VICE-REGAL VISIT TO WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2765, 3 April 1890, Page 2

VICE-REGAL VISIT TO WAIKATO.

His Exckixency the Governor, Lady On.slow, and. staff, left Auckland on Tuesday morning on a visit to the Waitomo Caves at Otorohanga, and to the AVaikato. The Hon. E. Mitchelson, Sir Frederick Whitaljer, and Mr J. H. Upton, Mayor of Auckland, were also of the party. On the arriral Of the special train at Frank ton it was discovered that something unusual was taking place in the horse-box, next, the engine, as the horses could be heard plunging about in a frantic manner. The cause was soon accertained, as smoke was ssen issuing from the horse-b'»x, and it was evident a fire waeragiug within it. Before the train had come to a standstill tho groom had taken in the position, and rushed forward and threw open the doors of-the carriage, when one of the horses at once jumped on to the platform. The other horse was soon liberated, but it was seen that he had suffered a great deal more than his companion, as all the hair on his legs had been singed off and large blisters were raised on other parts of its body. A few buckets full of water soon extinguished the fire, which was found to have commenced in the bedding, and was; no doubt caused by a spark from the engine. After some Jittle delay in attending to the injured animals a fresh box was hitched on and the tram proceeded to there soon after two o'clock. A large number of natives had assembled to meet His Excellency, amongst them being the leading Chiefs of the Ngatimaniapoto, Ngatiraukawa, and Ngatihikairo : A triumphal arch had been erected across the road leading from the station to the township, and.the Governor was met by a large number of Maori women Shouting their welcome of ""-HaeWrini." It had been arranged the formal meeting shoulJ take place at the Public Hall, whither Hia Excellency was conducted, and on his arrival there be was met and welc.mied by the old chief Rewi. The following leading chiefs nlso took part in the proceedings:—Hauauru (representing the Maniapntfts), Walianui, Taonui, Rangitautea, Hone Wetere (representing Ngatihikairo), and Poiiawhu (representing Ngatiraukawa.) Mr John Ormaby read (the following address, which was'translated by Mr \V. H. Gruce :— To Lord Onflow, Governor of New Zealand, —Grefiting. We, the chiefs and people of Ngatimaniapoto, Ngatiraukawu, aud Ngatihikairo, welcome you and L:idy Onelow hi consequence of this, your first visit to us. We also most cordially welcome you as the. representative of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of England. We also welcome you because your visit to us takes place during the year of Jubilee of this ' colony. During the 50 yeais th»t have passed away, a number of

important matters—and matters that have brought about trouble—have taken place between the two races, namely, the natives

and Europeans. Other tribes of this Inland have for some time past been living on good terms with the European*, but in consesequenae of the estrangement of the two races, we are the last of the Maori tribes to

link ourselves to the Europeans. As you are the tirnt Governor who has visited this district, we are exceedingly glad to welcome you, and sincerely hope that this is only the prelude to other visits from yourself and other Governors in the future. Sufficient. [Hero follow the signatures.! The leading chiefs, mentioned above, made the usual speeches, welcoming the Gorernor, and expressing the pleasure it gave them to see him in their own country, to which the Governor replied as follow, Mr G. H. Wilkinson interpreting:—You are all strangers to me, with one exception, and that is Rewi. Hβ came to Auckland

on the occasion of tho Jubilee of the colony, but then I had just arrived in the land. I received a mesiage from Taonui and Hauauru, a message of greeting, and, as I told them then, I made a point of coming here to greet yon, and I now greet yon all. I im glad to have an opportunity of 83eing the tribe that has most recently mingled itself with the Europeans. You have said I was the tirst Governor that visited you, but it is not likely Governers will come unless they know they are welcome." :As soon as I knew you had linked yourself with the Europeans I hastened to meet you, and I hope I shall be able to visit under similar circumstances every tribe in the colony. One great principle of the Queen's Government i* that all people are equal. The Queen knows no difference between those born in New Zealand and those born in England. All have the same Courts of Justice and same Par-

lisment. I did not expect that you all could be present here to-day, but I travel through different parts of the colony, and I hope to greet and be greeted by all tho tribes. I have yet to learn your local wants, the wants of your locality, and I will begin to-morrow by riding over the road that has been referred to on our way to the caves. I thank you all heartily on behalf of the Queen I represent, and also thank you on behalf of Lady Onslow, whom we have here to-day. His Excellency and party visited tho caves yesterday, and will arrive in Hamilton today about noon, leaving for Cambridge ;it four o'clock, staying the night there, and returning to Auckland to-morrow.

On the arrival of His Excellency at the Hamilton West Statinn an address will be presented by the Hamilton liorough Council, the Hamilton Light Infantry forming a guard of honour. After driving to Mrs Gwynne's Hotel, the Governor will be taken to see the Waikato Hospital, and, on his return, he will be entertained by the Mayor at a luncheon, and the afternoon will be devoted to showing His Excellency as much of the surrounding district as the limited time at his disposal will admit. The Cambridge Borough Council will also present n short address to His Excellency on his arrival in that township, and on Friday morning the domain and other features of interest in thnt part of the district will be brought under his notice. There is every probability of the fine spell nf weather continuing during the visit of His Excellency, and it will be everyone's wish that the Governor will return to Auckland with pleasant reminiscences of his first official visit to Waikato.