A MAORI CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2049, 9 April 1907, Page 2

A MAORI CONFERENCE.

INTERESTING PROCEEDINGS.

The conference of the To Aute Students’ Association which has just concluded at To Kuri pa, Awapuni, was robbed of much interest by the fact that only local members of the Association wore present; but nevertheless some excellent work was done. The matters discussed covered a wide field, but there was not the alnount of discussion one would have liked to have seon —the talking was left to a small circle of spoakers. These speakers, howover, managed to cover all the subjects thoroughly. After Dr. DeLislo had given his address on health matters questions were asked for, and they came in shoals. One seeker after knowledge was told that there were 150 diseases which caused death, and he seemed duly impressed. The doctor warned his hearers against eating too much. This brought a gentleman to his feet who asked about the war-chiefs in the old days—when one of them ate it took ten men to serve him and his face was covered with grease when ho was finished. In his opinion drinking waipiro made men just as fat as eating did, and he thought that was why was so fat. The matter was allowed to drop. At the meal following the address on the question of over-eating was brought up again. A gentleman rose from his place at the table while everybody else was still eating, and launched some Maori in a very decided tone in the direction of the chairman. Ho said that previously a certain person had accused him of gluttony. He asked the chairman and the company to take notice thul lie had risen early from he table and that his accuser was still eating. This proved that he (the speaker) was not and had not previously been a glutton and thatch is accuser was and had always been the bigger glutton of the two. The accused gentleman then faded away out of the building, and his accuser kept on his steady course of eating as he had done during the offended gehtleman’s speech. The Conference worked long hours Proceedings started at 9.30 a.m. and for the three days of its duration, the lunch adjournment was taken at 12.30 p.m. At 2.30 business was resumed and continued till 5," the evening sitting lasting from 7.30 till 10. On Saturday afternoon a wellearned half-holiday was taken. It is worthy of note that though the Conference had a great deal of work to get through, everything was finj islied on the tick of 10 o’clock on Saturday night. The Rev. A. F. J "Williams was an excellent chairman I and kept the meetings in good order throughout; and now and again there was a decided movement to side-track the main issue and discuss side issues. The local press was well represented, and to Messrs. Kohere and Tamahori thanks are due for the manner in which they interpreted the proceedings for the benefit of the pressmen. Altogether the Conference jvas interesting while sitting, and thtrS-est of the time was vory pleasantly spent, a large number of singers contributing items to while away the fleeting hour.