THE PREMIER'S VISIT TO PIPIRIKI.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5194, 29 November 1895, Page 2

THE PREMIER'S VISIT TO PIPIRIKI.

(From Our Special CorretpoMnt,) On Tuesday last, the 19th inst., the Premier, accompanied by Mrs Seddon, Mr J. Carroll, and rather a large party of ladies and gentlemen * from Wanganui, including Mr A. D. . Willis, Member for tho * arrived at Pipiriki by the WairereHk and took up their temporary at Mr Huddle's accommodation house. The party arrived about mid-day, and AFTER REFRESHING

themselves spent the remainder of y the aftornoon looking round the settlement and enjoying the somewhat rugged and barren but picturesquely beautiful scenery with which the place abounds. The effect of the scenery upon the party (as far as the gentlemen wore concerned) must have been very exhilarating, as they spent a pleasant evening under Mr Huddle's hospitable roof. The Premier's impromtu little concerts when on the war-path are notorious, but I think this one deserves special mention, Picture to yourself then

A LITTLE RACK I'ARLOUR, with a rousing log fire around which are seated some dozen kindred spirits amongst whom the Premier and Mr Carroll are conspicuous, all speaking at once or singing at once, night hideous—or othorwise—a<3Br cording to the taste of the listener. Glasses and bottles are on the table and the fun is in full swing. Th» Premier rises to his feet and after emptyiug his glass and replenishing it from

AS ADJACENT BOTTLE places it carefully on the mantelpiece, begins in a jovial voice, " Look here boys! I liko this sort of thing. It reminds me of old times. This new order of tilings that has come into vogue in the last couple of years is a confounded nuisance. I'm going to sing a song; one of tho old songs we used to sing on tho coast," and than in a loud but not altogether unmusical voice he strikes up "YlliMms AND HIS DINAH." Those who have heard this old half-forgotten melody, will understand what tho chorus, with a dozen usty voices, in a small room, would 10 liko. The chorus occurs after very two lines, and the song is rolarkable for its length, so that it/ j 'us nearly all chorus, and Jttb

THE DIN WAS AWFUL. After the tumult had subsided, there was a pause; old forgotten memories seemed to be under review, in the minds of those present, and ono Old Timer remarked, with tears in his voice, " The first time that I heard that old song, I was a gutter-snipe in London." It is needless to say, that this observation was greeted with shouts of laughter, and so the song and jest went round, with unabated enthusiasm, until a late hour, when tho party retired. I will do the Premier the justice, to say that he was the first to set the example, But it was

A CIIIUOUS SPECTACLE, while it lasted. Surely the cares of state wero never so lightly borne as by tho broad shoulders of this man, and one could imagine liiin saying with Prince Hal" Thus do wo play the fool with time while the spirits of the wise Bit in clouds and A mock us." The quotation would b(®P the more appropriate,as this moderiijr Prince Hal had his Poins in tho person of Mr Carroll, who filled the part of that henchman to a nicety. I cannot help giving aspecimeu remark of his, which will show the position he takes up, when out with his chief, " Tho boss and I," said Mr Carroll, indicating the Premier with a wave of his hand, " can flop down into any company and make oursolves at home. If its singing we can make a noise, and if its

PITCH AND TOSS we take a liand in that too." Nor ivas there wanting a Falstaff to this merry party, the part of that king of fun being ably sustained by a literary gent, who rejoices in the titlo of " A. Tramp, Esq., and who was not only witty in himself, but like his great prototype " the cause of wit in others." As I said before, it was a curious spectacle, and whoa I saw the Premier standing on the verandah with a set face, confronting

TUB ASSEMBLED CHIEFS who were met to confer with him a mutter of grave importance to them ¥ and their people; wlion I heard the the Premier address those veteran warriors—Major Kemp, the aged Tcpeo, Major King and Rorekura—as " his beloved children," and describe himself as a " kindand anxious father who watched oyer their interests with

TENDERNESS AND AFFECTION," I marvelled much at tho simplicity of tho native mind and tho many parts that a Premier is called upon to play in the game of Government 1 I must state hero the object of tho Premier's visit iyas to com'o to an ai;. rangement \yith the natiyes re the location of a town site, and to induco the tribe to allow the Government (p set apart fivo hundred acres for that purpqse. Also to permit a survey of some sixteen thousand acres qf tho country surrounding the proposed township with a view to bringing it

UNDEII CULTIVATION. From what I can learn the latu) is to remain in possession of the natives and is to be leased out in convenient sections for forms not exceeding forty-five years. It is only necessary ar to eay that as far as Mr Seddon's mission was concerned, it was a complete success. Ho gave the chiefs unlimited toffee, and they in return gave him what he asked of them without demur. Mrs Seddon was present during the kororo, and seemed much interested in the proceedings, The ceromony of driving the pegs to mark the event, and commemorate the proceedings, was carried out with a good deal of enthusiasm.

MAJOR KEMP held ono peg while the Promior battered it in, remarking as if to himself, "It is not tho first peg I have driven by a tew." Tho vener. able Topeo hold tho othor, while Eichard repeated tho performance, The crowd then adjournod at tho Premier s invitation, to whoro tho Union Jack floated in tho brme, and gave threo hearty cheers for the Queen. Cheers boing given for tho Unefs and Mr Seddon, tho lnVvoeJ- otf « terminated/ 'Tho' Wwmift T party, after going for a 'jvip up tho river in a Maori canoe,' which' <tlioy seemed to enjoy immensoly, loft for 'lfrm afrnjl'