THE QUEEN'S RECORD REIGN IN NEW ZEALAND.

Jubilee : Te Tiupiri, Volume 1, Issue 5, 1 February 1898, Page 1

THE QUEEN'S RECORD REIGN IN NEW ZEALAND.

Aramoho, near Whanganui, New Zealand As I first saw the light in Bedford, a stray thought has prompted me that some of your numerous readers might be interested to know the manner in which the Queen's Jubilee was kept in this far-away land. Holding a position under the New Zealand Government, my lot is cast in an up-country place. This district is called the home of the Maoris. We are now in mid-winter, and it is a beautiful morning with just a tinge of frost. The birds are singing, and, lo! the mighty snow-clad volcano (Ruapehu) mountain is insight; the sun is beaming on us kindly, and doubtless as the day advances it may throw out of our dormant natures a sudden burst of enthusism. The Maoris are to be the prevailing spirits. When they take anything in hand it has to go, and with a great noise, too. They are gathering their strength from their up-river settlements for some weeks past. They are now camping alongside of the great river here, and great excitement is in their camp. Numbers of them are coming down the river in their quaint canoes, hewn out of the largest trees. Wending my way down to the small seaport town of Wanganui, where the festivties are' to beheld, a wondrous sightmeetsthe eye. Hark! the procession is just starting. First, the advance guard of the Alexandra Cavalry ; at their heels come three Highland pipers. The garrison band lead the volunteers; then the boys college tableaux, with a large evergreen Crown, mounted on a decorated dray, drawn by a team of ten bullocks. Truly Colonial! Next come the schoolchildren, and very bright and happy they look, each carrying a flag of various colours. The Salvation Army's band plays a most stirring march; behind them the bravest and the best along—s6 veterans, ail of >whom hold the New Zealand war medals, and some the Victoria Cross. These were the men to burst a road through all difficulties. The railway station is reached, a halt is made to receive the Wairoa mounted infantry, who arrive just in time to join the procession. The fire brigade look smart in their scarlet nniforms,

as do the Friendly Societes, especially the Druids. The Arch and his Officers are seated on a dais, with a large tree overspreading them, and the members who follow in their long white beards make a most impressive sight. The boating clubs represent the landing of Captain Cook. Now comes the principal sight—the Maori contingent, with their great war canoe, mounted on old gun carriages. The VVaitolara Maori band of 26 performers, followed by 300 Maoris, all in their wild war dress, carry their various weapons. There is Major Kemp (a Maori), dressed in full regimentals, and wearing the sword presented to him by Queen Victoria. Seated in the canoe are the oldest warrior chiefs, all beautifully tatooed, and holding their war flags. The butchers' and freezing companies' display, the bakers, brewers, laundry, sash and door factory hands, and the cycle clubs swell the ranks. In the avenue leading to the New Hospital oak trees are planted by the Mayoress. They move on, pass the principal streets, reach the Green, where a halt is made, and the school children and bands join in the National Anthem. Then we give three cheers, very thin staccato ones, like streaks of lightning'. Then, sir, the Maoris had the magic signal from their chief to give three royal cheers for Queen Victoria. Good heavens! what a terrible noise. I can only liken it to a tremendous burst of thunder. The ground (being pumice and sand) shook like an earthquake. The shout from these 16 and 17 stone-weight people seemed to pierce the sky. One Maori woman, whom I noticed, took in a deep breath, and from her magnificent chest burst forth such a grand round, sustained note that it is doubtful if the highly trained singers of Europe could eclipse it. In the afternoon we were to be treated to a grand war dance from the Maoris on the racecourse, and a sham fight by the Volunteers. The war dance is now only given on very rare occasions, and this was witnessed by 1,500 people, which means in this thinly populated district a great crowd. About 2 o'clock the various bands, with the Volunteers and Maoris, arrived on the racecourse. First on the pragramme was the famous war dance. Ah me 1 how shall I

describe it. These 300 Maoris, both men and women, and most of them tatooed, were half naked, to give more freedom to their limbs. They range themselves in a body, patiently wait for the signal, as their chiefs are supposed to be out reconnoitering, and from behind a fence they burst on them like red-hot shells. Then the principal chief waved his hands over them and breathed on them, and as if by magic they are all turned to fiends, highly charged with magnetism. He commences a little harangue; then comes the response from the whole body of them—a most unearthly yell. This is the defiance. Oh! it was terrible. They begin to work their bodies and limbs slowly at first, just to get up steam. Now they are getting very excitable, their eye balls roll fearfully, and they scream dreadfully. Up and down go their feet, while they slap their thighs - with their left hand, all beautifully to time to a most dismal chant. They soar up to a tremendous crescendo, and gradually fall in diminuendo, while they surge about like the restless ocean this way and that way, their tongues rolling about, with froth at the mouth, quaking and drawing in their breath hideously. Up fly their weapons in the air, and the fierceness and hate that shone from them was—sublime. The applause that fell from the onlookers was deafening. Some of these very living Maoris were only a few years back cannibals. Afterwards come the Poi dance by young Maori girls, and this was very pretty. How for the sham fight from the Volunteers. The Mounted Rifles formed the attackingforce. The defenders were composed of the Boys' School Cadets and 100 Navals, under the command of Lieut. M. Niel, of Aramoho. The fight was opened by the Naval scouts, engaging the Mounted Rifles very creditably. The march-past was creditably done. At four in the afternoon the shades of eve were stealing on, so the Royal Salute was fired with hats in the air, three ringing cheers for Victoria, and the sun went down on one of the most pleasant days that I can remember. The Town Council of Whanganui spent £ioo on fireworks, whicn were manufactured in the colony. In the evening a grand illuminated procession went through the principal streets. Noticeable was a tableau representing an incident at the battle of the Alma; also a fine one of the course where the firework display took place; the rockets and set pieces were very fine, especially one to Queen Victoria, and while it was burning the National Anthem Then came a vietf of the t own

illuminations, which were very good indeed, especially the town lamp with its large crown. The bridge, too, was very brilliant. And it came to pass as I journeyed down to the quay that I lignted on a certain old building, which was used in the old days as a coach factory. On looking within I saw that the Maoris were at it again. They were still grievously tormented with Taipo (their devil). They were giving the poor, old wood floor pepper, (poor things, they'd had a little drink on this memorable occasion). After waiting for the cable which conveyed to us the cheering news of the National Anthem at St. Paul's, London, the bonfires blaze away on the mountains, and the church bells are ringing peal after peal. So in the small hours on my homeward way I pass the Maori encampment. ... I pause. . . all is hushed to. sleep. The beautiful moon is shedding its soothing rays on them. It is calm, and delightfully quiet. For, lo! the evil spirit has departed from out of them. [The contributor of the above interesting, account of a New Zealand Jubilee is a brother of Mr W. Bull, Spring-road, Kempston, and of Mr H. Bull, Harpur-street, Bedford.]