IN UPPER WANGANUI

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8360, 21 February 1913, Page 3

IN UPPER WANGANUI

GOVERNOR AT JERUSALEM GREAT GATHERING OF THE MAORI TRIBES. BESSONS IN LOYALTY. Special to the “Times.” OHAKUNE, February 20. For some davs past the natives of Upper Wanganui nave been preparing for an official visit of his Excellency the Governor. Yesterday that big function took place with at Jerusalem, and no Governor of New Zealand has ever been welcomed by tne native tribes with greater fervour or with more sincere expressions oiloyairy to their Sovereign than were extended to Lord Liverpool. At Jerusalem practically all the tribes of the river settlements had gathered to give his Excellency and Lady Liverpool welcome as the representatives of his Majesty the Kin** The welcome was in the good old Maori style, and as a memento of the occasion valuable presents in .the shape of mats were presented to their Excellencies and to-the Hon. \>. ft. Herries, Minister of Native Affairs, who took advantage of the big gathering to meet the Maoris and hear certain grievances wliich arc very real to them in connection with their lands. MESSAGE FROM THE KING. His Excellency, in returning thanks for the welcome, said: “ Before I make allusion to any other subject I want to give you a message which the* King sends to all the people of Maonland. < Xell the people how interested I am in everything which concerns their welfare and their happiness, and what pleasant recollections the Queen and myself retain of our visit to Maorikind.’ As the representative of King George, I thank you for your expressions of loyalty—a loyalty which you have shown not only by word but in deeds, for it has not ■ been forgotten that in troublous times, now happily long past, you proved your devotion to the British Crown by deeds of valour and associated yourselves in all the difficulties which confronted the Imperial forces., I myself have passed many years in the service of the Grown, and, speaking as a soldier, I can assure you that the noble deeds of Major Kemp will never he forgotten—deeds which, as you are aware, earned for him a special distinction from the hands of our late well-beloved Queen Victoria. lam anxious to tell you that I myself have never been in Maoriland before. I havp heard a great deal about the country from my father, who during his service as a soldier; servejl three years in these waters in the Royal Navy during the period to which 1 have alluded. From him I learned of the many gallant actions which took place with the men of .your race. He told me of your unrivalled scenery and your pride in everything connected with your country. It has, therefore, been a source of great gratification to myself that his Majesty has selected me to bo his representative in this Dominion, and that 1 have thus been enabled to oome and see this land with my own eyes. And I can assure you that it will he the earnest endeavour of the Countess of Liverpool and myself to do all we can to further the interests of the people during our stay in this Dominion. A CHARTER OF FREEDOM.

“For one moment let me carry you back to the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. In that treaty you accepted the British Sovereign as your Sovereign, and by doing so you. gained all the rights adherent to. the British Constitution. You know that when in difficulty you. always have the British flag to'protect you, and British justice to guard you. That charter has always stood for freedomwher©ver a British subject may be. It is a' great bond of union, and, as you know well, our Sovereign does not rule over one race, but over various races speaking many languages and belonging to different creeds. But all know, that they are citizens of the great Empire over which King George rules, and have equal rights to share in all the privileges that are bestowed on its members. . ; “I have touched on this,point bebause wo all realise what prompted your spontaneous and patriotic offer during the South African war. You, like, many others of our- fellow-subjects, realised the difficulties and dangers which beset the Empire at that time, and you: whole-heartedly ahd willingly preferred your help. Every British subject was proud of that offer, not' only on account of the spirit in which it was made, but because it demonstrated to all observers that the ; British Empire was welded together by a bond which cannot bo broken and that the flag which has braved r a thousand/ years the battle and the breeze is still your flag and mine, and will be to those who follow long after wo have passed away. WORTHY WARRIORS. “Lastly; remember your great traditions. Do not forget that you have over been counted warriors worthy of your steel, and though we live in times when by the mercy of Providence and. bloodshed no. longer reign in these fair islands, you. have still a part to play. ; Do all you can to maintain that race from which you are sprung and of which you are so justly proud by leading industrious hves. and tilling andbringing to good account every inch of the land which belongs to you. So will you not only uphold the reputation and stamina of your ‘ race, but you will maintain in a high degree the Empire to which wo are- all proud to belong. Let there be no dividing line—one King, one Empire—so that unity and prosperity may flourish and so that unitv may he the symbol not of menace but of the peace and goodwill of the world.” Three cheers were lustily, given for his Excellency. , NATIVE MINISTER SPEAKS. Following Lord Liverpool’s speech Mr Herries gave a brief address. He said the present generation was thankful to those both Maori and pakeha, who fought for Queen Victoria, and great was the respect in._which Wanganui tribes were held in this connection. He was glad that some of the Maori war veterans were still living and with them that day, and he was very glad to_ see some of them wearing medals given them by Queen Victoria. All honour to those who stood by their Queen I At the same time he was glad to know that those who fought on the opposite side were now united with those who fought for their Sovereign. He was glad to be able to accompany the Go : , vornor and meet the Maoris at Jerusalem, and wonld .be glad to hear their wants because he was the mouthpiece of the Governor so far as the laws affecting the natives were concerned. He had also the privilege of giving advice to his Excellency on native matters, and hoped that during his term as Native Minister he would never be so unfortunate as to give bad advice. He fully realised the great honour conferred upon him in being given the portfolio of Native Minister, because more

was imposed on iiim than, on any other Minister so far as tho natives were concernd, for a single word or action of his might destroy or givo life to the whole native race. He trusted that with the help of Providence he would, when his term'of office was up, leave the Maoris better off than he found them. In order to do this he would require all the assistance ho could get from tho natives themselves. He had now come to hear what they had to say, so that he might be able to givo further advice to his Excellency. If the 'Maoris there present, as well a> those in other parts of the Dominion, extended a helping hand to him in any effort he made in behalf of their race, he felt sure ho would bo able to advise his Excellency on native mat. tors on sound lines and, that tho ultimate result would be exceedingly beneficial to the Maoris. He felt sure their Excellencies and ne himself would ever remember with pleasure the day thej visited Hiruharama. . Their Excllencies were entertained at lunch, and in the afternoon saw a poi dance beautifully executed _ by Maori maidens. A return to Pipiriki was made at night, and to-day the party travelled overland to Ohakuhe, visiting the Waimarino show ery route. Both Lord and Lady Liverpool were delighted with the great hospitality extendedto them by Hie native . tribes of Wanganui. ’■ ' ONE BAGE, ONE LAW. • NATIVE LAND ADMINISTRATION. Press, Association. . , WANGANUI, February- 20. The Hon. AV. -H. Merries ■ delivered an important speech last night to the native tribes.' gathered ’ at Jerusalem.■ The most striking portion of his speech was the frequent repetition of the fact that the future policy of, the .Government would be one law, and that- the aim would bo- to bring pakeha and na .ires together in one race of New Zealanders instead of keeping them separate. The Maoris brought a lengthy list of grievances under tho Minister’s notice, and in reply Mr Herriea made several interesting announcements. He said he hoped shortly to be able to effect an amalgamation of the Maori Land Boards with the Native Land Court, believing that so far as administration was concerned thi§ would be more satisfactory than the present system. At t v e same time he wished to acknowledge the good work which had been done by all the Land Boards. He foreshadowed legislation to enable the natives to get titles to their lands more easily and cheaply than under the .present system, thus enabling them to borrow money on . better terms for the purpose of development. In-reply to a request for reduction of the death duties, he indicated that there was no hope of these being _ reduced, either in the case of Maori or pakeha. The cutting off of cultivatable land for scenic purposes, which is a long-standing grievance, will bo stopped, and only ground unsuitable for anything else will be set aside in this way. . ’ ; An interesting point _ cropped up in connection with the desire of the Aotea Maori Land Board’s tenants to. obtain the freehold of their - leases. _ The Maoris asked that sales of Maori land vested in the boards be prevented, and the Minister in reply said he would not help towards any such sales unless it were to the boards or the Government, and would-always set his face against the compulsory, sale of . land except for - public works. * • Mr Herries was given a vote ; or thanks and confidence. ;. : i