VISIT TO TAWHIAO AT HIKURANGI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1444, 4 October 1881, Page 2

VISIT TO TAWHIAO AT HIKURANGI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. )

On Friday hist, Mr iSloane, Te Awamutu, Mr Tole, and Mi 1 W. Corboy, of KIIIIkihi, in consequence of a special invitation from Tawhiaoand his chiefs, signed by Manga (llewi), paid a visit to Hikurangi, for the purpose of hearing tho e.vpmssion uf the opimon of the most influential Maoris upon tho threatening disturbances by Te Whiti's followers. On reaching their destination at about thico o'clock, the visitois weie met by Manga, and in a four minutes by Tawlnao with most friendly s'llutations, and woie cntertauicd in right roy.il manner After an evening spent with Wah.inui and other leading duels, a koicio was held in the morning, and after discussing tho matteis of mo-t immediate inteiest, the kins? decided to proceed with his visitoio to ins new settlement on the banks of the Waipa, close to Alexandra. On inachiug Kopua, they found great piepaiations for their reception thoie by some half-o.isti' families belonging to the place, and by Mr Alexaudei Thompson moie paiticulaily, which induced them to stay the night there, aud on Tuesdiy, as T.iwhiao and his people seemed inclined to piolong their stay there for a day or two, the visifois bade them farewell, and rc-tiuned home well satisfied with their visit, tho view of the country, and the peifectly sfcraightforwtiid assurances of all the chiefs that the peace will not be broken. A death that occurred amongst the natives at Hikurangi on Saturday morning detained Wahanui from accompanying ! awhiao to Kopua, and theie was a great tangi over the deceased at night. Tawhiao declaies that in his opinion the Government step in enlisting more men is unnecessary because there will be no fighting, "If Te Whiti does get up a disturbance, which I do not think at all likely," said he more than once to his visitors, "I have no part whatever with him, and I give pioof of my sincenty in coming to live with my friends at Alexandra." It was remarked during the korero that if the Government had taken Te Wlnti some time ago and sent him to a lunatic asylum, that would have been the most sensible course, and the one most efiective in preventing any possible complications, aud would have enlisted the sympathies of the great bulk of the natives on the side of order. One of the visitors remarked the attention bestowed upon the native burymg-place at Hikurangi, and drew unfavourable comparisons between that and some European cemeteries to be seen in the Waikato, the ornamental ironwork and the beautiful wooden structures with elaborate carvings, round some of the groves, being particularly striking. There are some magnificent views over the surrounding country, of many miles in extent, obtained from the spurs of the ranges, Kihikihi, Te Awamutu, and all the townships of the Waikato dotting the scene, with the houses of the settlers brightening up the plains around, and the snowcapped mountains iv the extreme distance, one of them discharging occasional puffs of steam as a reminder of the slumbering Titans down below, who may yet assert themselves again some day.

Messrs H. and J . Goodfellow announce that the pure-bred Clydesdale horse Cljde will serve this season at their itablcs, but owing to an accident, not before the 15th inst.