MEMORIAL UNVEILED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 52, 15 March 1946, Page 4

MEMORIAL UNVEILED

CEREMONY AT TE TEKO LARGE MAORI GATHERING On Sunday, March 3, several thousand people gathered at Hekerangi Pah, Te Teko, to witness the unveiling of a memorial to the late Tene Neke.

Tene Neke came from a distinguished family of carving men and many examples of their skill and art may be seen in various parts of the Dominion. He was a direct descendant of Tama Te Kapua, Captain of the Arawa Canoe, and the large gathering of friends from as far afield as North Auckland bore ample testimony to the respect in which his family was held. The memorial service and unveiling of the stone was ably performed by the Rev. Rangi.

Naturally catering for such a large gathering called for organisation and it was perhaps this field that unconsciously the popularity of the deceased was revealed. Working harmoniously together were committees of every marae in the district together-with groups of pakeha friends who ably assisted. Theirs was the united effort which never fails to spell success. But many hands make light work and the way eight or ten pigs, four bullocks, two hundred fowls and tons of kumaras and potatoes were prepared for the hangi was nothing short of magic. How or where lorry loads of water melons disappeared was another mystery. The afternoon and evening were given over to speech-making, and such questions as Rehabilitation and other matters of interest to Maori welfare were discussed.