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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 573, 30 April 1868, Page 3

SIR GEORGE BOWEN'S VISIT TO THE kay of islands. The special reporter of the New Zealand j Herald has furnished a full report of the i oroceedings connected with his Excellency jSir George Bowen’s visit to the “far | North,” from which we take the following- | THE LANDING AT BUSSELL. | . April 17, 3 p.m. ! H' s Excellency landed from the Brisk this morning, at 11 o’clock, and was received by the leading inhabitants. He was loudly cheered by the persons assembled on the beach, native and European. He was met at the landing place by the gentlemen whose names are subscribed to the address. His Excellency was attended by the Earl of Pembroke, Capt Hope H.M.S.S, Brisk, Colonel Elliot, of the 18th’ Captain Young, A-H.C, the Hon. Mr Richmond, Captain Wright, U.S. Consul, and several gentlemen of influence connected with the trade of the place, as also several naval ofllcers of all ranks, attended the Governor, who was conveyed to the shore from the Brisk in one of the ship's boats. Theinhabitants of the town ranged themselves along the sides of Yilcoq’s wharf in a double row, between which his Excellency passed up to the place where the addresses were to ba presented to him. Here a very elegant carpet was laid down, with chaixs for the accomodation of the Governor and suit. We mention this because it -was a thoughtful provision, for the listening to an address which one has already read, and the reply to which is written in one’s pocket, is, perhaps, a little wearisome. The effect, too, was improved. The Maoris, in considerable numbers, were collected on the beach below, and when the address and reply were con eluded, a vociferous cheer, which must have disturbed the shade of warriar Heke, greeted the Governor’s last words ; they all opened their mouths but what they said if they said anything, no man hath yet reported to me. It seemed to me either a stolid or an indifferent gaze. 1 could not help casting my eyes up to where the stump of the famous flagstaff cut down by Heke still stood, and thinking of the lights, the seiges, and the changes! of which these people had borne a part.l The reflection was suggested possibly bvl the view of an old and a young Maori coming along the beach. The old gentleman was slightly stooped, but he was evidently r something of a “ swell,” He had a newj felt hat which fitted and became him, a! oiue coat of printed cloth with gilt buttons ; black trousers with the build of which there was no particular reason to find fault; his shoe leather was polished and unbroken, and ho carried across his arm a great coat of black sealskin cloth, lined inside with bright magenta colored plush. An rests, he had a clean shirt and a fassionablo cano with a carved ivory handle. His companion was perhaps, thirty-five years of age, powerfully built, but very fat. His walking»stick was a bug piece of crooked wood, a tomahawk fastened on the top. His overcoat was made of feathers. His head cover was an old and greasy regulation cap. His trousers were dirty moleskin turned up to the knee, and his strut of self-importance I have never seen equalled, except by one hon. member of a Provincial Council with whom fortune has brought me to be I acquainted. The old man was Tamati W aka Nene—sagacious and vain, perhaps. The young man was called Mongonui, —a braggart and a coxcomb. This estimate will be borne out by their speeches made at the korero, where one made the best use of his new' hat and the other the greatest possible display of his hatchet. THE KOEEBO AT WAITANQI.

Friday, 17th, evening His Excellency having left Mr Barstow’s residence, went on board the Sturt, and was put on board H.M.S.S. Brisk, where he remained for some time before proceeding to Waitangi. A company of mariners were told off to act as & Guard of Honor. \\ hen Sir George Bowen left the Brisk fof the shore the yards were tnanued and the usual salute was fired. The boats of the man-of-war and other boats, which ac companied his Excellency across the harbor, gave to the scene a lively aspect The Ltovernor was received on the Waitangi side by Mr Carleton, and| Mr J. Busby. The natives, mostly women, received him with the usual waving of shawls. His Excellency was conducted to a green spot—the same on which the Treaty of W aitangi was signed—and was treated to a wap dance.

Most who saw this exhibition pronounced it r isniure as compared with similar displays thej had previously witnessed. There were not more than 120 perform err. Of those some six or seven had denuded themselves completely, and behaved in a manner I must say which was anything but proper, though some experienced persons thought it a pity that all the Maori C-uiefs did not appear in their original uniform. X hare seen many of these uauuoo represented on paper, but the reality is about the least impressive, and most indcosnt business it were possible to

imagine. I diifer from the experienced , intelligences who think the grimacing savage is most picturesque in puns naturalibus—that is with his clothes off. I eye, and left more to the imagination. I But it was a war dance after a fashion. The warriors came yelling and whooping out of a plantation, threatening to overwhelm the Vice-regal party. A few Maori ladies (to whose credit bo it said, their modesty would not allow them to make a f ™.' v oi themselves} seemed infected | with iiie very harmless frenzy that was being enacted, and made faces at each in other and at the pakeha company, winch accomplishment they are wonderfully proficient. Fortunately the business was very soou over, and the crowd of officers and gentlemen having gathered round Ins Excellency theGfovernor, Mrßusby addressed his Excellency as follows: “ You stand now upon the spot where the Treaty of Wairangi was signed by the confederated chiefs. With your permission I will first read the address to your Excellency from the colonists settled in the district, and afterwards an address to his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, who has been prevented from coming here by circumstances which it is not necessarj further to particularise.” Mr Busby then proceeded to read the address to Sir George Bowen, and also one proposed to be favored to the Duke of Edinburgh, to which his Excellency returned suitable replies. THE BEITJIIJf TO AUCKtAKD. The§Hew Zealand Herald of the 25th April thus notices his Excellency’s return to Auckland : 11.M.S S Brisk, Captain Hope, returned from the Bay of Islands yesterday afternoon, with his Excellency the Governor, Captain Young, Aidc-de-Camp, and Col. Elliot, 18th RI. The Brisk, after taking in coals from Kawakawa mines, left Russell on Thursday morning, and arrived here at 4 p.m. yesterday, coming up harbor in company with the Falcon. Tlio Colonial Government ps. Sturt, Captain Fai child, has left for Mongonui ami Parengarenga, to inquire into the disturbance amongst the natives. She may be expected here on Sunday or Monday next.