IMPORTANT MAORI GATHERING

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2073, 7 May 1907, Page 3

IMPORTANT MAORI GATHERING

HOME MULE FOE NATIVES. I Pross Association. AUCKLAND. yesterday. , The large Maori meeting which has been assembling during the past , reck at AVaahi, tlie Hon. Maluita’s . kainga, near Huntly, made a start , vith its order paper on Friday. The j iroccedings were commenced by the -j latives assembling in front of the , ununga (meeting liouso). Alahuta , nd his suite, the komiti 1

'committee), occupied mats on one ide, whilst on tho other were six tirpliced clergymen, who held a short .-reliminnry service. Mahuta then hade .a speech, and Tupu Taingakawa Te Wliararoa, convenor of the uceting, also delivered an address, ftcr which Henare Kaihau, M.TI.R., ead correspondence between the Maoris and the Parliaments of Great Iritain and New Zealand concerning lie Treaty of Waitangi, but the day hided with very litt-le actual busi-

tess being done. When the proeeedngs were resumed on Saturday norning Henare Kaihau, M.H.R., .nade a long speech, in which he

traced the genealogy of the Maori ace. The genealogical tree was illustrated by large and small sticks, ramifying its various directions from the founder of the race to Potntau, the first Maori King. The sticks mil other paraphernalia were so numerous that two hours were employid in the construction of the diagram. This caused impatience amongst a largo number of those present, who left, stating that they had come to listen to facts, not a recital of pedigrees of common knowledge. When the dinner bell rang the illustration was complete, but on resuming Mr. Kaihau continued his discourse on the history of the Maoris. Potatau, tho first King, was represented in the diagram by a large post in the centre of'an ellipse representing Now Zealand. On the right of the ellipse was a white flag, symbolical of England, while betwe.-n

■ *" ' ivas a box illustrating tlio treaty of Waitangi. He urged that the Maoris should aim at unity in redressing their grievances. At this stage heavy rain caused the business to be suspended for the day. Rawhiti, the chief secretary to the meeting, on being interviewed by a Herald reporter, stated that the object of the gathering was the formation of a union to enable a united front to be secured in placing matters affecting the race before the Government or Parliament. He asserted that the treaty of Waitangi had been repeatedly broken in spirit if not in letter, as also had the New Zealand Constitution Act of 1852, especially section 71 thereof, which pro-

vided for the maintenance of Alaori laws and usages so far as they were not repugnant to the general principles of humanity. AVhat was requirod by the natives, said Rawhiti ,was power to manage their own affairs, or. in other words, Home Rule. Some of the natives, in referring to land and other grievances, say that the intervention of King Edward should be solicited. Others think tlmt the present meeting is competent to reintroduce the King movement, which was surrendered when Mahuta be--3a mo a member of the Cabinet. Asked if that would , suit, they shake their heads, and reply that they have inly one King, and that is Edward vii.

The pa presents a very animated -.cone. During the progress of busiioss, whilst the elders are engaged

in their serious concerns, the younger element pursues sports and games. Cooking operations proceed all day long, the feeding of -such a large assemblage necessitating a tremendous amount of “hard graft.” Three constables are constantly in attendance, . hoi rservices being called into rejnisition on Friday night in suppressing the efforts of a party of Europeans to introduce dice and other forms of gambling. The general behaviour of the gathering is said to

ie excellent. A popular form of amusement with the youngsters is to ilacken their faces, and to march

sound- the pa •to the music of tin - tins, dance hakas,. and accord a welcome to imaginary parties of visit,rs. Pedlars avid hucksters are numerous, whilst two improvised stores lo a roaring trade. Two billiard tables arc in evidence, and play proceeds from early morn to bedtime, i’on native clergymen look ftfior the moral welfare of the crowd. While he meeting was in progress on Saturday the dead body of a chief who had died at AVharawhara was brought into the pa, and this had the effect of causing a temporary gloom over Hie proceedings. The meeting is exacted to last till about Wednesday.