RECORD CROWD

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 110, 31 December 1931, Page 5

RECORD CROWD

MAORI EVENING ARAWA COMPANIES PRESENT UNIQUE MAORI PROGRAMME : HANGI IN TOWN SQUARE A really unique Maori entertainment and one which came as a revelation to many. hundreds of the visitors whct thronged the square, drew one of the largest crowds which has ever assembled in Rotorua to the Town Square last evening. Graceful poi dances, delightful Maori action songs and singing, a genuine Maori feast served in the traditional native style, straight from the cooking ovens, vigorous hakas, and all the graee and charm which- the Maori can give to weleome his gpests, went to make up a really novel and unusual entertainment. Illuminated by long streamers of coloured lights and with the gaily decorated platform as the centre, the • square presented a very gay and carnival appearance, with its tall trees as a setting for the thousands who filled every available foot of standing and sitting accommodation. The programme was in two sections, the first given by memhers of the Ngati Whakaue of Ohinemutu, and the second by the Whakarewarewa Maoris. Warriors in full war-kit and the poi maidens in the gay piupiu dresses, made a very eolourful group on the stage. Weather conditions wrere '-ind and in the dead cairn of the evening air, the voices carried to the •*ery outskirts of the crowd. Mr. Kepa Ehau made an excellent master of ceremonies and very capably fillpd in 'h" interval between the two sections of tbe profn'smme hy an interest'ng •"itlioo of fbo oriein of the naino of Rotorua, and some earlv Maori histovy cf the Arawa settlement of the district. Qnenmg Ceremony The Ohinemutu company appronriately opened 'the programme with a nohiri or Maori opening ceremony, pollowed hy the well-known numher "Hail Smiling Morn," in which the distinctive quality and blending of the native voices gave this splendid ffioir numher an unusual and very attraetive quality. There followed a combined' poi, in which the rhythmic action of the dancers with the quick flashing of the leftly handled poi gave the dance all the charm which has made the Maori poi famous. A douhle quartette numher "Maringi Ai" (Comrades in Arms) was well given, followed hy a vigorous and very well executed haka which ■rave the audience its first glimpse of he warriors in strenuous action. The "amous Maori farewell numher which has traversed and captured the world, Haere Haere Ra received a very warm "eception, as did the famous long combined poi, representing the voyaging of the Arawa canoe from Hawaiki of lie Arawa forefathers. Two other de'ightful numhers. a single male quar'ette, and the final farewell, "Wha Vhunea Whunga" c.ompleted the NgaLai Whakaue section of the prorramme. At a suitahle juneture, the Mayo'r, Mr. T. Jackson, thanked the two comnanies for their assistance in contrihuting the programme, and paid a warm tribute to the supnort which had always been given hy the Arawa tribe to any movement for the benefit of the town. The Whakarewarewa company opmed the second section of the proTamme with a delightful poi, in which ■he singing of the dancers as they •uoved in the graceful movements of he dan.ee, lent melody in song to melody in movement.

Warrior Haka This was followed hy a very strenuous haka hy the warriors who severely tested the staging in the abandon with which they threw themselves into the. dance. A complete change, and one which gained added distinction hy the contrast, was the singing of tuneful Maori love ditties by the combined company. The lilting cadences of the Maori musie with the singers seated on the stage, brought visions of the evening kianga of olden time, which gave the Maori these simple hut very characteristic songs. A canoe poi by the women and girls followed, with a haka in which the ladies of the party proved, by popular vote, that the haka was hy no means the prerogative of the men. The company then repeated the_long ooi ,with its larger balls and distinctive action, in time with the Maori voices. The warriors threw themselves into the next number, a war dance in which their forefathers wrought themselves to the battle frenzy in the days when hakas had a very grim significance. Led by the well known Maori singer, Ana Hatu, the girls of the company, sang Mr. Alfred Hill's ever popular number. "Waiata Poi," and the whole company followed in the farewell number "E Pari Ra." The hangi, served from the cooking ovens in the square was a source of interest throughout the evening, sxzpplies being served out in plaited flax baskets after the old Maori style.