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MAORI ENTERTAINMENT

AT THE TOWN HALL. , The Atiawa, Ngnti Euakawa, and Nguti Tuwharctoa Maori entertainers from Otaki and Waikanae appeared at tlie Town Hull last evenuig to entertain tho Wellington public with a few scenes from, the post—some, rousing hakes, and a few- graceful poi dances,- embodying movements new to our eyes. ■ The tableau, "Britannia and Her Warriors," a group of tattooed warriors in Native garb, posed liiilitantly round the- figure of Britannia,-'was ■very effective, -as was also tlie tableau, "From East to West." Nurse To Au, from Otaki, who is gifted with ti cultured, bird-like soprano, singularly pure in tone, sang tho ballad, "A Request," and as ,an encore Alfred Hill's "Waiata Poi." In tho second half she sang a -pretty "Cradle Song," and, whon recalled, "Love, I Have Won-You." A variety of vimful hakas were danced by the Ngati Tuwharctoa Natives, including tho inevitable '.'Ko male." Poi dances were given by girls of tho Ngati Ikukawa people. Comic relief was provided by Jacob Utiku and Puku liikihana, both natural humorists, who scored laughter in their "Chicken Pie." duet. The former was also successful in his absurdity, "I Was Standing at the Corner of the, Street," ..sung with the quaintest American bran,}. Before the entertainment commenced the Hon. Br. Pomare apologised for those performers who wore unable to )>e present owiiig to the irfflucnzn epidemic. Ho commended the work of tho Maori women for (heir soldiers during the war, and said that they had. nil worked together with the one common object of putting down the common foe. The appeal was Dot made to interfere in any way with pnkeha clforts, but on the ground that "God helped thoso who helped ' themselves," and that was what they had been doing. Since the warhad started they had put' !)0O returned Maori soldiers on the land, and not one of them had been an applicant or had in any sense stood in the way of tho pakeha soldiers who wished to go on tlie land. -(Applause.) He did.not wish tho entertainment to develop into a "praising socioty," but he wished to say that in. all the work done by :tho Maori women working with Her Excellency for tho Maori soldiers, there had not been one penny of expenditure incurred. (A p. ■ plause.) They had each and all' paid their own expenses, and all had worked faithfully and lovingly for the boys at . the front. (Applause.) In announcing the items Dr. Pomare said his daus'ctcr was not able to appear, as she was suffering from influeiiM.

In the courso of the evening Major A. M. Samuel, on behalf of the ladies concerned, offered for salo by auction some unique Maori trophies. One article was a framed Union Jack, mado from tlie bark of the whauwhi tree, and dyed the correct colours with dyes made from native trees, chiefly the matipo. Major Samuel proposed that every bid should count as a donation, and suggested that at tho conclusion the flag should adorn the walls of the new House of Parliament, which would bo' a compliment to the Maoris who had played so gallant a part in the war. He did not think it should bo presented to the Government, but moved that the Government should be asked to pay J,'- for .£ what was bid for the flag. Tho sum of ,£lO was bid by Mr. Pearson, nnd members of the Com- j mercial Travellers' Club bid «t-99 15s. in all for this unique trophy (made by I Mrs. T. 11. Parala and her cousin, Mrs. Davy, of Waikanae), altogether .i'lffi) Lis. Major Samuel put bis idea as a motion to the audience, who carried it. with great enthusiasm. A Maori mat was Knocked down to Mr. Pearson for £W. Another was knocked down to Ihe Hon. Dr. Pomare for .£7 7s. The purchaser had the mat put up again, when it was secured for ,£G Cs. by Mr. Chambers. A mat with a kiwi feather border was bought by Mr. Pearson for £i Is., who nldo purchased a kiwi handbag lor .£2 2s. Mr. B. Wilson- also purchased two liandsonio hnndbags at £2 2s. each. The proceeds were for the Maori Soldiers' Fund.

Owing to tho butts. of somo of tho Iwoks of tickets not being produced the drawing of the art union was ]/ostponcd. The winners of tho other lottery wero tho occupiers of tho seats E 54, E 6-3, and N 28-8.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19181108.2.5

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 38, 8 November 1918, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
741

MAORI ENTERTAINMENT Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 38, 8 November 1918, Page 2

MAORI ENTERTAINMENT Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 38, 8 November 1918, Page 2

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