NGATIAWA EFFORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 64, 13 April 1945, Page 5

NGATIAWA EFFORT

PATRIOTIC BENEFITS £230 QUEEN CARNIVAL CEREMONY The culmination of the recent successful Maori Queen Carnival staged in conjunction with the Ngatiawa Gymkhana Avas. a colourful crowning ceremony in the Poroporo Hall, when the two candidates with 5000 votes each to their credit were joint]}'- crowned by Mr J. Riini chairman of the. committee.

The ceremony was- carried out in full Maori kit, and presented one of the most arresting scenes ever enacted in the hall. The official party with Uorowai and piupiu made its way to a dais which was backed completely with Maori mats. The queens represented the Ngati Pukeko and Ngatiawa tribes and each had their own entourages. Miss Toha Ngoungou was attended by Misses Luxe Jaram and Annie Nuku and little Tipi Tiapa and Rangi Tunui. Supporting Miss Uru Harawira were Misses Rangi Hohapata and Olive Wano t with junior attendants in little Marino Tutua and Joy Dodd.

The whole ceremony was carried out with dignity and refinement. The Queen candidates each received a gold locket, their senior attend-, ants handsome necklaces and the smaller girls four neat brooches.

The common decision is to hand over to the. secretary of the Patriotic Fund (Mr C. G. Lucas) the total proceeds of the sport& and the Queen Carnival which amounted to approximately £230. There is considerable regret that the secretary who has carried the main burden of both functions (Mr M. Tatana) is about to leave the district for Hastings and many tributes have been paid to him and his efficient methods. He has been directly responsible for much of the money raised and it will be hard to replace him. The joint committee linking both sub-tribes in the various activities which have characterised the Maori community over the past 18 months, was last week-end disbanded by common consent. It will now be possible for both Poroporo and Paroa, if they so desire it to go their own. respective -ways in the matter of fund raising for their own or for Patriotic uses.