The Contingent at Home.

Hastings Standard, Issue 402, 18 August 1897, Page 4

The Contingent at Home.

A London correspondent of the N.Z. Herald gives the following particulars of the doings of the Maoris at Home ; —The officers and men ox the Contingent are having a happy time. Upon the officers invitations to social functions and courtesies of every kind have simply been poured. I was told that some of the men, on going to the hotels, found that money would not be taken for the beer they consumed. That is a good manifestation of feeling and I don't think it will lead to any evil, for they are a most sober lot of young fellows. I was in the Albert Hall last Sunday afternoon, and when some of the colonials came in, including two Maoris, they were most heartily cheered. I went down to Chelsea Barracks one day and met one of the Maoris. I asked him what he thought of the place he had got into. His answer was quite different from what I expected, but was most pleasing. He said, " A fine country ! How beautiful are the trees ! How rich the grass." And, indeed, for anyone coming from New Zealand, with its evergreen forest, somewhat sombre and dingy in hue, can anything be more surprising and lovely than the full and glorious burst of an English springtime ! And in that we now are. with lovely weather, with bright sunshine and blue sky that scarcely even Auckland could surpass. And the beauty of the old trees in the parks of London was what attracted the Maori more than the bewildering magnitude of the city. Not that my friend did not feel in full force the greatness of London, but he preferred to dwell upon the living green foliage of the trees. A curious incident happened when H.JR.H. the Duke of Connaught inspected the Maoris on the day of their arrival. He greatly admired their fine statue and brawny appearance. Turning to Colonel Pitt, he asked, " Of what religion are these New Zealanders ? " Possibly he was anxious that if they were of any particular faith, they should be respected in the barrack arrangements. Colonel Pitt explained that the younger generation of Maoris were all Christians, or almost all. Turning as he spoke to the nearest Native, Colonel Pitt aske. 1 !, "Of what religion are you?" This particular man happened to be one called, whether jocularly or not, I do not know, " Taipo," or " The Devil," and he is of a somewhat frolicsome disposition. Taipo replied with all the gravity necessary in the presence of a Prince of the Blood, " A Christian, I hope." A slight smile overspread the features of His Royal Highness, and he looked at Taipo to endeavor to distinguish whether this was one of the niceties of Maori humor. " I don t mean that," said Colonel Pitt, " I mean what Church do you belong to ?" " The Church of England" said Taipo, and several of the others made the same reply. "But I thought the Maoris were tattooed/' said the Dulse.

Colonel Pitt explained that the younger men are not tattooed, and thai the old custom had fallen in disuse. The Colonel also explained that all the raauibors of the contingent were wi4i educated in their own tongue, that most of them could speak English fair;v well, and that one had received ;i col!ego education. The officers of the eontingerit received an iuvit.ition to a garden party, given by Lord Onslow at bis mansion of CalandonPark. Admiral Bowden - Smith, Lord Glasgow and others connected with the Australian Colonies, have also shown many attention to the contingent. I went down to Chelsea and saw all the contingent except Colonel Pitt, who had gone down to the Ascot Races. Both officers and men expressed themselves satisfied with the treatment they have received. They are not only the guests of the nation, but of the people for they are admitted everywhere, and free beer anywhere. Some of the Maoris, however, are affected with home-sickness, and want to start for New Zealand as soon as possible. They admitted that they would like to get away as soon as possible. The whole of the men had their horses yesterday, and rode out for some distance. They are quite pleased with their " mounts," which they say are strong and admirably trained. One Maori said his horse needed neither rein nor spur to guide him. You had only to will the direction, and he took it.