Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 1884. TAWHIAO AT HOME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 211, 2 August 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 1884. TAWHIAO AT HOME.

King Tawhiao has reached London, and seems to be creating quite an impression amongst our English cousins. The London 'limes gives along account of his arrival and enters into the minutest details astohis Royal Highness 1 mode of dressing, his health, his person, and m fact everything that the curious instincts of a cockney could prompt him to enquire into. One is struck with the laughable ignoj? r ance which the English people have of the Natives of New Zealand and their manners and customs. Tawhiao was condescending and even gushing to the representative of the Times. He shook hands cordially and appeared quite friendly, showing no inclinations to either scalp or demolish him. He and his party are described as wearing tweed suits, and boots, and' carrying umbrellas. Upon the reporter using his notebook and pencil, Tawriao insisted on writing his name m it, and his followers did the same. The escort .consists of, Tofia Turoa, Wireuti Pat ah a Tp Turn, Horn Kopia, arid Major Tk Wiieouo ; Mr Geo. Skidmore, a halfcast, also accompanies the party, as interpreter. When a remark was passed to the effect that Tv hi could write better than his majesty, Tawhiao fc $a} 4to have ?? grunted his kingly displeasure.?' f be/se JLittle things are recorded m detail, $nd §how how matters which are hardly considered worthy of notice m the colony, are treated as specially interesting at Jrjpme. For instance, when the iVfaori ** J£ing " passed through the Manawatu tjistriet some si^c months tigo, the ignorant and unapprepiative inhabitants of these parts agreed

m the common verdict that Tawhlao was a complete failure. Nothingkingly could be seen about him, at least by the general run of colonists ; and a good deal that, to put it m the very mildest form was not kingly, was said to be visible. He was a very harmless old savage, evincing many savage instincts, but otherwise m noways was he a dangerous British subject. But as a King, most people who saw him were vastly disappointedinTAwm ao. Not so at Home, however. Me is received ,-ilmost m State. He is to interview Lord Derby, and expects to have a personal conversation with the Queen. The various newspapers give long accounts of his arrival and state of health, and m every way His Majesty seems to be enjoying a thorough good trip, and being generally lionised. The most amusing news of all is that Tawhiao has donned the blue ribbon. The whole party wear huge badges, which are as large as the buckles on a Highlander's kilt. His Majesty had not joined the army at the time that he and some hundreds of Maories passed through this district. However, it is never too late to mend, and it was a very wise step to take on his part, otherwise his visit Home might have served only to make a very unsatisfactory impression on the English mind. The cause of the visit is not yet divulged, and the party are most careful not to make any statements with regard to it. In fact, so secretly do they keep their mission, that one of two things suggests itself to us. Either they really have an important matter m hand and are too cautious to divulge it prematurely, or else they have no secret motive whatever and consequently cannot divulge it. The only likely reason for Tawhiao taking such a lengthy trip seems to be a wish that he has to be restored to his old position of King. He seems to have heard of the enthusiastic reception jthat Cetewayo met with, and judged fairly correctly m supposing that he would meet with similar hospitality himself, were he to be present himself at Home. If it is only an empty title that, he seeks, there is little reason to suppose that it will be withheld from him. If on the other hand he wishes to ,work upon the softer feelings of the English authorities, to get larger and more important concessions, there is every reason to 1 suppose that he will be disappointed. Such matters will be rightly left m the hands of the Colonial Parliament, and the Mother Country has sufficient respect for oar governing institutions to be aware of the fact. Probably, some societies may take the King's part and endeavour to make a case for hinu and if possible encourage the notion that he seems to hold slightly already, that he has been ill-used m some way m the matters of the confiscation of certain lands m the King Country; but we do not think that 1 any practical results will accrue from his trip m that respect. Taking a general view of it, 1 aw. hiao will have a voyage which will perhaps make him a more enlightened Maori; and those English people who may come across him should certainly have a more genuine idea of the New Zealand aborigines than they seem to have at present.