A GREAT HUE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1926, Page 4

A GREAT HUE

four THOU.S.VXI) attend. GISBORNE. Feb. Id. For the git -*at Dili, now in progress at tikitiki, natives are present from all parts of the island, besides pakeiins I rom the coast and Gisborne. Over lour thousand people wore at the scene “t the Uni during the day. A great reception Mas accorded lhe Vice-Regal party and the Premier on their arrival. In the centre of the large area stir--1 ' untied by whares and meeting houses were assembled reprcsental ive natives ill the Tahoe. Arawa. Awemapare, Moteopoi. and Xgnlaporou tribes, ail dressed in the eoslunie ul a century

At the entrance gates, two lines of returned men were drawn up for inspection. The visitors then proceeded to ii dais and were accorded a true tveleonie with .Maori greetings and pui

dailies, which were followed by hakas One of the latter, by the Xgaliporot tribe, was led by the Hon, V. Xgatn. It depicted stages of the Great Var---leaving Xew Zealand, life in the trenches, advancing to the attack, and sorrow at those who never returned. All the leading chiefs gave a speech of welcome oil the same lines of the previous day. At Waiomatallti, the GovernorGeneral expressed pleasure at the loyalty of the Maoris, and said it was more than fifty years ago since his father, who was then Governor, had visited the district. Twenty-three years later Her Excellency's father, who was Governor, had paid a visit to the East Coast. Roth had been welcomed and received with expressions ol' loyalty to Queen Victoria. To-day they met them with the same expression, which lie would convoy to the King. During the intervening years, the Maori had lived side by side with the pakelia. The Maoris had taken full advantage of educational facilities and he hoped that they would hold high office in the State and the Public Service. He

I asked the Maoris to guard their old | traditions and see that their children ] i Mere taught, them. There was a danger ’ j that, udtli modern education. the j Maori- children would change and I'or- - J get the traditions and the old arts. ; “I ask you,” he said, “to toll your ehilI j (Iron the Maori mythology and history .[of the past. Tell them the tales of the ’ past are what made the character of the I I rftce what it is.” '• He spoke also in reference to the works of old Maori art displayed ill ! the memorial church, which, lq> said. I “are symbolical of all that is beamiI ftd.” I Mr Coates, in returning thanks, said ( he hoped the Maoris would take note |of that day. It should serve to illusj trnie to the Pakelia what they owed jto the Maori people and also serve to strengthen the bonds which hound them together. “You have only to I look 011 the hill,” said the Premier, • “and reinemljer that when the F.mnite

| was in trouble. New Zealanders oflerod | their services as men, Maori and paI kelui : and as Maori and pakelia. they j fell side by side. May I say to ITis j Excellency that the King will rejoice when he hears of this day.” The PreJ mier also added an appeal for the pre- | serration of'Maori arts. I During the afternoon, on behalf of I the natives. Mr Xgata presented Her j Excellency with a beautiful Maori mat as a token of esteem. In the afternoon, a memorial was i unveiled by His Excellency. The returned men of the district, assembled under Captain Pitt, and the Bishop of Waiapu performed the ceremony-. At the conclusion the gathering returned to the Church, where the Pime Minister unveiled a marble slab on which are inscribed the names of S 7 Maoris who made the supreme sacrifice. In the evening halls were held in honour of the Premier's first visit to the Const. At Tikitiki this afternoon. the Bishop of YYaiapu consecrated a beautiful Maori church i n honour of the natives who had made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. and the Church, contains carving and teed work never equalled in New Zealand,