ARRIVAL OF SYDNEY TAIWHANGA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1365, 28 April 1883, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF SYDNEY TAIWHANGA.

(from tho Wanganui Herald!) i Tho s.s. Hauraki, containing the now celebrated Sydney Taiwhanga and about 80 Maoris, arrived at the cattle wharf, Putiki, at 11 o'clock this morning after an.uneventful trip, .from iWaitara, where they were detained owing'to her having; run ashore. There are present, in addition to Taiwhanga, a number of prominont chiofs, including Marsh Brown, Kawiti, Grey, Monganui, and Isaac Tetai, and among tho minor celebraties Win. Cotton, Peni, Tani, Mitai, TetoDi, and Hemi Tupi. The men were housed between decks on straw, and appeared,to quite enjoy their trip. On arrival they imme diately.undressed themselves,: and in as near an approach to nudity as. was consonant with the bounds of decency prepared to. visit, their Wanganui brethren and execute a war dance. The general clothing of the troop appeared to bo a waistcoat and a Blurt, and with white feathers stuck in their hair, and swarthy lhnbs, they; presented : a peculiar ; i£ not picturesque appearance. Having formed in procession, they trooped down to the pah, where they were .welcomed by. Mete Kingi and a few other Maoris, after,' which both i parties 1 executed a : war dance iu truo Nativo fashion, excopt, as Taiwhanga expressed it, it was a "law" war dance, and.they supplanted the- place' of their usual arms with colored handkerchiefs.' The mehhaving gone through this process,, roturned to the steamer and got into their every day' costumes, Our' 'reporter interviewed Taiwhanga,' who is a veiy intelligent specimen of. his speaking English fluently! and who. explained tho nature of the pit, 'He stated that their desire is : simply to explain their ; visit to the Home Country, andto impress upon them the necessity; of strictly adhertingtothe lawj.which is as he says "superior to the Queen, the Govornor,or anvbody else," and to upset the influence of To Whiti. They wi11,., it isprobable, stay hero forabbut a weok, and afterwards leave for other settlements, where they- will endeavor in. every possible manner to uphold the , prestige of the " law," the vast importance of. which seems to have greatly impressed Taiwhanga.' 'He desires us ' to state that tho visit is ..purely " political," and with the object stated. A meeting of the combined natives will be held to-night, when it willbe decided ■ as to when they will hold the great korero. Their arrangements are very complete, Six men of the number have been appointed policeman,, with Isaac Tetai (who is also secretary and i treasurer) at their head. The functions ■ of these will be to maintain order, and to distribute.. the liquor if any is provided, which shall not be scrambled for, but doled out, that the men: may ■ not get drunk, and thus minimisd the theinfluence their visit would qtherwiso have. They al 1 appear most enthusiastic, i and the secretary, we learn, on: their 1 behalf, paid the sum of £340 this morning for, their passage down. Taiwhanga expressed himself highly , pleased with his trip to the Home i country, which lasted some' eleven i weeks, .He slated that the "nobleman " informed him that the English , Government would ;;do.-whatever they could-for them so'longas thby adhered strictly to tho law, and did not act as ; Te "Whiti and the rest had do'no.