A MAORI CHRISTENING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 540, 8 February 1913, Page 2

A MAORI CHRISTENING.

Master HiniAplds the record as thq first and only Maori baby horn side New Zealand, and a lot of noise and fuss and speechmaking accompanied his christening at the White City the other day. In place of the flowing robes of silk and lace with which well-endow-ed English babies so to their christenings, Master Him was wrapped only in a mat. But it was a twentyguinea affair of lovely leathers, gold and brown and blue—the sort of Maori mat which is made by the moulting of many birds, and takes at least three to weave. . The naming was quite impressive in its quaint simplicity, a nd a throng of well-dressed English women made a special visit to the Maori village at the Coronation Exhibition, in order to watch the novel christening. While the infant snuggled closely into the protecting arms of Maggie Papakura, Chief Mita —who is a wonderfully eloquent orator in his. own tongue—made a speech. His people, he said, were especially proud that this gift of a baby-boy should have been given to them on the great occasion of the King's Coronation, and in the great city which was the nome of kings and queens. Then, turning to the infant, Chief Mita said : "Little child, grow, rise, and walk in the footsteps of your forefathers. Trust in God and He will guide you through life and with him to lead you will never fall. I call you Karaneihana Kerei" (which rudely interpretated, means "Coronation Babe"). Master Hini listened composedly, then snuggled ofi to sleep again, while the sweet-voiced Iwa sang the Maori lullaby, "Tama e Tama." The Maoris, men and girls, next chanted a native hymn of thanksgiving, and the tribesmen raised their war-cry, "Ka Mate, Ka Mate, Ka Ora !" in salute to the newly-named. On the Sunday Master Hini had another baptisimal ordeal to undergo. His parents being Roman Catholics, he was taken to the Catholic church at Shepherd's EUah, and there baptised according to tho rites of the Roman Church, attended by the Maori people in the full gorgeousness of their native costumes.