Tawhiao's Visit to Waikato.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1419, 6 August 1881, Page 2

Tawhiao's Visit to Waikato.

Our special correspondent,' writing yesterday, "from Ngaruawahia, says :—: — Tawhiao and party left Mercer by special train, a^ul are now at this place on their return journey. You will of course have heard of the death of Te Oti, of Taupo, who jumped off the train near Taapiri yesterday. It appears that he had left a horse there on the way down, and though his friends warned him, he would try the experiment. Tawhiao and one of his chiefs, without knowing who had been killed, went up to Major Mair, saying, " Do not let this trouble you ; he should have observed the rules and not attempted to play tricks with a running train," etc. Tawhiao then went forward (as soon as the train stopped), and getting up beside the driver made him go on to Ngaruawahia. To-day the party intended moving on to Kihikihi, but the friends of the dead man wanted to stay to tangi over the grave (in the enclosure round Potatau's tomb), ao the morning haa been devoted to drinking beer and firing volleys. To-morrow they will go on by special train to Te Awamutu, thence to Kihikihi, and to Alexandra about Monday, when the army will be dismissed. I believe that about two days' supplies have been laid in there by the townspeople and settlers. Tawhiao was much impressed by the invitation of the Auckland folks, but when it arrived he had made his plans for returning. Ido not think, however, that it will be very long before he will be seen in Queenstreet. If the Princes had come to Auckland, as at fhst arranged, I believe that Tawhiao would have been there now, but I think it will be generally admitted that he has done a good deal for once. Tawhiao and the principal chiefs have been staying at the Delta Hotel. Another correspondent' informs us that Tawhiao rode on the engine as far as Huntley, and appeared \ cry business-like as he stripped to the shirt-sleeves. He was allowed to exercise one of the most important functions of the driver, viz., sounding the whistle, which seemed greatly to astonish and amuse him. The tram left for Ngaruawahia about a quarter-of-an-honr before the usual train time, the king being in one of the first1 class carriages, employing himself in , describing to those in the carriage his locomotive experience in a very animated manner.