ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 877, 2 February 1878, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

Fbruarylst, 1877. ; O^t|ie Premie.- nearmg JPiria, the E}rtj{#si3tor, first isare tU* welcome, p£«ran<a.' then Rising*. Afonuhiri'a daughter joined and led th* «rty to where a break wind had benn ereced, and where nosy 3to>i Ktn.j Fawhtao with done two th »manl 6ve haaired of his followers. Ou th» Government par'/ coining up, tho-t taogi ar. oace commenced by t'avhUo aa<i was kept up »>y all fo^aoaa-f qairter of an hrar wqbu fuh. called out to ceaso, which all did but Ttwhiao himself wh«.» con* tinued tcrnry alone for anothtr twenty minutes or so. with his ha r dressed with rushes, a waistcoat with no shirt, a raupo belt rouid a s lawl, with a weet tied loosely round his shoulders, with tho tears atreatntug down his face, he was the picture of grief and Woe. This lotfi? KJan^i was of course m rmnembrt ca of tbi« late deeeaaod relative o* TawhiWa, rakerei £c Rau, an old friend of Sir George's. This finally concluded, and prayers being' said, : Tawhiao walked forward addressing them thu*— " Wcl» come Waikato, welcome Governor Grey, welcome to me, and m the names of my ancestors iand relatives, whose friends you hare been." Tapihana of Ngafcihikairo next "welcomed the Premier and party m similar terms.- Sir George Grey replied, and Te Ngakau then called out to prepare food, and the Hauhaus disperse tor that purpose, anl the WaikatoS accompanying Sir George and the Defence Minister erected four tents for their accommodation. The rest of tho day, up to 7 o'clock m the evening, was spent m presenting food to the strangers, and dividing it amougat the various hapus. The Ngatimaniqpot are present. The chiefs Munga (Rewi), Hanauru, and Taonui are preaentj^but as yet have not spoken. .The chiet wahanui has not yet I arrived. Sir- George Grey, with the Defence Minister and -others of the party, remain there to-night, and tte business, it is expected (if any^ }will commence to-morrow. -

/ Alexandra, last night. Iflwjp a Native Correspondent) Not" Wfcih Va* vkine at the meeting to-day. Over 2,000 Maories were present, amongst them. 3Je Purukutu; and Nuku. The'xwvQle of the time of the mssting was taken up m the usual' utteranoe.; r >of welco.na, knd the replies. Banner will probably commence to-morrow".