QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY SCHOOL FETE AT LITTLE RIVER.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 91, 1 June 1877, Page 2

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY SCHOOL FETE AT LITTLE RIVER.

.An entertainment was given at the Native school, Little River, on Queen's birthday—the proceeds derived from admission to be devoted to the embellishment of the Maori Church.

At the hour appointed, half-past 7 p.m., the room was filled to overflowing, and the proceedings commenced with a brief address in English by the Rev. (i. P. Mutu, which consisted chiefly of words of welcome to those present, and an explanation of the cause and object of the Entertainment. After this, the Native school children sung " England and her Queen," an accompaniment being played on the harmoniuxn by Te Ira Mutu, one of the pupils. This Maori lad plays very well, and his services were in constant request throughout the evening. The song was sung in excellent time and ; with the utmost confidence. Had England's Queen been a spectator, she would, without doubt, have derived infinite amusement and satisfaction therein. Next came a recitation "Keptin" by John Pohio, a boy of apparently eleven or twelve years of age. He was awarded at Christmas last, the first prize for regular attendance, and has much improved since. After this Mr. Keeves gave a song, which was well rendered, and followed by a recitation of "The Grasshoppers Feast" by Amelia Christie, and then the song "Blue Bells of Scotland"'by the Native children. Next came a reading of " Mrs. Caudle's Lecture on the tent Umbrella" by Mr. Keeves. This was well read and productive of hilarity. ■

Here the children were dismissed for a short interval, and on again assembling, the entertainment proceeded, by the Rev. G. P. Mutu giving a Maori legend which described some incidents in the life of the Maori hero, Maui. He was born by the sea and left for dead on its shore, where, washed to and fro by the ebbing and flowing tide—the gentle motion, aided by the beneficient influence of the Summer's sun, stirred afresh the pulses of life within the bosom of the infant. An elderly man rambling by, observed many seabirds and flies hovering over and about a collection of seaweed. Deeming this an indication of a fish being stranded, he proceeded towards it and there discovered the reanimated infant, Maui ; taking np the child he carried it to his whare and carefully nurtured it, and the child in due time became a man. The Eev. Mutu thought he could trace in this incident some relation or resemblance to that which characterised the infant life of Moses. As Maui advanced in years, he manifested distinguishing traits, and at some " dancing frolic" he discovered his mother and four brothers. The lad} , - decisively disclaimed the relationship, but he persisted, and she eventually yielded the point. It would occupy too much of your space to enumerate all the marvellous exploits of Maui, but Twill give two or three as interesting specimens. Summers in many ages and countries gives the orb that rules the day, a human face, but the Maoris of the past gave him in addition, a human body and the inevitable attachments, arms and legs. Now the days when Maui lived were very short, for the sun sped with precipitancy across the arching firmament. These might have been the days when the son of Sol mismanaged things, but so, or not, the brevity of the days was a cause of dissatisfaction to Maui, and he pondered for a remedy and essayed to attempt one. Providing - himself and his brothers with nets and clubs, he and they proceeded in a canoe to the spot where the sun rises. Here they concealed themselves and lay in wait. When the glorious being emerged from the depths, the ambushed Maui and his brothers, pounced upon him, casting their nets over and about him. Having thus wisely secured him, they proceeded to cudgel him lustily with their clubs ; he roared with a mighty voice for mercy, which was eventually accorded. By this bold strategy, Maui accomplished his design of lengthening the day, for the sun, ever after, travelled at a reasonable pace, and furnished to Maui and his countrymen days of a reasonable length. But good and ill chequer life and characterize the doings of great men as well as of little ones ; and Maui was equal to mean things as well as magniiicerit ones. Near him lived an aged, ailing woman, and he was

commissioned daily to visit and carry food to her. He made the visits, but he threw away the fond with which he was entrusted, and the aged woman derived no benefit from his attendance but daily became .weaker. At length the last hour approached arid Maui was present. Looking at him, she said ; what do you want of me ? He replied, your jawbone ? She said, " I have no occasion for it now, and am not likely to need it hereafter; you can have it." . So Maui took her jawbone and fashioned from it a fishhook. Now, Maui's brothers caught many fish, but he caught none, and the, girls taunted him with his indolence; whereupon he said, " I will catch you a fish some day, and you shall see it." After this, he solicited permission from his brothers to accompany them in their canoe, to fish ; but when the canoe had left the land he discovered himself to them. Then they would fain have returned to the land, but Maui would not permit them ; and their distance from the land was greatly increased, and that in a manner of which they were unconscious. The brothers having caught many fish, would have returned to land, which was now very far of£ ; but Maui said, no ; now I will fish : —lend me a hook? This they refused to do, and he took the hook which ho had fashioned from the old woman's j,aw, and said give me bait for my hook ? This, also, they refused; and he then struck his nose violently with his fist, and with the blood that flowed from it he baited his hook, and he threw his hook into the sea. Then a fish seized the bait, and Maui proceeded to haul in his line; and the fish was a huge one, and Maui's brothers were frightened and said ; you have done this to destroy us, but he tinued to haul in his line ; and when the fish rose it lifted up the carioe, and became' land, and where the hook entered was a whare. Maui then went to seek a priest, and during his absence his brothers struck the fish with their spears, and made deep gashes, and these gashes formed the hills and valleys, and the fish was New Zealand.

On concluding, the Rev. gentleman was applauded.

Mr. Gγ. R. Joblin asked if these records of the feats of Maui were regarded by past generations of Maoris, as sacred chronicles or fabulous allegories, or as historical narratives entitled to be accredited. Mr. Mutu said the records were received as historical truths to which implicit faith should be accorded, and added that Sir George Grey had interested himself greatly in their collection and preservation. Doubtless this reading would have all the attractions of novelty to most of the settlers present, and interest in the exploits of Maui, would be secured by the alternations of simplicity and extravagance which characterise them. But an idea of Hiawatha flitted across ones mind, and once felt that a Langfellow was needed to invest with poetry these old and musty Maori traditions ; and to embalm in melodious numbers the feats of MauL

The next item on the programme was a song, " The Gleaner" by the Native children. This pretty little poem was written by Mary Howitt, and was the best song of any. The tune to which it was adapted, being well suited to the children's voices ; the result was very effective, and it seemed hard to believe that the singers were really newly instructed Maori children. After this Mr. Reeves gave a reading of Tennyson's ." Dora," of which it will suffice to say that no* a word was lost to the audience. Then followed further songs and recitations by the children. Of these, it may be remembered that the song, " Ring the Bell Watchman" was the least effective. It does not appear well adapted to the Native voice. The recitation, " The Wind in a Frolic" was given by Te Ira Mutu, son of the Rev. G. P. Mutu. This youth is by far the most advanced pupil of the school, but his recitation was given with such rapidity, that the effect was much marred thereby. At the conclusion Messrs A. D. Allan and G. R. Joblin were requested to award a prize, given by the school, for the best recitation. For this prize there were four competitors, John Pohio, Amelia Christie, Mary Tinie, and Queen Tawha. It was held that John Pohia and Queen Tawha had equal claims to the prize ; the former reciting with emphasis and spirit, and the latter with a markedly distinct enunciation. This successfully terminated a second entertainment given by Maoris at the Maori school, the pleasurable incidents of which almost entirely emanated from the Maori intellect. One positive result produced thereby is the elevation of the Maori in the estimation of the neighbouring settlers. Men who have lived here many years have permitted themselves to believe that the Natives were a race incapable of benefitting by, or of appreciating mental culture, but the way in which the Maori children have acquitted themselves after the few month's instructions they have received, has sufficed to dissipate this notion completely, and there is not a sensible man or woman in the village who does not now estimate the native, more highly than was the case twelve months ago. These are gratifying results to the Maori, and will, it is to be hoped, induce him to persevere in his efforts to improve. They are also gratifying to the settlers, as they afford them conclusive evidence that the Maori nature is like his own, susceptible of improvement, and that the former- is not of necessity a class to progress or an impediment to an advancing civilisation.