THE GOVERNOR'S CHRISTMAS AT WAIUKU.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 2, 15 January 1862, Page 9

THE GOVERNOR'S CHRISTMAS AT WAIUKU.

At Pokeno, near Havelock on the Waikato, there was to have been a large Christmas feast at which it was expected that 600 Natives would be present, and at which the Upper Waikato would be largely represented. Of the occurrences at Pokeno, we have as yet received no intelligence; but of what transpired at the meeting or Ngatiteata at Waiuku, we are able to place a sketch before bur readers. The Christmas feasi on this occasion was provided Tor the Natives by the liberality of Mr. Constable, of Waiuku; the Governor, Sir George Grey, was present; about one hundred and twenty Natives sat down to dinner. The air of the assembly was perfectly orderly, and the appearance of the Maori guests thoroughly respectable,. the women and children, in particular, being unusually neat and clean. When the serious business of enjoying the creature comforts provided in such liberal profusion was ended, the people assembled, iri public meeting. Then the following) address to the Governor was presented and read:— Waiuku, December 25th, 1561. Father the Governor, — Salutations to you. You have arrived in| Waiuku. You have given heed to our word, and now we will listen to your word. Whatever yon wish done we will do; for it is food that has •. been given op lo be eaten. Let us consider the matter. " Although scanty it is the scantiness of food given hy Afu: there is abundance behind. Although bad, it is bad in the presence of Taiawa," that is, those things which you have given to us, namely, Magistrates and Kuoangas for the employment of Ngatiteata. From your loving children, The Ngatiteata. After this ceremony had concluded, the Governor met the Chiefs of the tribe for the purpose ot making with them the final

arrangement for setting up the new form of i, : Gvil Government in tboir District. At this meeting, we learn, the names of the Native •) Magistrates agreed upon by. the people were to his Excellency on behalf of the tfibe, and also.the names of the Wardens for »the, Hundreds in theDßlcict, Theresult of rlitt meeting was, we are informed, perfectly olaliiffwlory to the Governor, and it is believed- »; (hat themOstcompietereHance may be placed uflßj the determination-of Ngaliteatato carry into entire and immediate effect l Sir George Grey's plans for the civil government of their District. With NgaUtipa on the one side of the river, and the Waiuku people on the other, it may be said that the lower Waikatos have now embraced the new .institutions. -Jim 4 *isastep'in the march of pacification .and progress of wbict) the importance is great, and, considering the connexions of the N&itSteata, and the importance of the terri*orial position occiipfedby them at Waiuku : —their co-operation in the work of improvement will be round to be, we think, of the * valuer ' • ■ a f At this meeting also, we understand, the! - t qtiestion of road making was considered, and l bere was general agreement as to the n ecessity of making roads; some uneasiness caused by the movement of the troops, subsided, when the object of that movement, came to be fully understood.