WELCOMED BY MAORIS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 341, 30 April 1928, Page 11

WELCOMED BY MAORIS

GOVERNOR-GENERAL AT NGARUAWAHIA RECEIVED BY PRINCESS “Alexandra was his throne. Cambridge was his hand-basin. Ngaruawahia was the footstool of King Tawhiao." “Welcome, O welcome, kotuku, to the sacred ground, the footstool of our king.” Thus spoke Tumate, brother of king Rata Mahuta. and son of the late king Mahuta. when greeting the GovernorGeneral, Sir Charles Fergusson. and the Lady Alice Fergusson at Ngaruawahia to-day. when their Excellencies paid their first official visit to the model village of Princess Te Puea Haerangi, whose social work on behalf of her race has attracted so much attention of late. Sir Charles and Lady Alice were accompanied by Mrs. Havilancl, their daughter, and attended by Lord Waleran, A.D.C. “Welcome, O adjuster, of wrong. Welcome to the home of King Rata Mahuta. Welcome to the morae of the orphans and the poor.” Both Sir Charles ancl Lady Alice recalled visits paid by their respective fathers to Ngaruawahia. although this is the first time they have officially visited the ancient capital of the Waikato kings. “To-day’s meeting is an indication that the Maoris are at last forgetting the old wounds of the war,”, said the Mayor, Mr. H. J. Sampson, when extending a civic welcome at the Borough Council chambers. “The visit of your Excellencies should do much to assist Te Puea in the noble work she is carrying out on behalf oh the less fortunate members of her race.” Replying, the Governor-General recalled the visit of his father, Sir James Fergusson, to a notable Maori assembly at the close of the Waikato War. He was so enamoured of tlie Waikato, that he purchased a farm which he retained for many years. In honour of the visit, his Excellency granted the school children a half-holiday, but he asked that it be “kept in the bag" until the weather was fine.