HONOUR DEAD CHIEF.

Shannon News, 1 May 1923, Page 3

HONOUR DEAD CHIEF.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL -UNVEILS MEMORIAL. OX SHORES OF LAKE TAUPO. For some days past, natives from almost every part of the North Island have been congregating at Tokaanu, Lake Taupo, in connection with the unveiling of a monument to the late Hon. Te Heuheu Tokino. The scene by the sparkling waters of Lake Taupo is most picturesque. The lake lay placid and shimmering in the (gun, while in the dstance towered Tauhara Mountain from the top of which Chief Te Heuheu’s ancestors laid claim to the Lake. Around the monument, where the children of the seven canoes of the great migration assembled to honour one leader of the Maori race, this morning, a typically native welcome was extended to His Excellency the Governor-General, a spirited haka. then preceded His Excellency and his party to the centre of the camp.

In addressing His Excellency, Mr Hoani Heuheu, son of the late Hon. Heuheu, said: “Greetings, O Governor! The Heuheu family and all the Ngati-Tuwharetoa greet you. We thank Your Excellency for the hourour you have done us in coming here today. It is a true mark of respect to our dead. Welcome to our village by the shore of the Great Lake. See with the eye of the spirit the perilous journeys of our ancestor* far distant Hawaiki. and you will know then why it is we love this land, won for us by our forefathers. I call upon my people, the children of the warrior chiefs of old, to greet the great man of the Pakehas in the Maori way, to show them that the spirit of the race is not dead.”

Then once again the haka party gave a dance and song of welcome to His Excelleilcy. The Governor-General said he appreciated the honour done him in the tribes inviting him to be present. He thought it fitting that His Majesty's representative should perform the ceremony, because of the loyalty of Heuheu and his people to the Empire.

Thy were present to honour a greet chieftain and patriot, a wise legislator and counsellor of the Maori people and man of great public spirit. On his way His Excellency said, he had seen evidence, of that spirit in the beautiful Tongariro National Park given by Heuheuls father and completed l y himself. That, in itself, was a grand and lasting monument to his memory. His Excellency had heard of Ins people's gift of forty thousand acres for the needs of Maori returned soldiers. Heuheu’s last words were: "Support the Government,” and well did his people carry ou that behest as shown by the part played by the Maori Battalion, the tribe distinguished itself in the war.

“Let us hope,” saicl His Exci !- leney, “that Ngati-Tuwharetoa will equally distinguish itself in the days of peace. The gathering that day and the accompanying ceremony illustrated not only the comradeship ol Maori and PaUeha, but also unity ti nt ay between the different races of the Empire. Let that unity prevail, and the British Empire would live for ever. Let there be one cause, one King, one flag—Kiamau te Aroha, Kia Ora!

“To the glory of God and in memory of Te Heuheu, I unveil this monument.”

Uis Excellency stoo>£ at the salute while a hymn was sung by a -Maori choir.

The monument hears the inscription: “Mere Fes Te Heuheu. Te Heuheu lives,” fo’lowed by an ancient .Maori p: overb: “Tougavno, the mountain; -Taupo the lake; Tuwharetoa, the tribe; Te Heuheu, the man." Tin- .stone was consecrated by tin Rev. Father Callaghan, who said the greatest gift one could bring to man was that of being a peacemaker. H uheu had that gift. He did not regard it as the prerogative of the church to preach peace, and goodwill, bu' himself exercised that gdt to the utmost of his ability.

The unveiling of the -monument' nTIvwed. a nominated member from each of the seven canoes of the Great Migration performing the ceremony. The Hag 1 of the Heuheus was then hoisted'.