MAORI CELEBRATION AT OTAKI.

Manawatu Herald, 10 February 1880, Page 6

MAORI CELEBRATION AT OTAKI.

For a number of months past the Majris on the West Coast have been making preparations for holding a thanksgiving service in coinmemora tion of the advent of the Gospel I amongst them, and for its continuance. The question was first mooted by Kereopa Tuku maru, a brother of the chief lllakara, of the Ngatiraukawa tribe. Circulars Wef& printed, and the co operation of other influential natives from all parts of the Colony was invited. When the idea of the celebration was first taken up, it was thought that Foxton, owing to it being more central,- and consequently of easier access, would hate been the most suitable place to have held the gathering. However, as the head-quarters of the mission had been for so many years at Otaki, it was thought desirable to hold the meeting there. This we hold to have been a mistake, and must be taken as the reason for so limited an attendance. As bearing out this view of the case, there were no natives present from Oroua, Awapuni, Awahuri, Palmerston, and other places along the line, and only a few representatives from Wanganui, Patea, Rangitikei, &c, &c. Travelling to Foxton would have been easy, but from that town to Otaki would have been, if not impossible, veiy difficu.t. The attendance was not half of what was expected, there being, taking the Rev. Mr M'Wil iiam's estimate, only about 300 natives present. Towards the cud of last week the visitors from other parts commenced to arrive at Otaki, and were billeted on their friends. Care bad been taken to lay in a plentiful supply of food, sc all risk of the necessaries of life running short was avoided. By Saturday evening nearly all the visitors who intended taking part in the meet ing had arrived, although a few more arrived on Sunday and Monday morning. The European clergy who were piesent comprised his Lordship the Bishop of Wellington, and the Revs, Messrs Williams (Te Aute Mission Station, Napier), Burrows (Secretary Church Mission, Auckland), and M 1 William, resident minister. There were also four native clergymen present. All the Maori speaking clergymen iv the diocese were present on the occasion. The opening of the meeting may be said to have taken place on Sunday morning, when the Bishop preached to the Maoris in the Otaki Church. Another gathering was held in the evening, when the Rev. Mr Williams preached to tho native congregation. At the conelu* sion of the hervice, the natives all wended their way to the places at which they were stopping, and scarcely a Maori was visible about the township during the evening. Shortly before 10 o'clock on Monday morning the bell of the church again tolled for service, and large numbers of Maoris were seen walk ing to the church, arrayed principally in the best European costume, a large number of both men and women being dressed in white. A great run had been made in the morning on the local shops,— and, indeed, on anyone who was known to possess a white coat, waistcoat, tie, or canvas shoes, &c. Soon after the natives had assembled in the churchyard, those in white were drawn up in two lines, reaching from the Parsonage gate nearly to the church d6*or, between which the Bishop and clergy walked to the church, all the natives uncovering their heads while they passed, and following into the church. The usual morning service was held, the Rev. Mr Williams preaching the ser» mon. On the service being concluded at 11 o'clock, the procession of Maoris in white then reformed., and marched over to the COMMEMORATION POLE, which had been erected on the vacant plot of ground immediately in front of the church, and between Mr Simcox's residence and the old hotel. A few fefit to the southward of the pole, sands the recently erected bust of the great warrior chief, Te Rauparaha. A rough fence, forty foet square, had been run up round the two, and a few seats had been pufinsider'the enclosure for the accommodation of the clergy present. The pole itself was made from a grand totara tree, which has been lying at Otaki for tho last 19 years. Ib stands in the ground about nine frtet, and is squared to about 20 inches at the bottom, tapering off to six inches at the top. The height of the pole is 40ft., aud it is surmounted oy a Greek cross. At the bottom of tlm pole, on the west side, the figures " 1840 " are cut in, one foot higher up on the south side are the figures 1841, on the east side 1842, and on the north 1843, so that when tho front side is again reacheJ, 1844 comes exactly four feet higher up, and so the dates travel round until the top is reachei, where the year 1880 is marked. It will thus be seen that on each side are dates of years, and be - tween tbe dates on each side a space

of four feet occurs. The pole is painted white, and the figures, which a*i tho bottom of the pole are . aboufcn^|J£ inches long, are cut in'' the- wood' about ' half aa inch deep, and are painted black, forming a very pretty conJaWsfci It will therefore be apparent fftat the i pole signifies the length of time the Gospel has been preached to the Maoris Outside the enclosure were arranged forty large stones, in four rows of 10 each. The years from 1840 to 1880 were also painted on these in large letters. On the arrival of the procession at the enclosure, the men marcbed round two deep to the stones, and When all had raised * a stone in their" hands, walked ~ round and deposited their burdens at the foot of the pole. The stones are intended to signify the lasting nature of the commemoration, for while the wood may decay* the stones will never. After the stones were piled up round the pole, the " women in white " marched into the enclosure. A bymn was then sung, led by the Rev. Henaid Herekau, and the Psalms for the day were then read in the usual man-' ncr, the Maoris reading each alternate versp. This was followed by the reading of the Lord's Prayer, the people all kneeling. A short address was then givon by Kereopa, who od concluding called for a genuine British *' Hip, hip, hurrah." After another chant and prayer, it may be said the real commemoration ceremony was brought to a dose. i,t this stage the cloth, over the bust of tlie chief was pulled aside, and a rush was made to the front to " have look." Mete Kingi, Renafca Kawepoandlhakara Tukumaru, then addressed ths assemblage. During the latter's address, the people became impatient, and some commenced to go away, and one chief laughingly remarked that while they were talk* ing the food was being eaten. As this appeared to be rather a general opinion, Ihakara shortly afterwards stopped his eloquence, and the amounts collected by the various chiefs on behalf of the Maori Mission Endowment Fund were then handed in to tho Rev. Mr M'William. We may explain that it has been the custom to use all moneys collected for this purpose as they were received, but now it is intended to raise a sum of £1000, whish will be invested, and the interest will be used in support of the native clergy. The total amount paid in by the different chiefs on Monday last amounted to £668 Bs. Of course for some time past the chiefs have been collecting amongst their followers, As^each .. man handed in the cash, and\the; amount was read out, much applamfe was maaife^ted. A grand dinner was announced to have been held in the college at 2 in the afternoon, but it was about 3 before the first "table" sat down. At tho head of the room a table had been reserved for the Bishop and clergy, and two tables, extending the length of the room, were placed for the natives and friends to " feed " at. A small number of invitations had been made to white people at Otaki, although it was rather difficult to see the principle on which the invitations were issued. We will not attempt a description of this part of the affair. If our readers can imagine a crowd of natives sitting down at a table and endeavoring to feed themselves off poultry, sucking pig, joints of beef, pork, &c, &c, in European style, and add to this about twenty dusky waiters and waitresses "flying round" at table with tea, potatoes, cake, fruit, biscuits, &c, they will have some idea of the scene, which it will take no stretch of imagination to believe was a thoroughly animated one. Altogether, we think the tables were filled about four times. The Committee of Management of this affair certainly deserve credit for the excellent way in which everything was arranged. A certain number ol the men looked af cor the boiling of the water, and for hours some women were scraping potatoes, while every thing was done to make the affair as near European fashion as possible. Messrs Bright, Greenough and Harper rendeied good service by carving at the respective tables, and they certainly had no light > task while the dinner lasted. \ Soon after the dinner the Maoris again assembled at the runanga, which has lately been renovated, and a horero was started, which lasted till late at night, and was resumed again on Tuesday morning. Speeches were made by the principal chiefs, and a large amount of interest was taken in the proceedings, The visitors of note who were prusenc at the gathering included — Renau Kawepo (Napi«r), Hon. Wi Parata, Mete Kingi (Wanganui), Kawana flunia (Rangitikei), Tauroa (chief of the prisoners sent to Dunedin at the close of the war with Titokowaru), Aperahama (Waitotara), and others whose names our reporter was unable to learn. On Tuesday and Wednesday the natives who were present from other parts' returned to their homes. An invitation was sent to the Rev. J. Duncan, and lMessro Gray, Robinson, Cook, and other old settlers '4tf~ b'oxton, but owing to various reasons • they were unable to be ptesant- at the meeting. ■ *tThe proceedings throughout were* couducted in Maori, not a word of English being spoken in connection witu th« affair. < . vh „