Departure of “ King ” Te Rata,

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 17 April 1914, Page 3

Departure of “ King ” Te Rata,

On Friday morning the native settlement at Waalii was early astir, the excitement of a trip to Auckland to see the ''King” off to England, banishing sleep, and expressing itself in the garish toilettes and the gay abandon characteristic of wahine and tangata when a journey is in contemplation. Long before 10 a.in Keri Toke te Ahu, who appeared to be Master of Ceremonies, began to marshall the procession, and much time and thought were expended before it was ready to move off towards the railway station. At last the 300 odd natives were drawn up in column of fours, and, after a ffnai* l and satisfactory, if rapid, review, Keri Toke to Ahu, tall-hatted and frock-coated, with an umbrella rolled tightly ala mode in one hand and the the flag in the other, took up position at the head of the procession, being immediately preceded by a band of women who, after going ahead for a short distance, would stop, and dance a short haka. Advancing again, they waved to the procession to come on, repeated the haka, and proceeded in this way until the station was reached. Behind the leader, came tile Brass Band, followed by the tribesmen and tribeswomen, and after them were the “ Queen” mother (Te Marae, the widow of Mahuta), the members of the “royal ’ v family, and the immediate relations of “royalty," the “ King,” who was attended by bis rangatira, coming quietly behind (lie rest. When the station was reached, the flag was oarefully stuck in the ground, the natives lining the platform to wait for the arrival of the train of which two cars had been reserved to carry the “King” and his followers to Auckland. The interval was spent by the “ King ” in saying good-bye to his pakeha friends who had also assembled in large numbers to see him off. Among them was Mr J. P. Bailey, chairman of the Town Board, who, after wishing Te Rata God-speed, stated that his many friends wished him a pleasant trip and a happy return. As a young New Zealander who was proceeding to England to battle for the rights of his people, those assembled wished him well, and hoped that IPs long journey would terminate successfully. Tli# train having tjrrived, a rush was made for the reserved carriages which were quickly filled to more than their utmost capacity, and in a few minutes, amid hearty cheers and the strains of the band, Te Rata began the first portion of his, Keri Toke having been careful to attach the flag to the “ royal ” car, forgetting, however, the tunnels en route, at the entrance to one of which the hunting disappeared, leaving nothing but the dusky, closely-packed crowd to tell those at passing stations that something out of the common was taking place. DEPARTURE FROM AUCKLAND. departure of the “ ' e thus : —■ ‘ There he is, that’s the King.” id then, after an incredulous imment, “Well, if it isn’t the .ing, it must be the Prime Minister.” As a matter of fact .t was neither, but the tourist who made these remarks this morning aboard the Niagara snapped the gentleman in question, and, if the film develops, the resulting print will, no doubt, be shown to Home Iriends as the picture of “ a king sort of person some where in the Pacific or Australia, doh’t you know.” “ The individual embalmed in the traveller’s vade mecum attracted spontaneous attention. He was a Maori. At an angle he wore a “ topper,” not in the first flush of its youth, and thrown over the shoulder of his morning coat was a korowai mat, done in blue, red and green worsted, this being worn after tile fashion of the sleeveless garments of the Austrian Hussars, so dear to the composer of musical comedies. Glasses, a pair of suede gloves of a subdued line, and an umbrella rolled more or less in the style that attains its perfection in Piccadily, completed what might truthfully he called a striking toilette. He was apparently the master of ceremonies of a small band of Waikato natives who had paid their twopences to be allowed irside the Harbour Board’s barriers so that they might say farewell to the reigning monarch of the dynasty founded by the late Potatau. When Ra’.a, his burly majesty, appeared on the gangway, the assembled subjects said, “ Pip, pip, ’ooray,” three times rapidly in succession, and in response the” King” gracefully raised his hat. “ As the hour for the steamer’s departure became imminent, the native “subjects” drew up in two lines, facing one another, and he of the weird sartorial equipment, brandishing his “ Sairey Gamp," gave them the time for the well known chant, “ Ka mate, ka mate.” Occasionally things were slightly disorganised by the irruption oi an express, the driver of which was in a hurry, but this only added variety to the scene. A call front the steamer’s deck “ Give us a haka,” was treatec with the contempt it deserved. “While the Royal dena-u- - rather aimt3in, ,ry pakeha, on a travellers are quiti rites about the matter. Tu. nga-

kawa is an old man entitled to respect, both from his descent and his own character. In his time he has played no unimportant part. He is convinced that there have been violations of the Treaty of Waitangi, more especially in regard to dealings with Maori land. He thinks he has not received the satisfaction from the New Zealand Government the case demands. He lias come to the conclusion that it is no use “ talking to the son,” as the Maoris, say, and he is now going right to the King, “ the father.” Armed with letters of introduction from the Government to the high commissioner and Lord Emmott, this aged Maori is taking his grievances Home, He is accompanied by' “ King ” Rata, and Mr G. Paul goes as official interpreter, while Mita Karaka also makes one of the party,”