TUI CREST FOR SCHOOL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 98, 12 May 1937, Page 7

TUI CREST FOR SCHOOL

Banner and Motto Presented to Hastings West MR. P. TOMOANA'S ADDRESS A long-felt want of the Hastings West School was satisfied yesterday afternoon, when a preservation was made to the pupils of a school banner. With it the school adopts as its motto the Maori exhortation "Tohe ea," English translations being "Strive on" or "Go for it." The banner is a very fine one indeed and depicts a tui perched on a branch of kowhai, with its breaSt puffed out and mouth wide open as though giving voice to joyous uote3. Bcneath is inscribed the new motto anu in silver lettering the words ''Hastings West School." The whole is desipied on a black background, with white fancy bordering^and white (standard pole. That the central figure should bo a tui is particularly appropriate, for ad■juming the school grounds is a plautation of flowering guiiis "Which attracts scores of these birds, and in season their thrilling song can be heard. Spejial pride is taken in this unofficial sane. tuary by the pupils of the school, and every care is taken to ensure that the birjs are not molested in any manner. When formally making the pfesentatiou on behalf of the school committee, the chairman, ifr L. J. Mackersey, said that he handed over the banner to the children for their safe-keeping, and he urged them to honour and respect it. The aCceptance of thq banner by the representatives of the children wds carried out in Maori fashion, the children having been previously coached by Mr P. H- Tomoana, who actually selected the crest and motto. . Mr Tomoana said that the tui was sometimes ealled the "Parson Bird" because of the white feathers on the breast, and the name was quite appropriate, for it was a harmless bird. By tho Maori its songs were very much apprhciated. It strove its utmost to give voice to its beautifnl melodies, and in this regard it set a worthy exarapie to the human race. That the tui was also a useful bird was illustrated by the following pictur. esque story told by Mr Tomoaha. Many years ago an old Maori, Apanui, of the Bay of Plenty, who was in danger of beiug captured by members of a hostile tribe, caught a tui and kept it as a sentry near his home in the bush. Whenever a sttanger appeared tho tuj would sing quietly, askipg: "Who is this stranger roving?" Then in a louder voice it would call out: "The burnt one, the scarred one, you tattoed old maui" This was to give the stranger the impression that the old Warrior was not without company. Finally the bird would sing quietly agaiu, aaying; "Do be careful; there is a stranger lurJting," Tho telling pf the little story was niade all the more impressiv© by Mr Tomoana voicing it firgt in Mapri. and afterwards translatiug it into Eiigtish.