VISIT OE THE GOVERNOR TO THE NORTH.

13

A.-No. 7.

Mohi Tawhai then said a few words to theJChiefs, advising them to be industrious and to uphold the law. Honi Mohi Tawhai said: Welcome, Governor; welcome to you all; welcome, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. My words were ended at Taheke. I asked you to relax some portion of the law. lam quite aware that in former days there was no restriction as to shot and powder. We have asked the Magistrates for permission to buy powder and shot, and they have not granted our request. That is why I now ask you to give us permission. Our wish is, that you should let us have the small quantity that is given to Europeans. We wish you to grant us a license as well as to the Europeans. Our wish is, that Mr. Yon Stunner should be appointed to grant us licenses. The Hon. Mr. McLean then said : Some reference has been made to equal laws for the Maori and the European. He hoped the time was not very distant when this could be done. In many respects such was the case now, but in the matter of granting permission for the sale of arms they could not expect the restrictions to be so far removed as to enable our enemies to use the caps and powder so obtained to fight against us. At the same time, under similar conditions as applied to Europeans, a small proportion of such supplies could be granted to the Ngapuhi Chiefs for sporting purposes as the Government felt every confidence in their loyalty. This concluded the korero. Those assembled then gave three rounds of cheers for the Queen, the Governor, and three more for Hokianga and Judge Maning, after which the Natives dispersed. In the evening the Governor and party, and a number of settlers, went to the residence of Mr. J. Webster. On the following (Wednesday) morning, His Excellency and party had intended to leave Hokianga district for Ahipara, a Earawa settlement about twenty-five miles distant, but it was not considered safe to cross the bar. The line of waves which rolled over the spit indicated the heavy breakers that would have to be encountered. After breakfast the Governor and his party went ashore to visit the settlers. Among the places which they visited during the day was the Waiarohia Flax Mill, the property of Messrs. Walker and Eeid. They w rere received by Mr. J. Beid and Mr. Eobert Wilson, the Manager, and conducted over the mill. His Excellency took much interest in the simple but admirable process of preparing the flax. This mill has been erected and in operation for about six months. As an instance of the progress Hokianga is making, we may mention that the Customs revenue has increased fourfold during the last two years. The genuine kindness and hospitality displayed by Judge Maning and Mr. Webster towards the Governor and his party, during their visit to Hokianga, were fully appreciated. At daybreak on the following morning (Thursday), we weighed anchor and left Hokianga. We arrived at Ahipara shortly after eleven o'clock, where we landed the Chief, Wi Tana Papahia, and sent a messenger to acquaint the principal Chief of the Earawa that His Excellency the Governor had arrived. Poihipi rode down from his kainga, about six miles distant, and in a short time paid a visit to the Governor onboard the "Luna." He was most anxious to assemble his tribe to meet the Governor, but the weather looked too threatening to permit of any delay in the open roadstead of Ahipara. His Excellency promised to pay Poihipi and his people another visit at a more favourable season. Poihipi, in speaking to the Governor and Mr. McLean, said : I regret not being able to meet you ashore, that I might welcome you to my own land and people. I want to meet the Governor at my own place and not at Hokianga or Mongonui. One word I have to say, and it is this, that while other tribes, even those of neighbouring districts, have fought against you, I and my people have never done so. Our hands are clean and never have been stained with European blood ; and unless you strike the first blow or attack us they never will. I shall be like my ancestors and fathers ; I shall befriend the Europeans, and if they are attacked at the South and other parts of the Island, .here they will always be safe and unmolested. There are but very few Europeans living among us, but these can corroborate what I say. Poihipi appears to be a respectable Chief of the old school, being quiet and gentlemanly in his demeanour. He seemed disappointed at not having an oppertunity of a visit of some days. His people proposed to improve the road from Mongonui in the expectation that the Governor would come overland from that place to Ahipara. The present visit, although expected, had taken him by surprise, as the messenger conveying intelligence of the Governor's visit had not arrived. We left Ahipara at half-past two o'clock, and in consequence of a violent gale from the north-east, anchored under the lea of Cape Maria Van Diemen. The steamer got under weigh next morning (Friday) shortly before seven o'clock. She had got as far as Cape Eeunga, where she had to put back and anchor under the lea of Cape Maria, in consequence of the heavy sea running. Heavy rain fell during the night, and the weather was stormy. We spoke the cutter Hero, 30 tons (Captain TJrquhart), from Norfolk Island, in ballast. She had just gone about 70 miles out of her proper course, and had hove-to off the Cape for safety. It was a fortunate circumstance that the " Luna" came in sight, as at the time the cutter was distant from the Columbia Beefs about three-quarters of a mile, and was fast drifting head on to them. Captain E'airchild warned them of the danger, and they kept in the wake of the steamer until she anchored. The weather having at last moderated, the " Luna" left at seven o'clock in the evening, and steaming under easy pressure, against a heavy sea, reached Mongonui shortly after six o'clock on the following morning (Saturday). A gun was fired to intimate the arrival of the Governor. A large number of Natives had been waiting for two or three days expecting his arrival, and left on the previous day for their settlements, under the impression that His Excellency, through stress of weather, had gone to the Manukau Harbour. As the steamer was about to leave, two canoes full of natives were seen coming down the river, and His Excellency and party immediately went on shore to meet them. They were received by Captain Butler, J.P., W. B. White, Esq., E.M., and the Natives who had returned in the canoe*.