OPENING OF THE MAORI TOWN HALL, KAIAPOI.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1971, 18 June 1880, Page 4

OPENING OF THE MAORI TOWN HALL, KAIAPOI.

The opening of the building which adjoins the old Runanga house, and which has lately been erected at a cost of about £3OO, took place yesterday. The arrangements for the opening were under the management of Tare Tihoka, the Native Magistrate, and Hone Paratene, late M.H.R. for the Southern district. The proceedings commenced with a short service, conducted by the Rev. J. Stack, assisted by the Rev. H. O. M. Watson. A luncheon followed, served up after the most approved European fashion, having been provided by Mr Burnip by order of the committee. The company behaved with the utmost decorum throughout. Their behavior, as compared with what it would have been under similar circumstances a few years ago, showed that a marked advance has been made in civilised ways. At the request of Hone Paratene, the Rev, Mr Stack addressed the company. Ho congratulated them upon the completion of such a largo and handsome building. He was given to understand that it was to bo used principally for meetings and for entertainments. Ho warned them against dissipating their energies in mere talk, a danger to which they were exposed from their love of public speaking. He reminded them that that while the uncivilised Maori cultivated oratory, he did not neglect to cultivate very many things besides that. If the old men were incapable of adopting the industrious callings pursued by Europeans, let them encourage their children to prepare to adopt them. Let them feel that the education they were receiving was to fit them to work as well as to talk. He also warned them against encouraging any amusements of a demoralising tendency, and wound up by urging them to emulate the virtues of their great ancestor, Tuahuriri, by whose name the building they were now opening was henceforth to bo known, who when dying exclaimed, “ Oh, my people, after me be kind to one another.” Tare Teihoka followed, expressing the satisfaction he felt at seeing so many European friends present on that occasion. He agreed with what had fallen from the last speaker as to the value of labor. The Maoris saw that it was the industry of the white men that made them rich and great. It was true that talking never made men wealthy. Their own ancestors had a proverb that a “ bravo talker made a cowardly fighter, while a brave worker made a brave fighter.” He hoped that the children would be able to do what their fathers had found impossible, and hoped that many of them would bo able to puraueTthe callings that had enriched the white people. He wished, on behalf of the committee, to state that they would never allow the building to be used for any entertainment of an immoral; tendency. As many of the visitors wished to leave, owing to the lateness of the hour, further speechifying was dispensed with, and the company dispersed.