A PAKEHA HUI.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1699, 15 March 1913, Page 14

A PAKEHA HUI.

REMARKABLE GISBORNE GATHERING.

About thirty years ago a pakeha, hui on a_ largo scale was held in Gisborne. The idea originated out of a general desire on the part of the; white population to cultivate friendly relationship with the Natives, and to remove any remaining traces of tho ill-will which had been occasioned by tho To Kooti massacre. Mr. W. F. Crawford was the promoter of tho scheme, and, finding that it was favourably viewed by the leading townspeople, he personally made a general canvass for funds to give effect to it. In the course of «i few days a sum of JIGOO was collected, beside gifts of , sheep, bullocks, and potatoes from country 6ettlers, Invita'tions were sent out to the inhabitants of all Native pas from Opotiki to Capo Mahia,. and when tho day arrived over qne thousand Natives put in an appearance. The festivities extended .over three days,. and practically the whole white population, united ill' an effort to make the function one to be romembored with .pleasure by . the Native guests. • Everything was done on a large,6cale. Fifty cioks. were employed in preparing the 1 meals, while the tea for tho company >as made in a 400-gallon tank. i One effort on the part of the Europeans to amuse the Natives was only a partial sucoess. A sum l of over -£30 was spent in. fireworks, and it was fully believed that the pyrotechnics would bo the most popular item on the programme, but in this the ipromoters were doomed to some disappointment. The older Natives treated tho intermittent fireworks' display with soorn, regarding it as a bit of pakeha foolishness. When efforts wore being made to rally them to the displays, the stolid old warriors would oontinuo the placid enjoyment of their pipes, dismissing tho subject with such contemptuous remarks as "Te firework no good—when te war dance f" When tho war dance did eventually take place, it was a Bight long to bo remembered by those who witnessed it. The convivialities extended over three days, and when at length the gathering dispersed there were all-round expressions of goodwill existing'between Maori and pakeha. Tho mutual good feeling which was engendered at this remarkable gathering doubtless had p.- great influence upon both races in their relationships with each othor for many years afterwards.