MR ASHBURY'S VISIT TO TAWHAIO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1968, 17 February 1885, Page 3

MR ASHBURY'S VISIT TO TA WHAIO.

Interesting Proceedings at whatihoe[mOM OLK OWN COKBfcSI'OVDfVr] Af.K\ \NDBA, Monday. A \nu mteiesting meeting took place at Tawhiao's settlement, Whatiw hatihoe, on Satuidiy l.ist, the occasion being the •v i in. il of Ml .Tames A*<l)bui>, e\ imiiibu of P.iiliainent for Bnghton, England, .uxoirpanied by his friend Mi C. Schoheld. Mr Ashbury, when Tawhiao and paity weie in England was a tmo friend to them, and they expeiieneed ni.uiy kindnesses at Ins hand*. To Whom espociallj was the recipient of that gentleman's hospitality, when attacked Nvith a sonoic illness. Ho vn.is most carefully attended to for tlnec weeks, andatfoided the best of medical ad\ice. Since To Wheoro's letuni ho h.w nuNei foigotton the kindly feeling shew n to him or weaned of expiessing his indebtedness to Mr Ashbuiy. On healing of his ai nval.it AleA.ilich.ion Friday afternoon, it was unanimously agreed by tho Whatiwiiatihoe nativesth.it he should have the leception of a great chief, although to the unneisal regiet botli the King and Te AVheoro were absent, the fmmer.it Kawhui, and Te Wheoro at Cambridge. Messengers weie, howevei, at once despatche- 1 to them to hasten their letuin. As luck had it, Major Te Wheoro was met on tl.c road, and alho the king, who armed about !l o'clock- p.m. and who immediately despatched a message inviting the distinguished visitor to meet him at 11 o'clock on following morning. In accordance with the tho iwiuest, Mi Ashbmy, Mi Sehofield, with Major Te Wheoro (who came into Alexandra for tlio pinpote of e-icorting the visitors), drove to Tavvhiao's house. Flags were flying at the flag staff, and all tho inhabitants with their best garments on there assembled. On tho arrival of Mr Ashbuiy he received a nioi-t enthusiastic welcomo, waving of shawl* and dancing. The King advanced and led tho visitors to the meetinghouse, where mats were spread for then accommodation, T.uvhiao n fusing to sit doN»n with them, according to native custom, until he had spoken to them publicly. Tawhiao then addressed Mr Ashbury (MrK. Turner luteipreting), sajing how pleased he was to see him in New Zealand. He then informed the people who Mr Ashuury was ; that they met him there to day as a great chief, who had sliDwn great lono and kindness to the 3l,mm in a ntroufje couutiy, but where, indeed, all had been kind. " You, Mr Ashbury," 'iawhiao continued, " aie going fuithci into the countiy, vvbero yon will nee ••Tii'iie Maoiisthan are here to-day, but yon will find wherever yon go my people will jvpect and love you as you did the Maoiis in England. There are a lot of chiefs here, U'lioho heaitn are full, who wish to speak to you. You have their love entirely." Tawhiao then presented to Mr Aehbury some handsome matu, kita, a caived taiaha, two whalebone weapon*, and a large lump of gieen«ti>)ie. Mr AHhbury was about to speak, when Tawhiao laughingly interrupted him, sayincr " N<>, no, not yet, yon must hear the chiefs. Then ' Tawhiao then sat d<»un with Mr Abhbury. Te Hou, Whnre Rata, Kewiti, Wliitiora, To On On, Tv Manuko, Xcip, Paku Kowhatu, KatimaTe Maraenui, and other clucfs then neveially addrebied and welciin ■'! t'i»ir xiiitoiw, all b pre »ng their thanks foi t'ne C'liisideiation slicnmi to their rei>icscntatnes in England, and tln-ir loNe to Mi A*libmy. Jiachoneattheconclusinn of his add.efiH, laid a present at the feet of Mi A*hl)iiry, either am.it or mete. MisTe \Vheoio ])ie-ented some very haudsome mats, as did al«o the Ngatihaua chief Te On On. Mi A"liburv. then rrme and thanked the king and people of Now Zealand for the kind and wplcndid welcome they had giwn liiiii that day. He could tell them he could appreciate their kindness mn«t hem tily. He had been a gieat traveller in Ins time. He had been to all parts of the world. He had been in New Zealand befme, some 12 months ago, and as a proof of what he thought of their beautiful country, he had come to visit it again, to see what ho had not time to visit before. "I think," he »aid, "it was a good idea of you hcndmg your chiefs to England. I thmk the, more we nee of each other, the moro chance there in of respecting each other, and living together with mutual satisfaction and benefit. I have no doubt your ewe will meet with every justice and con-rtidi-ration from the Parliament of England, A " whatever party may be in power. At the IL pr« sent time Mr (Wht and others are identifying thoDselveri with the interests of the MnoriH. I have no groat political interest in England just riovv, but in any \vny I can be of service to you, I will be most happy to do so. England is governed by 0.18 chief*, and these chiefs rule over 300 millions of people. The sun never sets wheie England does not nile. I was once one of those chiefn and n>ay probably 1,,. ho again at somo future time, but whether a member or not, I will always take an interest in the affaiiH of Nonv Zealand, land many fi lends were extremely hoii'V at the serious illness of To Wheoro in England after tho dep.utuie of the other chiefs. Wo had some difficulty in perBiiading tin" major to leave, he was so fltiXKius to nee the conclusion of their mission. It vn.is only wh^n the doctor told him if he did not leave England befoio the winter fui ther advanced that he would die that Te Wheoio consented to return. I was glad to bee him so n ieatly improved in health here. " Mr Ashbury then said ho had piomised on hi« return to England to give a lecture on New Zealand and the King natiNes. Tt would give him great pleasure to do so, and explain the good feeling that existed among them towards the English people. He was only or. a pleasure tour t<. -ee the country md the natives. Now hr liad their consent to do so ho would go through their country, and anticipated much pleasure in so doing. On hi« return to England he would furnish the King and Te Wheoro with the English papers that t^utaiucd reports of Ilia jecturw cm New

Zealand. He once more thanked thorn for their heaity reception, and wished all present health and happiness. Cheeii were then given fin "The Pakeha." IV Wheoro spoke as follow.: — Before you go fioin heic I must "ay • l few winds. Since I came hick fioni England 1 ha\e not experienced so much plea-sine as I ha\o to day in meeting you lieie and listening to youi vvoids. They have, lam sine, shuck deep into the heaits of all piesent. They have hoaid fioni us of the kimlnc-s of the English people towaids us, winch we shall never foiget, and hence their pleasiue m welcoming yon, who peisomlly vveie one of our wdi must fniMids. Not only tho-eheie piesent, but the natives tlnough the length and bieadth of the l-land will, I am sine, have as gieat pleasuio in meeting you and making your visit to them as pleasant as possible to you and your fiieuds. I have no moie to *>:iy. Uo with the love of all heie to-day. Hovi Kopia, the Napier chief, who ai rived while the meeting was going on, also gave the welcome to Mr Ashbuiv, and thanked him for tho kindness he had shown the party in England. Arrangement* weio then made by the natives for hoifccs for Mr Ashbuiy to con tmue his journey, and in the evening food was piesented in laige quantities to the visitors in the umi.il native bt\le, aftei which bi\ of the oldest chiefs peseut gave a song and hak.» in honour of the \|sitoi. Tn the evening Tawhiao and M.iior Te Wheoio dined with Mr Ashbuiy at Finch's Hotel. Yesteiday (Sund.iv) >Fr \shburv and Schofitld lift en loute f«'i Taupo via Ti KuiU with Missis U. and W. Tuinei as guides and inteipieteis.