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Just as we had gained the verandah an invitation was announced from the Lieutenant-Governor for all those who had not and who wished to be presented to him to come in through one door, be presented, and then pass out through the other. On this some of the brethren were going in with the settlers and residents, who were pressing forward, when I said, “I pray you do not go in and out in this manner while Pikopo and his priest remain in the room.” On which they all, with myself, remained without. After the several persons who had entered had been introduced, which was soon done, the Lieutenant-Governor came out to proceed to the tent, His Excellency, the captain of the “Herald,” and Mr. Busby, preceded by some of the [mounted] police, leading the way; on which the Roman Catholic bishop and his priest stepped briskly up close to the heels of the Governor, so shutting us out unless we chose to walk behind them. “Brethren,” I exclaimed, “this won’t do: we must never consent to this position.” “No,” rejoined the Rev. R. Taylor; “I’ll never follow Rome.” And on his so saying we stepped on one side, out of the line of procession. Arriving at the tent, the Governor and captain took their seats in the centre of a raised platform, when Pikopo and his priest immediately took possession of the seats on the left next to the Governor,[1] we, the Church of England missionaries, standing behind. The Rev. H. Williams was now directed to a chair placed on the Governor’s right, on which the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Willoughby Shortland, came over to us, took me by the sleeve, and said, “Go over to that end and support your cloth”—an intimation we lost no time in attending to, ranging ourselves as we best could behind the Rev. H. Williams. The tent was all this time rapidly filling with the different persons assembled. The scene was very interesting and impressive. In the centre of the narrow raised platform were the Governor and
- ↑ Mr. Busby was on the Governor’s immediate left, and the Roman Catholic bishop next to him.—J. B.
