MAORI WELCOME

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 100, 30 April 1930, Page 12

MAORI WELCOME

ROTOBUA, This Day. f Their Excellencies, Lord and Lady,'. Bledisloe, and party were entertain- . ed by Maoris at a concert last night. ■ Mita Taup'opoki, Bangiteaorefe, and • Naera Haukotokutu welcomed them in.; typical Maori fashion and presented to : His Excellency a fine whalebone mere (kotiiJtie) and a carved inkstand, and a clock set in a beaiitifuDy carved frame to Her Excellency. . ' Lord Bledisloe, in a most eloquent : and stirriDg speech, thanked the donors for their gifts; and. reminded them of their historic past and traditional local- '■ ity and friendship. They were'a. race living on terms of equality with tha : people whom he represented. '■ Before he left England, His Majesty . the Kirg had commanded him to bear . a message to his Maori people, and he would tako this occasion to • deliver 5 it. His Majesty, often thought -and \ read about them, and prayed for their welfare and happiness. He was particu-, \ larly pleased that they were increasing ,; in numbers, and trusted, that they, would continue to cultivate their lang- : uage, poetry, traditions, and handi- ' crafts and would hand them down to , their children. (Applause.) The speaker referred to the Treaty of Waitangi as the Magna Cliarta of the Maori race, and also to the splendid generosity of the Arawas which had made the Botorua High School possible. He adjured them to teach their childrea to he> proud of their race a.nd be as honourable as their forefathers in their ' dealings with their fellow man and be- ) come useful citizens of Aotearoa. . ■'• ■ Great applause greeted the eouclu- \ sion of tho address. •'.....■ . All the party were-delighted with - the entertainment. This morning a jour- ' ney; was toads to Lake Okataina ; |