MAORI OFFICERS OF JUBILEE CONTINGENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 193, 3 September 1900, Page 2

MAORI OFFICERS OF JUBILEE CONTINGENTS.

PRESENTATION OF SWOKDS. run rauss association. Wellington, September 2. The presentation of swords to the officers'of the New Zealand Jubilee Contingent was made the occasion, yesterday, of a big native gathering of a patriotic character at Papawai, near Greytown North. Natives were present from all parts of the North Island, and there was also a good sprinkling of representative Europeans from the surrounding districts. A large number of members cf Parliament had arranged to take part in the demonstration, but, owing to an all night sitting of the House on Friday, only about fifteen of them made the trip by yesterday morning's train; but with friends of the Ministers and members the whole Parliamentary party numbered about fifty. The Governor and suite joined the train at Pigeon Bush, and among those who went from town were the Hon. J. Carroll, Colonel PolePetiton, Adjutant 0 wen,"Lleut.-Colonels Pitt and Porter, and Major Bonar. A feature of the gathering was the parade of mounted infantry belonging to the Wairarapa district, the tarn-out of the Maori corps being particularly creditable.

Upon arrival of the visitors at Papawai pah, Mr. J. J. Jury, on behalf of the natives, extended a hearty welcome and greeting to all. Addressing the Governor, he said that since the treaty of Waitangi the Maori race had remained firm and loyal ibo the Crown, and when the natives had heard of the resort to arms in South Africa they had all been anxious to uphold the honour of the British flag in the contest for supremacy. The '.Governor, in replying, said it was pleasing to him to take part in the presentation of these swords of honour; they would bB treasured in after years as marking the great Diamond Jubilee of the Queen, not as badges of war, but as emblems of the great gathering of the sons of the Empire in the capital city of the Empire. Since that day of peace and tranquility events of great importance to the Empire had ocourred, and a similar assembling of the Empire's sons had taken plaoe, but under different circumstances, and for a very different purpose, these sons of European and native races, had come forward, anxious to draw the sword on the Mother Country's behalf. He said it seemed almost unnecessary to thank j the Maoris for their loyalty, whioh j was felt by all to be genuine and true, j With such loyalty it could only ba a pleasure for Her Majesty's representslive to take part in native gatherings ns often as they occurred in New Zealand. Speaking personally, he said it w. s bis pleasure, as well as his duty, to do all in his power for the native race. The Governor, whose speech had been received with manifestations of! delight by the Maoris, then proceeded' to present swords to Lieut.-Colonel j Pitt, M.L.C., Nelson, Captain Tunuia-1 rangi, Wairarapa, Lieutenant Pringle, Palmerston North, and Sergeant-Major | Tareha, Hawke's Bay. The swords, which were handsomely embellished, bore the following inscription:—"Presented to (name of recipient) by the New Zealand Government in commemoration of his visit to London with the Now Zealand Contingent of Mounted Rifles to take part in the celebration of the 60th year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria,' on Juno 21st, 18'J7." In hnnd : ng over the swords, tho Governor said tiny were given as an emblem of the great est peace celebration of any nation in the world; "if they are wanted for other purposes," ho added, " I have no doubt they will be at Her Majesty's disposal." After a march past by the mounted corps, the visitors were entertained at luncheon in a large meeting house in the pah, in all about 700 people partook of the hospitality of the# natives. In this regard, arrangements were in every respect up-to-date, and Mr. H. Parata, who acted as secretary for the Maori Committee, repeated the great success I which he scored as the organiser of the ' recent Patriotic Maori Carnival in Wellington. Unfortunately, theweather was not at all favourable, heavy showers falling at intervals during the day. The party from Wellington returned by last night's train.