NEW MEETING HOUSE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20098, 18 November 1939, Page 7

NEW MEETING HOUSE

CENTENNIAL BUILDING WORK AT EXHIBITION SIR A. NGATA LEADS Characteristic of his wide interest in] Maori arts and and crafts. Sir Apirana | Ngata, M.P. for the Eastern Maori j electorate, is playing an active part, in j the construction of the large Maori ; meeting house that is being erected at j the Centennial Exhibition. He has taken a special interest in such work ' over a long period, but apart from this j he is himself an expert in the designing and execution of reed work for [ the interior decoration of meeting! houses. j On this occasion lie has been taking | the lead personally in the work of j building the meeting house, aided by ! a score or so of Maoris and European workers. lie may be seen with sleeves rolled up, pruning-knife in hand, grading and trimming reeds for the decoration work. The house, which covers a floor space of 100 ft. by 70ft., is to serve as) a Maori cultural centre during the Exhibition and afterwards is to be re-i erected as an actual meeting house in Christchurch.

Carvings Take Eight Months

The main carvings look three! students eight months to complete and were done for the projected To Kaha I centennial meeting house, one of the national centennial memorials of the; native race to be erected next year after the closing of the Exhibition. I These carvings were modelled on the j famous ancient pieces which were j formerly secreted in a cave near Te Kaha, and were cut with stone tools by craftsmen centuries ago. They are now in the Auckland Museum. The carvings will be duplicated dur- j ing the Exhibition period by carvers who are at present busy on other pieces required for the house, so that when it is re-erected in Christchurch it will not lack the carved posts, tin-1 tels and barge-boards which are an ; essential feature of a Maori meeting: house. The building comprises a main hall! with a stage, of traditional architec- j lure and decoration, surrounded by j annexes which will serve as stalls! where Maori craflwork will be on ■ sale, workshops, dressing-rooms and kitchen. It win be remarkable for | the splendid carving and rafter-pat-terns, the finest examples of craftmanship of the School of Maori Art at Te! Kaha, Bay of Plenty. East Coast Talent Apart from Sir Apirana Ngata, other j East Coast talent is playing a prominent part in the construction work.: The carvers are Pine Taiapa, of Tiki- j tiki, C. Tuarau, Rarotonga, of the family of the late High Chief Makea Tinirau, and Honi Mete Kingi, Wanga-1 nui, another member of a famous I Maori family. The rafter patterns, drawn freehand with astonishing skill and facility, j are being executed by an adept artist,; Ringatu Poi, of Tikitiki, assisted by j ilari Cassidy, of the Ngapuhi tribe, j and Wi Tariana, of Rotorua. The j reed lining, woven of reeds selected and graded by Sir Apirana himself, is j being carried out by Tawhai Takoko, I of Tikitiki, Miss Tuhou. Miss Waiti, and Mr. P. Waiti, of Ruatoria. The architect and builder directing the constructional work is Mr. R. J. | Wills, of Tikitiki, who is an old hand i at this type of work, and recently completed the Waitangi Centennial j meeting-house. Having started late, the workers are exerting themselves to hurry the! house ahead, and expect to finish it about the second week in December, when it will be opened with all the; fitting ceremonial. Throughout the. Exhibition period relays of Maori choirs from other parts of New Zealand will visit Wellington to hold concerts there. Every tribe in Maoriland will be represented. Demonstrations will be given of many ancient Maori games and pastimes, and of the ceremonies of greeting and farewell. The object is to present to pakeha visitors some insight into the culture, customs and | language of the fine Polynesian people I who inhabited these shores prior to Hie coming of the European.