THE MAORI GRACE DARLING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 550, 3 July 1909, Page 11

THE MAORI GRACE DARLING.

■ '■:■' ' UNVEILING: OF A PORTRAIT.;; s '■' \ ; A'. portrait of . the 'late Huria Matenga, known as the Maori, Grace presented to the Missions to Seamen by the Kia Ora branch of thq Girls' , Realm Guild, was .unveiled by Mrs. W. K. Williams last; evening, in the .presence of ■the Acting-Prime Minister (the, Hon. James arid 'a crowded attendance. A large mustert'of lads from the Amokura formed: part, of-the 'audience. . . ';• .'.."'.'. '.'■■. .■'■"'''.'■ ■.'■'!'■ '"' ■' '■ ■Mr. James 'Moorej :missioner, who•'presided, said that although women were called the weaker sex, in times, of stress and'peri] they'.'; were accustomed 'to',show •■■'; fully.'.:'; as much conrage as ' men. :■ The ■ memories'of men.and women who showed unusual heroism and self-sacrifice should be kepi green, and the tablets: that had beep erected by the institute showed that, they "were alive, to that-duty. , ' :'■■;■. . ... '".,' .'. '..';':; : ; ; v^■ ~'..The Hon. .James Carroll,,, in. an. eloquent speech, endorsed • Mr: Moore's..-itemarke,, in' regard to the courage often shown.by women, and said he was proud that "the" splen-. did heroism'[which, they were, then commemorating had been shown, by a :member of the Native'race. He referred in glowing terms to the act of Huria'.'Matenga in : swimming out with '; a: rope. and : saving 16 British lives from a wreck. '. He hoped that-the commemoration in'which they:,were : taking' part might be ' the prelude ,to' , a national • memorial: to Huria., Matenga. . hpjied also that-he would'be able to :bofbre':'ldng, v a' painting ■•.oi: the '"Maori Grace Darling! as ; she''appeared at',the'time of herheroic ;■ act; for : ; presentation ' to' ■ the' .institttte.'. ■' ■"'.■■'■, *':;■'. .■•■'', '"■■■ '■''''■:':■■'■ o '''"..'---''\\ ' Miss E. Young, secretary'^of-tho.Kia Ora' branch;of the , Girls' Realm' Guild, expressed the,' pleasure -which'it gayo. the members of the branch to"present the portrait..; ■■ , ■...• 'Mr. E.. L. Burgess moved a. vote of thanks to .■'Mrs. /Williams and : the i which was seconded by. Mr. R. J. Groenslaie, i '^.p.//;,-^,^','!,'^.^''^;:,;;-"::./'^,;;:-; ',The portrait, is- a' very, successful meiitlof a photograph Nvhich?haß hung oh ith'e walls of tno Mission Hall'for some 'years •past; :,lt is inscribed with thei name of the deoeased the facts v.of 'Presentation, and a 'brief;;,statement ,01 Huria Matenga'S''exploit;::. ; ' ! ." ' ; ;,■.'• ' : '