THE HUI.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 373, 24 March 1902, Page 2

THE HUI.

AT WAIOMATATINI? * (Times Special Correspondent.) There was a very large gathering of Natives at Waiomatatini on Saturday, but little business was transacted, owing to the fact that the races were being held. The Natives rose to the occasion and entertained the visitors at a luncheon that was of the best, and was served up in a way that was greatly admired—it would have put many a pretentious European house in the shade. The waitresses were

beautiful Maori maidens attired in specially nice dresses, and the good.things provided were of first quality. After full justice had bean done to the meal, Mr Apirana Ngata addressed the gathering. He said that it had been organised by the Native Committee for the express purpose of welcoming the visitors at Waiomatatini. It was not often, he said, that they had such a large gathering of the two races on the Coast as they had that day. The occasion wa rall the more interesting from the fact that they had present Mr Carroll and other distinguished visitors from all parts of the colony. Hitherto, it had been very difficult to organise snoh a gathering, owing to the difficulties of communication on the Bast Coast, on account of the isolation; not that the Bast Coast was such a bad place. It wa3 not half as bad as people thought. Some of the people outside thought they lived in the bush, indeed that they were semi-savages, but those present that day would think otherwise. (Cheers.) The natives deemed that it was their duty to have both sections of the community represented at the hui that day, and they had thought it best that the gathering should take place at the time there were races. But they had reckoned without the clerk of the weather. (Laughter.) His object in getting up to speak was to refer to the native clergy. The Home Mission Fund had discontinued its support to the native clergy, who were therefore in a bad way. Church people had been asked to raise the sum of £llOO annually for the purpose, but before the natives went to the pakehas they had thought it desirable to have a collection amongst themselves. That day they had obtained £7OO, and they now thought it only right to call on the pakehas for support. Some might think this was taking an unfair ad. vantage of them, but he did not mind that

at all. The people were supposed to look after their spiritual welfare, and they were in a bad way for want of funds. Archdeacon Williams had promised to give £IOOO if the natives raised .£2OOO, and they were making every effort to do that. They hoped with the support given by Europeans to raise the first thousand. He wanted them all to give big cheques, but would not be satisfied with less than £5. Mr Ngata, sen., then addressed the meeting, Mr Kohere acting as interpreter. The speaker extended a hearty welcome to the visitors, and concluded by wishing them “ aroha.” It was then stated that during the morning nearly 20,000 acres of land had been promised to the Government for management by the recently constituted Native Council, and that hundreds of thousands of

acres would yet oe orougnt m. Mr E. H. Henderson, of Te Araroa, rt turned thanks on behalf of the Pakeha for the hospitality of the Natives of Wai omatatini, and he referred in highly com plimentary terms to the luncheon serve; up. He said that friendly terms hac always existed between the eettlers anc natives, and he assured the latter that the settlers would not be lacking in their efforts to help forward the movement started by the natives. The settlers had always done their best in the past, and would continue to do so in the future. The meeting was really, he said, for the

purpose of getting the native lands opened up, and he hoped that there would soon be something practical accomplished in that direction. He concluded by again warmly thanking the hosts. At the races Mounted Constable Kelly was present, with native constables, but tbeir task of guarding the peace was verv light. The rain prevented Mr Buckingham giving his entertainment on Saturday night, but he will give one on Monday, and espeote & largo atteadaaes. *