OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 285, 19 March 1941, Page 5

OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS

UNVEILING MAORI MEMORIALS DJNING ROOM AT MATATA A number of important functions embracing the opening of meetinghouses and the unveiling of memorials arc scheduled for this month when distinguished visitors arc expected to be in attendance. This information was conveyed to members of the Arawa Trust Board this week by the chairman, Mr H. Tai Miltchell, C.M.G. On March 21. at Hinemoa Point the meetinghouse "Tutanekai,'' would be officially opened by the Bishop of Ao-Tea-Aroa the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, at it a.m., lie said. At 9 a.m. on March 22 a meeting of the Women's Health League was to be held in the meetinghouse, and it was hoped that Mrs P. Frascr, wife of the Prime Miinistcr, as patron of that organisation, would be in attendance. Dining-room and Flagstaffs. A large dining-room was to be opened at Matala on March 29, while two memorial flagstaffs w T ere to be unveiled. One flagsfciff would stand as a tribute to the late Raureti Mokonuiarangi, and the other to the late Raimona Heretaunga, both of whom had been members of the Arawa Trust Board. An official of the Auckland Education Board was being invited to unveil the flagstaff at the native school to the memory of Rau Reti, while the chairman of the Whakatane County Council would perform the opening of the dining-room.

Presence of Maori King. A member of Lhe board, Hemana Pokiha, Avould unveil the flagstaff erected to the memory of the late Raimona. Another important function, said Mr Mitchell, would be the opening of the carved meetinghouse, Nga Pu Manawa Ewaru Ote Arawa at Ruato on April 13. The ceremony, which would take place at the junction of the Wha-katane-Okaitaina lake road, would be performed by Koroki Tc Rata, the present Maori King, who is a direct lineal descendant from Tama Te Kapua, the captain of the Arawa canoe, down to Pikiao and on to Koroki Te Rata.