MAORI FAREWELL

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1929, Page 6

MAORI FAREWELL

TO GOVERNOR-GENERAL

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

ROTORUA, Nov. 25

A farewell to the Governor-General took place to-day at Arawa Park with all tlie wealth of Maori ceremony. Some 3006 persons witnessed the ceremony. The Mayor, Air T. Jackson, on behalf of the pakclia. population, spoke his farewell, stressing the great interest taken by his .Excellency in the life proper, of the Dominion. Presenting a handsome hound volume of views of the district and of .Maori life, the famous chief, Alita Taupopoki, gloriously arrayed, spoke with eloquence and force on behalf of the Arawa people, asking tlie Gov-ernor-General that he take hack to their Majesties the King and Queen the loyal expressions of the Maori race. One thing which they would remember in Lis Excellency’s administration was that they had given the natives a Alaori Bishop. Chief Alaera followed in like vein.

• Bishop Bennett, on behalf of the Alaori race, presented their Excellencies with a Kunieta treasure box containing two pieces of greenstone.

Splendid exhibitions of the poi and liaka were given by Alaori men and women.

His Exoadoncy, in responding, stressed the happiness that their residence in New Zealand had given them. It had been five years of supreme happiness, and the day they left New Zealand they would he breaking a connection that was very clear to -them. He praised the splendid loyalty of their people, and, addressing the A Lions, he advised them never to forget tneir splendid traditions, their history, their poetry, and their arts.

Continuing, his Excellency said he would like to dream of the future and to see the Alaori people fulfilling high positions in the professions and in the State.

Great enthusiasm marked the closing scenes.. An inpection of the HighSchool took place, in the morning,, their Excellencies being greatly impressed with the fine bearing of the scholars - and the fineness of tlie. surrounding^