THE NEW ZEALAND CHIEFS AT MARLBOROUGH HOUSE.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 89, 11 September 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE NEW ZEALAND CHIEFS AT MARLBOROUGH HOUSE.

L (Fiom.the. Standard, July 15.) r Tbei-r , Jtoyal Highnesses the Prince land Piwicess" of Wales graciously refceived at Marlborough House,- on ■Saturday, the party of New Zealand phiefa whose presence, at various public maces during the^past fortnight has Incited some The party EbnsiaU of 48 -individuals,- of whom Krree are women, two of the latter Being wives and one a single woman. Bfrey are from the province of Auckland, 1 and the men represent five of the Kioat noted tribes- among, the aboriginal Inhabitants of the north island. They ■aye arrired in this country under the ■guardianship i of Mr W» Jenkins* who ■aying resided in tKe,; colony more than. ■o "years, and passed a considerable Bortion of that time- antong the native ■opulation, has become so great a pro■cient in their language as to hold the fcace of government interpreter in the ■rofince of Nelson. Mr Jenkins hayHg, occasion to -visit^"Englalifl, tHoiight' ■ a favorable ppporttiriUy^tS lprornOte He wish frequently expressed to him by Hi«fs to come to this country. He very Hoperly in the first instance sought the Hnction of Sir George Grey, governor ■"die. colony, to whom tbe names of He «(iiefs desirous to avail themselves H Mr Jenkins* escort were submitted, with one «sception, that of a chief Hhese presence was desirable in the HuncHi of natives in communication Hitk tbe colonial government, Sir Geo. Hvey made no <objection to the party Having Auckland, and a tenth chief taken tfao place of the withHawn individual they embarked H Jtb« Dutch ship Ida Zeiglar on He sth of February, and after an Hreeable passage of one hundred days Hided in the port of London. There four women originally, but one of Hem exhibited symptoms of mental Herration three days. after sailing, and Hidually becoming worse, wa?, on the Hrival of the party in England, necesHily placed under restraint.. After for some days at; Hotel, where their man- j Hra and deportment manifested the; arad propriety of a superior' the party removed to a furnished . in Weymouth -street, where, for present, they will remain. The Hival of thetchiefs in England having reported to the Duke of New- . as head of the Colonial Departhis Grace promptly and kindly ted the whole party to a dejeuner at Clarendon Hotel on Saturday last. the previous evening Mr Jenkins through General Knollys an that the Prince of Wales be happy to give an audience to New Zealand chiefs at MarlboHouse on the following morning. they all waited upon his Highness at half-past eleven : when the Prince and Princess 'together accorded them a reception. Mr Jenkins atas interpreter, and after the had made their obeisance the inquired how they liked Engand by what they had been most To this the elder chief one of Hongi's warriors, replied that what had most them as yet had been the They had heard in their disof a mode of transit swift as a from a rifle, but had not been able the fact until they had visited Hgreat glass house at Sydenham, the carved figures of men and had also excited their admiraand astonishment. Wharepapa that they had expected to see things, but it had also been their fortune to see "great persons," a courtly obeisance as he spoke, hoped before going back to his they should be permitted to see great mother the Queen. The continuing to address the declared he had many he wished to say to the Prince but he could not them as he was too much overby his feelings. The other chiefs, the women of the party, listened to Wharepapa' s observations, gestures intimated their assent. retiring from the Royal presence of the chiefs presented to the and Princess offerings of native Wharepapa laying before an " ihupuni" — dogskin mat, interwoven on a groundwork -this being, in native estimation, of the highest respect and devoAnother chief gave an amulet neck, lamenting that although landholder at home he bad more appropriate to offer. other tokens of amity and goodoffered by the male and female who were especially delighted the expressed desire of the Prince that they should See the bridal presents, and with the afforded them to inspect the Here the exquisite surface of especially attracted their and the party having passed half in promenading the grounds, j^Hleft for the Clarendon Hotel. Duke of .Newcastle had an ticithe arrival of his interesting and was present at the hotel to An elegant repast there the party, at which the Duke presided. Here a touchoccurred. The Duke, thoughtful consideration, had the presence of a young Hew who. has for some years been a course of study in Engt This youth, himself the son of a friendly ally of this country, recognised ' by several cduntryrben, and mutual demonof feeling the iraeetThe well-known native salutation noses " ! was followed in one individuals by a passion of tears, the most cordial relations.

were established. At the dejeuner^ in addition to the native "party there were present Sir Frederick and Lady Rogers, Mr and Mrs Engleheart, Mr Ra'dford,Mr Ptfseley, and Mr Jenkins. ' The Duke of Newcastle, with charac--1 ten's tic judgment and tact, made many apt inquiries, to wKich his guests i promptly responded through their interpreter ; and after an agreeable interview of a couple of hours the party returned to Weymouth-street. Among the women of the party may be mentioned the wife of Hare Pomare, a confidential companjou of Tamate "Waka Nene, our worthy ally in the northern war.