A MAORI FEAST IN 1844.

Manawatu Herald, 31 December 1889, Page 3

A MAORI FEAST IN 1844.

.'•-" ; 'Tbo N. Z. Bee farmer issues with ■ ; it's" last number a coloured picture of ,the largest Maori feast ever held in "the colony on the 11 tb of May 18-14. It, was given by the Waikato cbiefs . j>r some purpose, and the site was in the vionity of Mount Hobson, at ! Retrmera near A ucklaud. Governorl •' Fizroy, Mr Sheppard, the Colonia Treasurer, and Mr Swainson, the Attorney General were present, be- !, sides the Missionaries and their wives.* About lour thousand natives >.«•<: -were present and as usual a large expense was incurred in food and f "% presents A shed four hundred ' yards long was erected for the ac- "., i-opmmodation of their guests, and JNfcs covered with new blankets, "which were afterwards given away. The. eatables comprised 11,000 ' V Vasisets of potatoes, 9,000 sharks, v l6p pigs and large quantities of tea, ■ tobacbo and sugar. 'J he picture is v : a "loiijj one, giving, views in the ' bacjk: ground of Mounts Hobson and ! , Eden, and the three kings. It shows 'he moment of the entrance of the <■ Governor and his suite, with the ?1600 natives armed with guns and "tomahawks dancing a war dance before him. The view is one well .worth having as a reminder of "the . days :of old," old in the history of the colony, but in reality not many years a<ro. The largest gathering on this coast .tytfbelieve'was one held in this 'own when Governor Bowen visited Here, and then over 1000 maories 'tfsif&nbled to do him b onor. A 1 arge war dance was given on that portion of the ground now occupied by ( , Wkyte's. Hotel, Public Hall and '.. Hank of New Zealand, and thus its ' lilce will not be seen again here. ; > * : ,, . A HAPPY NEW YEAR. '..-.>■:••, '■ .-* — ; _^ _ !'■',','•< rWh*t.wiU make our new year happy ; will ..fill our. hearts with joy ? • , What; give us truest pleasure. " .; ' Pleaini^ which; has ho alloy ? Not to have applause of others, ," ' Not to have great store, of wealth, Not to have dear fiienda and comforts, Not to have the best of health. These are good things but they cannot Truest happiness impart ; „. Something more is needed by us ..:, . To satisfy the craving heart. . Though they could give unmixed ple»»ure Yet to us they would not last, ; For' our tfane is quiokly flying, , ,Year by year, goes fleeting past. . oi We may. make our New Year happy . , -. If ithis year we choose a Friend, ■ Who will bind our hearts unto Him .. In a Friendship ne'er to end. -, We 1 can make our New Year happy : Laying treasure tip on high. ■ Solid riches, which shall never Take unto it wings, and fly. ■^We can make our New Year happy '.: '< t -If with earnest hearts, and true, • All our duty to our neighbours ■ And our God, we strive to do. ■■• •'■< '■■■■ Thlm enr lives will be worth living, ' ; •"'••■■ ' "And' our hearts be full of cheer, jftird the year on which We enter Be indeed, a happy year.