MAORI ANCESTRY

Southland Times, Issue 21088, 21 May 1930, Page 6

MAORI ANCESTRY

DELEGATION VISITS RARATONGA.

(Per United Press Association.)

Wellington, May 20.

“It’s like Japhet in search of his father,” said a Maori commenting on the departure to-day for Rarotonga of the Maori delegation whose members hope to discover traces of their forbears who remained at the Cook Islands during the migration from Hawaiki.

There was quite a lively scene on the Taranaki street wharf, as many of the friends and relatives of the delegates came to Wellington to see them off and wish them bon voyage. Among these were Chief Judge Jones (of the Maori Land Court), Judge Rawson, some of the staff of the Native Department, and a contingent of Maoris from all parts of the country who are just as interested in the result of the mission-as the delegates themselves. It was the intention of the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata to head the delegation to Rarotonga, but politcal developments changed his plans. He, however, sent two of his young sons to visit their relatives in the Cook group. Sir Maui Pomare was also a passenger by the Makura, but is not concerned with the delegation although very much interested in its objective. He is seriously ill and having been ordered to seek a more genial climate for the winter than is offered in New Zealand, he left for San Francisco en route for Los Angeles to-day where he will probably stay until October or November.