The Governor's Visit Otaki.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 15 September 1891, Page 2

The Governor's Visit Otaki.

On Friday tho Governor paid a visit to Otaki to allow of his infant son "Huia" Iwing received by tho Maori people. On •V.urday morn! :\% His Excellency and party attended at the " Eaukawa " house.

The chief, Koreopa Tukuiawu, was

the first to welcome the Governor, and he was followed in succession h£. Wi Parata, Tamihana Te HojHp\ Hoani Taipua, M.H.R., Ropata W

Ao, and Maraku, the speeches being interpreted to His Excellency by Sir Walter Buller. Their substance, taken together, was as follows : —

Welcome. 0 Governor! Welcome'also Lady Onslow ! Welcome to Otaki, the home of the Ngatihi.i, bringing with you this new bearer of out, 1 great ancestor's, name; Welcome 0 thou yoting Huia, the repreaantativt of all the great chiefs who l:rv-> departed. The old men of the trios, where are they ? Gone ; all gone into the never-ending night. We thank you, 0 Governor, for coming specially to Otaki to present your infant son to. his people. But hero you find us as a mere remnant of a great tribe. We salute you according to Maori custom, as the White Crane of rare appearance, the bird seen once in a lifetime. You will find this people as, loyal in the future as they have been in the past. Your son bears the .name -of our noblest ancestor. It was Buia's descendant, Rauparaha, who counselled the people to follow peace and not to avenge .his capture. We listened to the voice of our chief, and held fast to . Christianity. We. invoke the spirits .of our* ancestors to witness this day that in your son Huia the friendship of the two races becomes cemented. There yonder' is the snow- clad Ruahine range,, the home of our favourite bird ! We- ask you, 0 Governor, to restrain tlie.Pakehas from shooting it, that w.h.en your boy grows up ho may see the beautiful bird .which bea?s his name. We thank, you and Lady Onslow again for this proof of your regard for the Maori people, and ' of your earnest desire to promote their welfare. You have .heard the words of the tribe. There is nothing more to say^ i Replying generally to the speeches, and addressing himself to all the members of the tribe His Excellency (through Sir Walter Buller) thanked them heartily for the reception they had given to him and his little son.

His Excellency's speech/ was received with great applause (says the N.Z. Times), and then Tamijiana Te Hoia, the young hereditary chief of the Ngatihuia, coming forward into ihe centra of the marae, said : —

"And now, 0 Governor and Lady Onslow, bring forward the infant Huia that the tribe : may. 'do him honor."

Thereupon Heni Te, Ifci. the daughter of the late chief MjM^ Te Whiwhi, took the child jjjflr the nurse's anns, and presented him to Ttvmihana, .wijo solemnly grubbed noses" with him in %o presence of the tribe, all the woineV .present joining in a soft and plaintive lullaby (whakaqriori) composed expressly for the occasion. ' ' **T , 'Huiu hims?lf, be ifc obsei-ved, went through his ordeal quite heroically. Then followed an incident of a touching kind ; for all the .chiefs of the tribe came forward and cast their oiterings. before the child. Twenty beautiful flax mats or robes of Sfaori workmanship, fancy baskets of different patterns, greenstone*, and carved boxes (among the forma? bsing an ancient pendant,, an hefflooai in Te Rangihaeata's family) fjavo practical expression to the genuineness of the ilaori feeling. This function being over, the people rn-seated themselves on the ground, and Silcnco rmgned again.

The G6nnfco3s of Oa-lovCv. folding he;- two little, gi.rls by tho hand, one on each 'side of' her, " thga' stepped forward, and, to the intense'' delight of the Maoris, made a' short speech. Her Ladyship said that slie, was not accustomed to make speeches, but couid not resist the natural * impulse to tell tho assembled tribe how grateful she felt to them for this cordial reception, and for the 'beautiful presents, entirely unexpected, so lavishly bestowed upon Huia, and she would for ever retain a happy recollection of this visit to Otaki.

After visiting the Native Church, Te Rauparaha's monument, and the " jubibe pole," ihe Governor's party was entertained by the tribo At lunch in the Baukawa meeting house. The repast, which was entirely prepared by the Maoris, was served in true Pakeha fashion, with Maori waiters in livery. The principal settlers were present as guests, and the whole thing reflected the highest credit on the Ngatihuia hosts. ••■ . '

Tho Governor's party was driven to the railway station at throe o'clock, and this brought to an end a njost pleasing and auspicious event.