MAORIS GATHER

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1930, Page 5

MAORIS GATHER

A BIG HUI

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

GISBORNE. March 10.

Stirring scenes were witnessed today at “Tepuiio-o-Hau i wi,” the new Maori mooting house in Gisborne, which is to lie officially opened tomorrow morning by the Hon. G. AV. Forbes. Yesterday and to-day Alaojjis had literally poured into Gisborne from all parts of the district, very large numbers of tiic visitors coming down from the AVaiomatitini Hui. which comludcd on Sunday.

To-morrow morning more Alaoris will arrive and before neon it is expected that there will be one thousand natives assembled at the new Kaiti Pa. The advance guard of the Takitimis and Ngati Porous came down first, in readiness to receive the visitors mi their arrival.

This morning and this afternoon stirring scenes were witnessed on the Alarac in front, oi the meeting house as the joint hosts to the Hui welcomed in the traditional manner the visiting tribes with chants, hakas, speeches and customary greetings, which were replied to in kind; the speech-makers being the elders of the respective tribes. The Tennis Courts at the new Pa were receiving their last touches this morning in preparation for special matches- and for the continuance of the Maori championships, which will go on to-morrow. At R.uatoria the championships wore carried to the r&und .just prior to the semi-finals, and the remaining games will occupy probably two or three days. In addition the Morehu Cup played for by teams representing' the various districts under the Davis Cup rules, with one minor modification, is to be contested at New Pa. ~