ALDERMAN McARTHUR AT THE LAKES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 69, 21 March 1879, Page 4

ALDERMAN Mc ARTHUR AT THE LAKES.

A correspondent of the Queentlander elves the follow amusing sketch of Mr McArthur'g visit to the Lake district of New Zealand: — Let ua then return to Ohioemutu and take proper farewell of our Maori friends. Riding up the dusly road to the town, I aaw at the door of the hotel a portly gentleman in sbioing broadcloth and broad brimmed beaver with ecclesiastical curl, gazing benignsntly at the natives, who were gazing open-mouthed at him. Here waa another proof of the annihilation of distance in these go-ahead daya. I had last seen that portly figure rising on the back benches of'the House of Common*, when Gladstone ruled the roast, and Lowe, Childere, Coleridge, and Card well sat on (he Treasury seats. It was either the member for Lambeth or his ghost, and the first greeting convinced me that it was the substantial flesh. Finding he was about to pay a visit of ceremony to a natiAe chief, our party resolved to swell his train. The old chief, though aware of the coming of the English legislator, waa found unprepared when the proper moment came. I strongly suspect he wae cooking potatoes when the deputation were an* nounced, for, as we stood in front of his whare, we observed him, 'seven-eighths naked, slink round a fence at the rear, and make surreptitiously for the but. But when he caught sight of us he proudly drew himself up, moderated his pace, and strode gravely by us without appearing conscious that there were such people in the world. I bave reason to believe be was an artfol old humbug, but I must declare him the essence of natural dignity, and he had a really grand demeanor, spite of his leathery old skin aud spindly old shanks. At length we were summoned to the interview. Mr McArthur entered first, stooping humbly to get through the doorway, which according to Maori custom, would scarcely admit a child in an upright position. The chief was squatting on a mat. He had draped himself es rapidly as effectively, and quite awed us by his ceremonious politeness. We had given him tobacco only the other day, and looked upon him as a eort of vagabond, and now he majestically waved us into bis dwelling and made us feel in twenty minutes that in this connection we were the vagabonds. So we etood, bat in hand, and the M.P. made him a kindly sensible speech, which was duly inter, preted, we meantime studying our native aristocrat, and observing that bis face was tattooed into a perfect exhibition of arabesque work ; he had a , splendid bead and features, and his presence was naturally commanding. He wes gracious to bis principal guest, and invited him to share the rug. Mr McArthur "flopped" — as Mr Cruncher used to say in the "Tale of Two Cities' —at onoe, and tried to look as comfortable as if he were in tbe great gilt and velvet chair of honour at tbe Mansion House. As time wore on I noticed that tbe hon. member began to be uneaßy. Hia attention wandered from the Chiefs oily, wily, remarks. He perspired; there was no window nor any outlet but t' c lilliputian doorway. He shifted as often as an elderly portly gentleman sitting on tbe ground, and bouod to maintain an upright and dignifiel position, could do without attracting attention. In a word, the fleas were at him; they had got the beiter of tbe fine broaJcloth, and were improving tbe occasion, as it tbey knew »bat they could not lunch off a Loudon alderman and prospective Lord Major every day. The interview wts very formal, and it concluded by (he chief presenting Mr McArturwiih a Qne'.j-woven native rug We were afterwards told (hut ibis fslber of hia people bud during the morning prowled through the village and visited his subjects, from one of wbom he bad uubluahiogly lootei the rug in anticipation of the aldermau's Vlßlt.