REMINISCENCES OF NEW ZEALAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1895, 28 August 1884, Page 3

REMINISCENCES OF NEW ZEALAND.

The following paper, which appears in the Whitehaven News (Cumberland, England), is from the pen of Mr Jos. .Smith, a gentleman who paid a visit to the colony a few months ago, and for a | short time stayed with Mr John Hutchiuson at Orakau :—: — Tawhiao, the Maori King, accompanied by Te Wheoro (member of the House of Representatives), Topia, Turoa, Patara te Tuhi, chiefs of their tribes, along with Mr Skidmore as interpreter,' left Sydney in the steamer Sorata on April 12th for England, via the Red Sea, so that with an ordinary run their landing may be daily expected. The presence of this so-, called King amongst us will no doubt have the usual sensational reception accorded, following as it does so closely the line pursued relative to the' 1 deceased Cetewayo, who was, asi we know, the " hero ,of the hour." To those interested in matters pertaining to New Zealand, we present a few particulars not altogetner uninviting, culled from reliable sources and personal observation, condensed for brevity, enough for our piesent purpose. Tawhiao 13 a son of Pot Atau te Wheio- Whero, who in the eaily days of the colony was a famous wan ior, and the most poweiful chief in the Noith Isl.ind. He, was elected King in 1857, and assumed the leading position of the party who determined to resist the progress of colonisation. The real leaders, however, were younger men, more actne, such as Rewi andTamehana. On the death of Potatau, in^ 1860, Tawhiao was elected, and became the head of the rebels during the Waikato campaign. His character, is enigmatical. Never famous as a warrior, nor conspicuous for courage in the field, or wisdom in divising plans for fighting, lacking also the power of oratory -a qualification which counts much with the Maoris, and surrounded by men much more active and capable, his retention of power ha^ been remarkable. Dining the prevalence of supeistition they addressed him in their prayers as a god, maintaining his influence up to the present time by a kind of stolid fixity of purpose which has many times appealed as wisdom to liis followeis. Te Wheoio has sit in the House of Representatives for seveial years, member for the western Maori distiict. Not an orator in the Maoii sense, but he can expiess himself faiily well. He assisti d General Cameron w itli his knowledge of theeouutiy during the rebellion of 186?. Topia Turoa is a chief of high rank belonging to the tubes of the Taupo and Wanganui districts. Hi 3 sympathies went with the King and party dining the war, but he took no active part against us. On the defeat of the tribes in the Waikato he foresaw the best interests of the natives, and assisted us to pacify the country, leading the persuit of Te Kooti for a considerable time. He is reckoned a fair oiator. Patara te Tuhi belongs the same tribe as Tawhiao, vu., the Ngatimahuta, and is besides his brother-in-law, a cle\er man, leady with his pen. He edited the Hokioi paper, established to advocate the Kingite cansc. Patara had at that timp a powei ful adversary in the person of Mr J. E. Goist, now member for Chatham, who edited the Queenitc paper called the Pihoihoi. This poweifnl organ came to an untimely end, the piinting office being demolished by an aimed paity under Rewi. On meeting we doubt not the risal cd.tors will shake hands and be friends, talk over old times, and about the many brave men known to both who fell at Rangniii and Orakau. Mr Skidmore, the interpreter, is a half caste. His parents resided at the Bay of Islands, his mother being of the Ngapnhi tribe. He has resided latterly near Rangiiiii, and has beeu in the Waikato district since ISol. He speaks English and Maoii with equal fluency and ease. None would suspect him of being a halfcaste, as his features are thoroughly European, both as leganls contour and comple\iox These, then, ire chaiactenstics of our five visitois, enough to lend us an interest dining thier temporal y sojourn. Taw hiao comes amongst us by \iitue of the position he occupies in his country — the representative of a people brave and courageous, not as a captive, but as one who, with his defeated followers, maintained their independence in the interior to which they retiied, refusing to acknowledge the authority that vanquished them, and showing by a persistent isolation of twenty years, how their heaits cheiished the idea, of a separate automony. A change has now come. A generation has arisen in whom the feeling of antagonism to Biitish supremacy cannot be fostered by isolation. Throwing abide thoir heiitage, they exhibit insuppressible longing for intercourse with the outside world of life, for a participation in the social benefits known to be enjoyed by others of their race living apart from them. This has led to a desire on the part of the puncipal chiefs to see progress _ from without their confines, and to obtain an authoritative recognition of the privileges to which, by the treaty of Waitangi, they are entitled. The opening out the whole of the King country is being steadily pursued by the New Zealand Government, and the native owners of land, comprising four millions of acres, have consented to «a survey now being carried out. The effect will be to bring it under the Native Reserves Act, which pre\cnts any European from purchasing, but allows leases to be given under the sanction of Government, the rents to be paid to the native owners, who are empoweied to elect committees of their own numbers with certain powers in small litigations among themselves, and who shall be competent to advise the Native Lands Court as regards questions of ownership. The natives have also under consideration to proclaim their country under the 25th clause of the Licensing Act, so that all sale or manufacture of spirituous liquois would be illegal. This is a step in the right direction. We have been amongst them, and know its effect. Close contiguity (during a temporary sojourn), near the line marking the confines of the King country, has imparted to us a knowledge of a race of men rapidly changing in features and habits by education and the modern influences of civilisation, but it cannot be denied that the drinking element is doing its deadily work among the native race. Tawhiao and his friends ere they left Auckland paid a visit to Kawau, to see Sir George Grey, who gave them letters of introduction to gentleman in this country likely to interest them. Sir George made a touching reference to the drinking habits. Tawhiao, and Rewi were much impressed. A form of pledge was drawn up to be kept for one year. Sir George appended his own signature first, followed by Tawhiao Rewi, Te Wheoro, and the others. It is very rarely that Tawhiao can be got to sign anything, and it is doubtful if any less powerful influence than that of Sir George could have induced him to put pen to paper to complete the ceremony. Mrs Seymour George then sewed a piece of blue ribbon on Sir George Grey's coat, and on the coats of Tawhiao and his friends, thus entering them in orthodox style into this modern order of knghthood. The King, on taking his leave, said he would strive to conduct himself in England with the propriety and dignity which became his position. We have ofteu found in our peregrinations around the world Cumbrians located in remote corners, who lack not either courage or enterprise. Far away down the Waikato country, at the extremity of the confiscated land bounded by the Punin river, we receive an invite from Mr John Hutchinson, late of Braystones, son of Mr Isaac Hutchinson of that place, a gentleman wellknown to a numerous circle of your I readers. We take the train then from Auckland to Te Awamutu, where a vehicle adapted to the rough roads that intersect the district awaits us. Our driver was , Jim Hannah, a west Cumbrian, in the service of Mr Hutchinson. Right merrily he piloted us through the deep ruta. We rattled

through th* township of Kihikihi, ami soon after found 'ourselves under the hospita.be ' roof at Orakau farm. Mri Hutchinson's land embraces about 612 acres of good quality for the rearing of cattle and producing cereals. We are enamoured with his farm, and the scenery that surrounds it, and our few weeks stay gave us all th«» characteristics of home life, whilst we fashion ourselves by daily intercourse ainoiig the Maoris, who are numerous in this locality, so as to get a " smattering" of language, custom and habit. Mr Hutchinson's. farmstead hns its history. It was here that the last conflict, known as the " Battle of Orakau," was fought. The chief Rewi led the native force. The giaveyard at Te Awamutu shows to some extent the record of British ; marks still exist of the rifle pits, where the last standpoint was made, alongside of which stands .1 small pah, or burial ground, where the r natives who fell were interred. Mr< Hutchinson's garden is " tabooed," or held sacred. Now and again the Maoris come and solicit a small piece of bread, about an inch square, believing it to be efficacious in lestoring sick, but they respectfully refuse to eat upon the piemises, under the belief that "one of their chiefs was interred under the roof. Mr Hutchinson on taking his abode here soon made friends with the natives, who at on early morn would, around the vpiandiih, be awaiting the appearance of the "white pikohas," and in fixed but respectful fashion greet their coming. During our stay the first overture was made, which culminates in the King's visit to England, by crossing the boundary into the confiscated hinds, mingling and receiving hearty welcome fiom the European settlers. Our Orakau friends " fix up," and we go to meet them ; and by the time we reach Te Awamutu, their first halting stnge, we are appnsed by the shrill oice of Tepuku that Taw hiao and his five hundred followers are in sight. At the hcdd of the vast column comos the King, attended by his secretary Wahanui, Manuhiii. Houana, and Majors Mair and Jackson. A bodyguaid of about one hundred on horseback, armed with guns, clubs, &c, immediately follow, the rear being composed of nati\ c men, women, and children. Martial onler was maintained in grotesque faslron. They at length locate tlumsehes in the large paddock fronting the hotel, and await the oideis of the King. We me now tieated to the war, haka, or old posture dances— quaint weird performances ghen with wonderful time and rythm, accompanied by a peculiar chant, contoition of featiues, and bodily tremour, verging on the horrible. Camp tires aie now lighter], and the kai, or food, contiibuted by the settlers, in the shape of dressed pi us, bullocks, sheep, potatoes, and hi ead, are distiibuted galore, and °everal casks of ale receive attention. In the midst of this busy scene before us we receive a pleasant surpiise, in the person of Mr Paiker, from Bootle, ju^t arrived from England, his genial face ex hibiting much wonderment at what was being enacted. He could not have come atamoie opportune time for conveying the imprcbsion that this is a wondeiful world we lne in. Hs fiiend, Mr J. Guce, of Rotoiangi, late of Boolle, long expecting to meet him, finds him at last, and at such tune and place —fancy the gieetuig. Great is the excitement that music has upon the native mind. Then the Te Awamutu band out, and by its aid we weie enlivened beyond incasme until nightfall, when a guard of a dozen young men of the. tribe, armed with double-barrelled fowling pieces, are posted around the house, denoting that at length Tawhiao has retired to rest. {To be concluded).