"A Native Meeting.

"The party having landed, Topia led the Premier and his party to the handsome whare puni where, in accordance with formal Maori usage, the visitors were to await the ceremonious welcome that is given on all such occasions. The women were busy with the scraping of potatoes, the preparation of pork, and the 'copper Maoris' in readiness for the midday meal. Gradually the people sat down in groups in front of their whares, and eventually an aged chief, bearing a manuka pole in his hand, advanced to the centre of the marae, and, facing the whare puni, delivered in a clearly-pitched voice his speech of welcome. It abounded in 'Haere mais,' and was after the usual Maori style of flowery oratory, with abundant repetition of phrase.

"Another aged chief, after a long pause, came forward and delivered himself after the like fashion. He was succeeded by a man in the prime of life, with a coloured handkerchief bound round his head and over one eye. In his hand he held an implement of peace—the familiar hair-broom—and as he run up and down the marae brandishing this domestic weapon and delivering his speech in short passages—every time he came to a full stop in front of us—he certainly cut a ludicrous figure. He was effusive in his speech of welcome. After this orator came the prophet of the village. Te Kerei, who was brief and oracular, as became his priestly rôle.

"Topia and Mr. Carroll spoke in reply, Mr. Carroll holding in his hands a lady's parasol, so that the badges displayed on both sides—broom and sunshade—were eminently peaceful in their significance.