MAORI MISSION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5497, 6 November 1929, Page 2

MAORI MISSION.

METHODIST DELEGATION A MUSICAL TREAT. On Friday evening the Maori Methodist Mission delegates gave a concert of outstanding merit and beauty at the Gaiety Theatre. It was a musical entertainment the high standard of which is unfortunately seldom heard in Paeroa. It is a pity the town is not more often graced by the accomplished performance of such musicians. While voice culture was evident, there was none of the absurd affectations that mar so many of the amateur singers who appear in public. Instead there was natural grace and unaffected joy apparent in giving joy to others. Every member of the delegation entered spontaneously into the pleasure of the performance. The delegation consisted of Mr A. J. Seamer, the head of the mission, and the following Dominion-wide representatives of the Maori race : Paikea Henare Toka (Ngapuhi), North Auckland ; Te Akonga Pihima (Waikato), Waikato ; Riki Karaka, Waaihi ; Rangi Moerua, King Country ; Hone Wereta (Manawatu), Wellington ; Wana Rangi, Taranaki ; Taka Ropata, Southland ; and Wiremu tai nui (Ngaitahu), Westland.

Before the actual commencement of the programme a party of local Maoris gave the visitors a welcome in traditional style, to which Te Akonga Pihima replied on behalf of the delegates. The speaker thanked Paeroa for its welcome, and touched briefly on Christianity among his people, saying that great as were the things the pakeha had brought in his right hand, he had brought other things in his left. But for the teachings of the Bible all the Maoris would have still been at war, but with the coming of Christianity they quickly became friends ; therefore, they greeted the British people. Why should they not ? To the Maoris, greetings ! —although it was not really the propel' house or place to greet them in. Mr Seamer, speaking next, said the Polynesians were one of the finest, if not the finest, brown-skinned people in the world. One thousand years ago they were the best navigators in the world. In dugout canoes they traversed thousands of miles of ocean when other peoples were too scared to- do so. A thousand years ago the first Maori emigrants arrived in New Zealand, and 700 to 800 years ago of the race. The present Maoris were descendants of these. Maori meant “People of the land.” Every tribe had a song about the particular canoe its ancestors had arrived in, so as an opening chorus the delegation would give “The Song of the Arrival.” This was sung with exquisite beauty by the whole of the delegation, in English, but to music on the Maori scale. Praise for such perfect rendition as the delegation gave would be impossible to express adequately, the nearest simile being that it resembled more than anything else the music of some mellow organ in a quiet cathedral. Mr Seamer then explained that the gospel first came to the Maoris in 1814, introduced by two Church of England laymen sent out by Marsden from Australia to establish a mission. They returned to Australia and came back accompanied by Marsden, who established them with their wives, children, and servants at the Bay of Islands. Three and a-h.alf years later a great personal friend of Marsden’s, the Rev. Samuel Lee, a Methodist minister, arrived. In 1822 a Methodist mission was established, the west coast being allotted to them, and the east coast to the Church of England. In 1838 the Roman Catholic mission was established. These three historic missions now divided the work in New Zealand to-day between them. After the Maori war thousands returned to their old superstitions, which meant that a lot of the work was lost. In continuation of the musical programme Paikea Henare Toka sang “Memories,” and Te Akonga Pihima —a marvellous bass —the first hymn on the Maori scale, which had been composed by one of his ancestors. Next came Rangi Moerua with a beautiful and plaintive song, “Ep-parira.” Hone Wereta on the steel guitar played “A Polynesian Lament,” followed by Wana, Rangi with “Waiata Poi” and “Po-ata-rou,” her lucid words and flute-like notes enthralling her listeners. Next came a Maori hymn, “Tama Ngakau Marie,” sung by the combined delegation with the same glorious organ-like tone as the first chorus. A dance by Rangi Moerua and Riki Karaka brought down the house. Hine Rangi Hikuroa sang a Maori slumber song and a love song. It is utterly impossible to bestow individual praise. Each delegate was part and parcel of a glorious symphony, and as such individual praise would be difficult, onerous, and out of place. Every act was applauded to the echo and every member encored vociferously. Stone-age games played “en famille” and rythmic single, double, long-stringed, and canoe poi gave variety to a programme that will long live in the memory of those who were fortunate enough to hear it and see it.