty, and be bound to the same constitution by a common patriotism.

Once more, O friends, receive my thanks, and when I am separated from you by thousands of miles of sea think of the son of your Queen, who prays for your prosperity and your happiness. If from my visit dates a lasting peace in Now Zealand, it will be a source of much gratification to the Queen and to myself. The3e sentiments are expressed to the whole of you, to all the tribe 3. There are other words to be expressed to the people of Wanganui who have come here specially, and who have so often fought on the side of the Queen. 1 now give back these colors to you which you havo presented to me ; I return them to the hands of To Kopa because it is right that this flag should be in the possession of the people who are loyal to the Queen. After speeches of welcome by native chiefs, His Royal Highness said, through Mr Mackay : Let the speeches now end. Do not let every man speak ; although every one does not speak, I know these are the sentiments of all. I have other engagements, and there is not time for you all to speak. I t&ke the sentiments uttered as the expression of all of you. This is a word to you. lam very much gratified at what you have said, that it is your desire that the two people who inhabit New Zealand may be gathered together under the authority of the Queen. lam much pleased with your speeches to-day, and I shall be glad to learn that this visit has been the means of uniting the two races. I shall return to the Queen my mother, and when 1 arrive I will make known to her the speeches you have made, and the good thoughts that are in yonr hearts. I am greatly pleased with the presents you have given me, and I will keep them in remembrance of your kind words. Now the speeches end here, but let the people bear in mind what has been spoken. I am much pleased at the kindly sentiments you have expressed. Three cheers were then given, and the natives dispersed.