SWIMMING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2408, 13 March 1915, Page 5

SWIMMING

MAORI WELCOME TO KAHAXAMOKU. One of the unadvertised items on the itinerary of Duko Kalninamoku and partv occurred last week-end, wlien tho Lyall Bay Surf Club took charge of the arrangements for a day. In tho morning tho party ivero motored to Rona Hay to the "Dive," and after a short stay to allow of the taking of photographs, etc., this spot was abandoned in favour of Lyall Bay, where ; owing to tho kind offer of Mr. li. Tukino, a real Maori dinner had been arranged iu honour of Duke Kahanamolni. On arrival the party were welcomed in real Maori fashion, and subsequently the dinner, also cooked a la Maori, was served. Toasts were duly honoured, and in proposing the swimmer's health tho host made the following speech:—"Duko and Friends,—l am verv sorry that owing to the shortness of notice I have been unable to arrange for a number of Maori chiefs to meet you here to-day. However, I am more than glad to have vou here myself. I had ail idea that the lateness of your arrival liere to-day had been caused owing to the fact of the Hen. Dr. Poniare having met and stopped you on the way, hut you turned up all right. Seeing that I have a number of friends aud relations in Auckland, also that my wife has a sister there, I will send a wire for them to meet and welcome you. Thank you again for having come to my house, and maybe I will write you in Hawaii, and I trust you will write in reply to. my address, which you have. I intend going to the San Francisco Exhibition if the war is over quickly, and should you go there you will see a life-sized photograph of myself, marked 'Mana.' Kia Oral Tatu Katoal"

To this speech Messrs. Kahanamoku and Cunlia and Mr. Evans suitably replied.

After lunch the Hawaiians sang their song of welcome, "Aloha Nui," which was enjoyed by all, and was replied to by tho Maoris rendering their welcome, '■'Haereinai 1"

To the beach was the next move, where "The Duke" astounded the hundreds of onlookers with his exhibition of surf-board riding, both lying down aud standing up. The party were later entertained at afternoon tea liy the Surf Club, after which Mr. Tukino's .residence was again the house of call. '

Sirs. Takurangi Tukino made a very feeling speech in support of her husband's speech of tho morning, and presented Maori mats to the party, wishing them all the very best of health. Before leaving for town Mr. Tukino inscribed the following in Kahanamoku's 'autograph album:—"Tuika Kahana Mokn:—Tino nui te koa mete haru o oinana iigakau i te kitenga ono tutakinga kia mana ki to mana whare, ote tino ariki onga motu o Hawaiki ko te whonua tora i niahue atu i o matou Tupuna haere mai ra e Te Mareikura to waowae tapu ka tae mai koe ki tenei v,-henna hou kokoe i mautonei kite oneone Tawhito i whakatupuria ai nga Tupuna—Kaone tou mana toil rangatira tmiga i panuku tae mai ki tenei ra I" The translation of the above is:— "We are very glad in. our hearts to see .vou and to meet at our house. The Tupuna haero mai ra e Te Mareikura to country which our generations of great ancestors left when we came away from there to here, welcome 1 The Marikural Your foot "tapu" to be here in this new country. Your people have never moved from tho old country called 'Hawaiki,' the country where our people were born and your niana like the rangatira has never changed from the olden days to the present time." Before leaving for town a liaka was given oil the lawn, and impressed the visitors very much.

Mr. Harry Williams (Now Zealand manager for the team) thanked the host and party very much for having so kindly entertained the visitors for the day, and stressed the fact that tho day was one that would never be forgotten by the visitors. Cheers and coun-ter-clieers closed the day's outing, and the party left for town. The thanks of the swimming community generally have been tendered to Mr. and Mrs. Tukino for having so splendidly entertained the visitors.