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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 11, 24 May 1849, Page 1

On Thursday last, her Majesty Queen Victoria entered into the thirtieth year of her age, and a day, observed with so much respect and honour throughout England, and in every English colony, in e«ery quarter of the worWl, was not one to he undistinguished either by the Maori or the European, 111 New Zealand. Although the weather had been exceedingly tempestuous fur some days before, anil continued to be so for some days after, yet the wind that blew so strongly was hushed, the rain that poured in such torrents was dried up, the lightning that flashed so fiercely was still, the thunder that rolled so loudly was mute, and Thui sday proved to he one of the most bland and beautiful days that can rejoice the heart of man—that can impart gratification to his mere animal enjoyment, or elevate his soul in grateful thank'ulness to his beneficent Creator. Shortly after noon, the Artillery fired a royal salute, the regiment three rounds from t|iL-ir muskets, and performed several mi itaiy evolutions in the square oi the Albert Barraeks. But the great event of the day was the Entertainment given to the Natives, al the llope Wa'k, by his Excellency the Goiernor-in-Chief. As the hour of three approached, tlio natives who were to partake of this Banquet, and their Europenr friends anxious to participate the pleasure of teeing them enjoy it, were to be seen hurrying to Mr. Robertson's. The hills surrounding Mechanic's Bay were actually alive, groups of well clothed natives; and numbers of sight-loving Europeans, nil converging upon a common centre, Of these, the Road party, as they wound; comfortably and cosily clothed, along the Crescent by Windsor Terwe, formed « prominent feature. Tiic natives of the Wesley ail Institution were remarkably orderly in their appearance, and the native children from their School 'at tlie Three Kings exiited a very general interest. To gratify the appetites of these various visiters a long extended line of tables, loaded with an nbundain e ol provisions, and'arranged with very pleasing eli'ect, were spread beneath the shadow of Mr. Robertson's rope factory. There was no doubt that a good digestion did wait upon appetite, lor the clatter of the knives and forks was actuary "prodigious" at the moment when Sir George and Lady Grey made their appearance. Then, the nwii'diiiig ceased, the natives starting to their feet to render their tribute of respect to the Governor and his Lady. One deafening burst of acclamation poured from the throats of the assembled throng, who gave utterance to the well known Maori chant. " Welcome, O visiter, from a distant Innd, We sen' our favourite >on to feicii thee From the end of the Siariy llea»ciu!—. Welcome, Visitor, Welcome!"

—«Hg= f ' —= = After tliis was sung, in true Maori style, f'..-> r>!'>iwii:g—- ---'• '.i'f went to behold tho beauty of the Queen. Was she beautiful, or was she. not?— Oli yes, to beautiful that our eyes were dazzled, . IS'or could we gaze on her for fear of fainting." At the conc'tision of tin's hyperbole, knives and forks went most energetically to work, and beef and pudding were disposed of with a celerity absolutely marvellousBut one circumstance occurred for a moment to disturb the universal satisfaction, and that was caused by Katipa and his tribe, who. through some mistake of their own, although furnished with tickets, of which nearly eight hundred were issued, did not partake of the feast. The mistake, nevertheless, was compensated for in the long run by Kapita and his party being supplied with biscuit, flour, and sugar, which not only gratified them exceedingly, but enabled them to turn the tables triumphantly upon the beef and pudding eaters. A grand ball was given in the evening by the Governor, at which we had the pleasure of meeting the chiefs Te Wliero Whero, Patuone, and Te Waru, who seemed to share in the general sasiefaction. May .the European and the Maori be ever thus united, and may their mutual love and friendship grow stronger and firmer with their growing years.