HISTORIC SITE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 148, 15 February 1932, Page 4

HISTORIC SITE

BIG MAORI GATHERING OPENS MISSION HALL AT TE WHAITI MEMORIES OF TE KOOTI TE WAITI, Saturday. Moaris from surrounding districts of Ruatahuna, Te Telco and Galatea gathered at the Te Whaiti pa on Friday for the opening of the new mission hall. The site was donated by a former chief of the Ngati-whare, ■ famous in bygone times for their fighting against the pakeha. The Te Whaiti pa was the birthplace of the Ringatu religion, to which the greater part of the Maori people owe allegiance. The ruins of the first Ringatu ineeting Ihouse is directly across the narrow road from the new ■miSsiOn hall. Carved door-posts alone are standing now, the roof having long fallen in, and long grass is growing ' inside the small" Sacred eniel'oSUre' ei'6ct:ed when the site was declared tapu. It was here the ■ famous 5was chief ,Te Kooti founded his church and began his teachings. Here, too, he gathered his first raid- ' mg Ja'tty for the long period of guerilla warfare which made his name dreaded for many years. The opening was performed by the Rev. James Hay, B.D., of Cambridge, on behalf of the Maori Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church. Later several hundred Maoris were guests of the pa at the hig meeting house, Wharepakau, where the feast ha'd: been prepared'. In the evening poi dances were given, and native , songs, sung with true Maori harmony: Theri fbllowed'' rengthy oratioAs by leading men.pl the tribe and' by visi-j ;tors, eeasing Only when the early light of dawn appeared. " Another hig hui ife to be held in • this- district shortly when the famous j carved 'house '" at Matatua, built fof I Te Kooti, will be opened after extensive repairs. Maori- leaders froin All _i over the Urewera are expected to be j present, including the "prophet" Rua. . . . .. ■