THE MAORIS’ WELCOME

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1920, Page 3

THE MAORIS’ WELCOME

I • BIG PREPARATIONS AT ROTOR U. GISBORNE, March 2. Tile Hon. A. T. Ngata has -returne i- | from Rotorua after inspecting arrangi o- ments for the Native camp for 111 r- Prince of AA r ales’s visit. 1; It is said to be the intention of Hi !e Government to have as many Maori as possible at Rotorua on the histor r- occasion, and a camp is being place' g on the race course to accommodate 500 1- Natives. All the ex-members of Mao: -. contingents and other Natives are bein; provided with free transport by Ih< Government, which ts also paying the expenses of the camp. The Govern n merit will provide most of the food foi i, the Natives during their stay of ; a week or ten days.' r The Natives will concentrate between s April 10th and loth. The committee • formed to set up the camp is almo-t B identical with that which carried out a • huge hui at Gisborne last year, tbi' " being a. camp record in size, and esKb--3 lishing a record from a health view point, not one single case of ill-health ’ being reported. The camp will include 1 sixteen dining-rooms, three large un. 1 teens and one large entertainment. tent. There will also be over 40 mar quees and. 460 bell tents. The hosts of the camp will be Hie Arawa tribe and welcomes will be extended to the visiting Natives in tri. j ditionnl Maori fashion. Amusements will be provided in the form of a pic- ; tore show until 9.30 o’clock each eveni ing, and dancing after that, j It is estimated that from the End Coast there will be some 2000 Natives who will go to see the “great white chief’s” son.