MAORI ENTERTAINMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9170, 13 June 1908, Page 4

MAORI ENTERTAINMENT.

% Last night'at Feilding was given an entertainment by the Tokorangi and Aorangi Maoris in aid nf the funds of the Feildiug Technical School. There was a good audience. The entertainment was organised by Mr Mayo, of Aorangi, and Mr Morrison, of Tokorangi, and had something of tho nature of a competition between the two pahs. It consisted chiefly of poi dances, performed by girls, the dances being varied as single, double and canoe poi, and with more or less figure dancing, tho performance being most graceful in the course t f the dances, ail tho muscles of she body apparently being brought into play. The Tokorangi,contingent consisted of children from about six years to 15, and those of Aorangi were young women and a few young men. lu addition to tho national dances of the Maoris was given the cake walk, a sword dance by a youth who did credit to the kilts ho wore, and an exhibition of club-swinging by a # Maori giri. Sentimental ai -i comi-* cal songs were given by y< ung men, and an exhibition ot single and double diabolo by boy- from Tokoraugi. The enteriax.n.cut, as a whole, proved very popular, hearty applause having been given for almost every item. The figure dancing was exceedingly well performed and great praise was given to the children from Tokorangi. The cake walk performed by three Aorangi girls and a youth was the best of the European dances given. The whole of the programme was 'given by Maoris, including the accompaniments. During the interval, |Mr Piraui, the chairman, reminded the audience that now there was a good technical school building what was wanted was plenty of scholars. Amongphe items encored was a song and chorus by the Aorangi contingent, and a graceful dance designed by tho Tokorangi natives and performed by girls. At the conclusion the Chairman returned thanks to tho Maori parents allowing their children to take part in tiie entertainment, and Mr J. H. Booth translated the address in Maori. The audience expressed their thanks by hearty, applause.