MAORI CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2520, 22 July 1915, Page 2

MAORI CONCERT

AN ENJOYABLE GATHERING,

Maori concerts are always of a uniquo ana singularly enjoyable description and the one given in the Town Hall last nighlk Wider the auspices of the Commercial lravellers' Association, in aid of' the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, was no exception to the rule. The prevailing uncertainty of the weather accounted, no doubt, for the fact that the hall was not as well filled as might have been expected, but apart from _ifchis, the concert was every whit as enjoyable and successful as if tha hall was crowded to the doors. The programme was composed of hakas, poi dances, songs, and war dances, all acted by. Maori maidens and stalwart Maori' men, against a picturesque and appropriate background of native ferns end plants, surrounding a very natural "kaianga," The entertainment opened with the singing in English and later in Maori of the National Anthem.

The first half of the programme served to introduce a truly gifted young violinis tie, in Miss Erena Patihona. Miss Patiliona has, it is understood, seldom, if ever, appeared in public, and her playing last night was indeed a surprise. Not that she is oossessed of any wonderful technical equipment (that will come witli capable (tuition), but it is her remurkable purity and beauty of tone. Her playing of a simple melody, "Love's Caress," was truly 'delightful, being full of a rare sympathy and an indefinable sweetness of tone. To turn to the numbers breathing the spirit of the Maori nation in years gone by, there was a great haka, in which the weird war cry, "Pukikura," was sounded by a group of Maori warriors. This was followed by other, characteristic hakas. Then the strangely beautiful poi dances of the Maori maidens had :to be repeated again and again at tho. cull of the audience. The feature of the whole programme, however, was the enactment of a Native scene of the past, "Maori, .Courtship.". Briefly, the scene showed how the reconciliation of two tribes, who had been constantly at war, was brought about by two youthful Maori lovers. The " tabloid drama wis acted intelligently, and presented quite effectively. Several vocal numbers were enjoyably given, Mr. Tai lloketn. singing "Sho is Jar Prom the Land," and another number; Mrs. D'Ath, "Waiata Poi, and an encore number, and Sir. Himi Rjjphnna, "Tlia't Ragtime Goblin Man." The Mis=es Patihona Kuha dnintly tripped a sailors' hornpipe. The programme coneluded with a poi dance and "Tipperary, -sung by the company. Tho concert vill be repealed, this evening. '