TEE NATIVE MINISTER'S VISIT TO TAWHIAO. [FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.] THE OPENING OF THE BRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1611, 31 October 1882, Page 2

TEE NATIVE MINISTER'S VISIT TO TAWHIAO. [FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.] THE OPENING OF THE BRIDGE.

Alexandra, Saturday. Conthvry to the expectations of a good many Eiuopeans, there was no ceremony whatever about opening the bridge, for instead of Tawhiao going into Alexandra on Saturday morning, and then driving over the bridge with Mr Bryce as wat, expected, he gathered his people shortly aftpr nine o'clock in the 'norning in the middle of the settlement, and there awaited the arrival of the lonjj expected visitor. Mr Bryce, accompanied by Mr Wilkinson, native agent, Mr Butler, private secretary, and Col. Lyon, leit Alexandra about 10.45 a.m., and drove over the bridge into the settlement at about 1 1 o'clock. The party was accompanied by a few orderlies under Captam Gascoigne. On arriving in front of the marae where the natives, numbering about 400, were all assembled, the wife oi the chief Whitiora was the only person to come to the front to welcome the Europeans ; and with the exception of what was given vent to by this one person there w*ere no other demonstrations of welcome whatever. Mr Bryce, with Messrs Butler and Wilkinson and Colonel Lyon, advanced and shook hands with Tawhiao, who was clad in a heavy striped blanket. Waharrai, who had come down from the Kopua settlement the previous evening, wis present among the people, but did not come forward to greet the visitors. There were nearly ] 00 Europeans present.

Tawhiao's Speech. Mr Bryce and party having sat down in front of Tawhiao, after a brief interval the latter rose and said : — Salutations, salutations, salutations to yon, salutations to you all. As lam the person of the place I will rise first. There is no harm in our seeing eaoh other. There is no harm in seeing the men, the women, the children, and the whole of the tribes. This is the day on which we are to see one another. We will have to do tilings gradually— resting as occasion requires — in older to get breath. I will be able to arrange a day for yon and me to talk together. It must be a fine day (a proper occasion) when it is warm, so that I may not be as> lam now, clothed witli blankets, but able to discard them. This is all I have to say as to this. I will now speak on auother matter. Allow the Court which now stands adjourned to remain adjourned. [Tawhiao here refers to the Mauugatautari case, which is to come before the Court at Cambridge, in which he and his people are interested.] I will shortly know what to do in the matter. Salutations to you ; that is all. Mr Bryce then said :— Tawhiao, I greet you. I understand you have greeted me in the name of all the people assembled here. I return therefore my greeting not only to you, but the whole of the people. I "greet the chiefs ; I greet the old men. I greet the women and children ; I reciprocate your good wishes. You have said this is a day of greeting : Let it lie a day of greeting. Let it be a day of good will, that when we look back in the future on this day we may not look back with regret. Let us do nothing that will cause regret. I, however, am always ready to speak of other matters besides greeting, such as is of interest to yon, Tawhiao, and the tribes. There are two ways of speaking. One is a pleasant way of speaking, and keeping something hidden in the mind. The other way of speaking is speaking plain, so that all may understand the meaning of the word. This, however, as Tawhiao has said, is a day of greeting ; if so, let it be a day of gieeting— a day of good wishes. When we come to speak about matters relating to Tawhiao and the tiibes, then I shall speak plain as I always do, and I express a hope today that Tawhiao also will speak plain to me. If we both do that, I have no doubt that the clouds which have darkened the sky will disappear as they do before the morning sun. This is a day of greeting, and what I have to say to-day is that I stand here ready to be your friend if you choo&e to accept me as such. Without your assistance I can do very little, with your assistance it is possible I may be able to do much. I greet you all, and I tell you I am prepared to-day to be your friend. Tawhiao then said : It is right that we should sec each other. Mywoid to you is : I u ill look sttaight towards you ; and not look to one side, nor the other. I w ill not hide anything in my mind ; and I hope you will speak plain to me. I will not hide anything from you, and I hope you will not hide anything from me. I will go and sit by you. You were lost for a long time, and now you arc found again. (Tawhiao heie sat down beside Mr Bryce.) The women were then despatched to bring the food. Mrßiyce having been introduced to Wahanui, the latter said : We have clasped each others hands to-day ; the next tiling to do will be to talk with one another. Mr Bryce was also introduced toManuhiri. Major To Wheoro presented the natives assembled with the food provided by the Government as a feast to commemorate the opening of the budge. The present conbiotcd of biscuits, flour, sugar, and fre&h meat, to the value of about £100.