The Royal Visit.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 164, 18 June 1901, Page 1

The Royal Visit.

llotoktta, June 14,

Thfe weather this morning was tinfe and warm, With a clear sky after a heavy ram all night. The Waif tapu trip wat abandoned. The Royalties visited thi sanatoria o and opened the new baths, called Cornwall. There was a great assemblage of natives. Subsequently they visited the old Ohinemuri settlement and drove to the Whakarewarewa geyser and the. carved'house. In tl.d afternoon they are to cross the lake in a launchjyyj, v.jsi t,To. : n^fc6uFs:r‘ witnessed the poi dances by the Maori women of Tahranga, Wairarapa and Hawke’s Rty, and bates by the Hawke’s Bay and Ng-itiporou (Gisborne) Maoris, the proceedings b- iog nracti.aily a repe-titi-m of those of the iiio.niog at Ohmemuri, and a foretaste of to-morrovra

gi-ert .affair. The Royal party took a keen interest in the proceedings, and frequently applauded the dancing.

The Duke wa i tn-t to be p.-rsnaded to appear in uniform, mTd to day’s proone rings wore of a-, informal character. After visiting the now bath at tfab sanatorium, wnich the Duchess named “The Duchess” b-.th, the Royal visitors were driven to Ohinemutu pah, where a groat concourso of natives assembled. Two hundred natives, including fifty women, the men brandishing battle axes and tiie women green branches, gave a war dance. The women Were dressed id snowy Grouses) and puipuis (native mate), and blue sashes ; the men were stripped to the buff, with only puipuis on. The spectacle was very striking, though only on a email scale compared with to-morrow’s mont*.

Major Fox was presented by Mr Carroll to the Duke, and presented the latteV with a greenstone batileaxe. Princess Tekongokahira, representing the Arhwas, presented the Duchess with a greenstonS mere.

The Roya’ties inspected the carve A' house and then wore driven to Whaka* rewarewa, where they were escorted over the marvellous bo ling regions. Mr Clark-, Government Inspector of Whakarewarow*, started off the Wairoa geyser by throwing down a bag of soap. In a fevfr minnt r s a huge column of boiling watef burst out, reaching a height of a hundred feet. It was a wonderful sight. Thd double geyser close by was, during tha -visit,, in Ml play, and'Paribus- photol-

-r- -- *- - - : q 1 » * ■ ■ *,- * ' 1 of excellent pictures. Many thousand* of spectators viewed the natural wonder® of the locality.

'The pirty were then driven to the race* course, whither all had hurried to witnea® the dances and listen to the war chant®' of the Miorie,

The Ducal pair rode in front of the mail coach to all the morning demonstrations* The weather is charming, but the roadfi were deep in mud.

June 15.

The Maori chief fldhepa Hikutata, aged seventy-four years, one of the chiefs of Tuuranga, died at the camp at the racecourse, H:s dea' h was kept quiet, so a® H't to disturb the proceedings to-day.

Yesterday, Major Tox, a grand olj warrior, was addressing the yotmg Maori® at Obinemiuu. He said the demonstia. lion was such as has never been witnessed before, and it was unlikely to recur. Ijt was the first combination of all ths northern tribes, including former friendlies end hostiles, who had “fore* gathered with friendly intent,” and who were now associated in a welcome to the grand-on of the kite. Great White Queen.

The final demous L ration at Roturu® commenced this morning at 10 o’clock. Their Royal Highnesses left the Grand Hotel at 9 30 for the racecourse, where for the last three weeks large camps been establ shed in preparation for the grert event. Many historical flags wen® hoisted, along with a general display of bunting. Notable among them w&s d handsome silk flag, presented by ths Government to the Wanganui people, the late Major Komp’a tribe, Ngatiruaka, lu commemorate their loyalty to the Queen, and the bravery displayed on behalf ojf Europeans al Moutoa, Each tribe, as it was marsh >dlod up to perform its w>* dance and bakas’, through their rospec* tive chiefs made presents to the Duk j, consisting of mats, meres, etc., and th# Arawa chiefs presented a of $ carvod Maori house, and a carved canoe, representing the historical canoe of lha£ name, which was burnt at Maketu, Baf of Plenty, over 500 years ago. This, is was explained, was intended to be a linU between the Maoris and Britain.

The Daml party arrived at the ground at 9.30 a.m,, and occupied the granj stand. They received an ovation. Gtb f stands specially erected were Jjaokcdj and a huge concourse of people sto«><( around the course. Tribes came forward and performed hakas, and then ail massed. Of these there were about 20Gfy including a large number of women, TU* men were r-aked to tbe waist, wearing only paipuis of reeds and flax, brilliant 1/ dyed in many colours* They were arme£ with spears and battle-axes* The womea were in varied costume, according to thc>.« tribe, butali werepioturesquo. flags floated in the bree&e from various parts .of the coarse. The Duke nod imebess left the and walked , down the line of Maoris, received another ovation.

The ceremony was brought) to « ck|# by presentation of medals to tbe severs! tribes represented.

The party then entrained and started at JL2.JO jp.«>