The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1884. THE BLUE RIBBON AND THE MAORI KING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1640, 21 March 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1884. THE BLUE RIBBON AND THE MAORI KING.

King Tawhiao lias donned the blue £ ribbon, and if he succeeds in keeping ' hiß vow for the period of his probation f -a twelvemonth—ifc will be all but a miracle! We knew the Monarch well in Masterton. He is a fair spoken, ' well meaning man, but a sot and a 1 libertine. His determination to pio- J ceed to England Ims naturally caused i some consternation among Maori sym- n pathisers. What would the Exeter l Hall party, which believes in the noble w Maori, and almost canonized a year or 0 two ago ono of our worst native specimens, if Tawhiao cuts capers in Lon- ? 1 ion after the style which has been ■' recorded at each point of his late pit " jrimage through the North Island, pi Every effort is therefore being mado to ;ol prevent him from.getting on the spree ffhen he is amongst strangers, He has ' D jeen advised not to travel through the gl States lest some Yankee showman akes advantage ,of ; his well-known nt veakness and him round with a & vhiskey bottle as a sort of New Zea- ac and Jumbo. The best advice he has lh eceived yet comes from Sir George ]? a Jrey, whose conduct towards the poor Cing at this juncture does honor to his cad and heart, Sir George not only ersuaded Tawhiao to take the blue at ibbon, but had it sewn on his own | to

coat at the same time. If Tawhiao could have only remained under Sir George Grey's eye for a few months he might possibly have thrown off his evil habits, and have became worthy of the high position he occupies amongst the natives of this colony. We fear, however, that once removed from the spell that bound him at Kawfiu he will be unable to resist temptation. All that could be done by Sir Georcie to lessen the risk of the Colony being disgraced in London by Tawiiiao has been' done, and we sincerely trust that'the ex-Premier's efforts will be crowned "with success. It is so seldom that we aro able to speak in unqualified praise of Sir George Grey, that it is a positive pleasure to us to recognise the humanity, the singleness of purpose, and the selfsacrifice whicji lie appears to have displayed on this occasion. If Sir Geoege Geev were not a politioian he would be a great and wise man. Party strife seems to bring the worst traits in his charactor to the surface-traits which, at his Kawau paradise, are scarcely observable.