THEN AND NOW

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 137, 18 March 1940, Page 5

THEN AND NOW

MINISTER'S WARM TRIBTJTS ' HGi'l. W. E. PARRY'S SPEECH "The people of the Bay of Plenty, and visitors to Whakataiie have enjoyed and admired • to-day a wonderful representation oi' the two periods in tlis 'hisiory of Kew Zealand. A remarkable c-ernonst mtion of u:idcrsiatuHcg and cvLicicncy it •wes —remarkable for the way in which the truc-to-the-eariy-day scciics of ti.se Maoris and I'akehas were re-enacted and ttte colourful piciurcs by all talcing part in the proceedings. As a representative of the Government I niost heartily congratulate ail concerned on their part on this great occasion." In this manner the Hen. W. E. Parry prefaced his speech at the opening of l:bc lieaus Park on Saturday afternoon. The Minister spoke to a huge assembly, many oi whom had found vantage points on the hill-side above the Park itself, which presented a black mass of people. Mr Parry said that there was such a wealth oi history in Aow Zealand that the slory oi' sell lenient and progress made a cavalcade of magnificent achievement. There was sufficient material in every sphere, past and present* to draw the wonder and admiration of the peoples of other lands. The amicable relations between Maori and Pakeha surprised visitors from overseas but did not surprise us. The planning and working out oj' th? development of the Dominion had been by the two races. Maori afiu alike, arm the resultant prosperity bore testimony to the kinship and unity oi' the two races. Co-operation. The Minister referred to the cooperation of the Maori people in the cause of 3*! mpi re the Great "War and said that the sons •of both peoples had marched together as brethren to light for liberty. To-day wc were living in a new •age, with new ideas and new methods crowding out the old. The whole machinery of living had been amplified, and .speeded up.. A cen~ turv ago New Zealand attracted tourists by the grandeur Of its scenery; to-day it was a land of initiative, which brought people from far and near to sec for themselves ■what the Dominion was doing.

"A.bov:t six hundred years ago a group of canoes, known today as the fleet oi; the in aha migration sailed 1 rem far-o<£ Kawaifci," said the Minister. "They brought the great body of Maoris to settle in Aotearoa, the beautiful southern land which Kape had described to their ancestors many years before. £ leering'; by the s-ars, the to'aung'as propitiating the gods, their swift canoes did not take long to reach Aotearoa. The stalwart mariners sighted their new land, separating so that colonisation could be undertaken from all parts. They went to Pater?, to Mrketu, Kawhia and other points in the North Island. One canoe, the Matatua, captained by the great chief Toron, landed its people at Wha katane." The Min is tor asked his listeners to imagine for themselves the .historic scene cf the J a ruling of the origina! company which populated Liic Bay of Plenty. It was difficult to imagine a place richer in history than Whakatane. He had seen today -the descendants of the Matatua colonists singing and dancing atheir ancestors did and wearing their traditional costumes. All had impressed him as being a fitlinrj contribution to the Dominion's great anniversary. Importance of Celebrations. Mentioning the Centennial Park lie congratulated the Borough and Con illy Councils and the Harbour Hoard oa their initiative. It was a practicable memorial with an historic. background. The Park had been named "Walrnka Parle after the daughter of Toroa, the nud gator. "These celebrations," concluded the Minister, "are really of National and not merely, local significance and bccause of that fact the Government was pleased to grant financial assistance apart from the usual subsidy. It was most gratifying to see the wonderful response to" the Connniitee's efforts and to see so many members of the Main'ua tribe, who had entertained so well dtiring the tions.'The M ; nb'P. '' ! -hen declared I h Park open and in unveiling iiio memorial plaque to the Matatua '.ei'ioe said:".As a representative of (lie (lovorumeMl and en beha.il otiie Maori people present at Ihh great ceremony 1 now have pleasure hi unveiling this memorial/*