THE MAORI “KINO” EN ROUTE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2392, 29 April 1884, Page 2

THE MAORI “KINO” EN ROUTE.

King Tawhaio has been affording some amusement (not perhaps unmixed with pique) to the Press in Melbourne. The reporters tried to interview him on board the steamer at Williamstown, but “ as soon as he saw himself pursued by the owners of note-books he frowned darkly, and grunted his kingly displeasure. He took the first opportunity of escaping from his tormentors when the luncheon bell rang, and with more agility than ceremony of leave-taking he obeyed its summons.” Foiled on board the steamer, the reporters followed the Maori party to their hotel. On the road the party had been helping to push the truck with their impedimenta, and, “ perspiring freely with their exertions with the truck, proceeded to cool themselves in their shirt sleeves. They had just settled down when, the greetings being over, the. reporters thought they might use the pliant hour to get the long-wished-for interview with his Majesty ; but no sooner did they enter than, with a grunt of disgust, sounded in all the notes of a guttural gamut, the King and his party, perceiving their enemies, stopped wiping their foreheads, picked up their coats and fled precipitately to the recesses of their bedrooms. Like Macbeth’s guests they stood not upon the order of their going, but went at once, and being gone, the pursuit of knowledge was given up in The reporter of one journal has a little revenge out of the Maori monarch, for he states that “ the King spends a good deal of his time on deck when he is at sea, sitting in a chair with his boots off, and smoking like a chimney. Neither he nor any of his retinue have yet contributed much to the general sociability, but the passengers who are to accompany them to England are in hopes that as the novelty of their situation wears off a few war dances may diversify the concerts which always enliven the saloon of the Sorata.”