IN TE PUKE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 17, 3 January 1912, Page 3

IN TE PUKE.

CHRISTMAS DAY AMONG THE MAORIS;

A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE.

(By an Old Stratford Resident.)

At 11 a.m. we yoked up our horses and drove to a Maori settlement to which we had been invited to see the marriage of no less than seven couples (Maoris) in a new meeting-nouse which was to he opened that i ay. After a drive of six miles we reached the pa. There were four to five hundred people present, including a number of Europeans, among whom we recognised several ex Stratford residents. The Maoris were all dressed in holiday attire of the gayest, and the sight was well worth the drive. 'Flie large meeting-house is after the usual style of Maori architecture —low walls, high and steep roof (covered with iron), having a porch the full width of the building, the facing hoards being covered with grotesque and wonderful figures. Inside the buildings were more carving, and very ornamental painting, one scene, we were informed, representing Captain Cook and his ship, also the house in which he was born. The floor vas covered with clean flax mats of various colours, on which reclined (nc seats) both sexes of both races w'un tired. At night the building is lighted by acetylene gas. When w© arrived the house was packed, and the marriage ceremony in progress, two Maori and one European clergyman officiating. The service was all in Maori. The brides were handsomely dressed in silk, mostly white, and wore the usual veil and orange blossoms, some of the latter being daisies, orange blossom having run out. As the bridal party left the house they were fairly smothered with race, having to cover their heads with mats. Shortly after the happy couples wore seated for about half an hour on a long form placed on the grass, to be admired by the visitors. Strolling around to the culinary department, one saw huge quantities of beef, mutton, pork, and poultry, also fish of all kinds and heaps of clean new potatoes were being cooked on the hot stones (kapa Maori) covered with mats kept damp. Those, when cooked, wore a treat to see. There were also several large boilers in which huge plum puddings were boiling. Wo were now asked to the wedding breakfast, which was tastefully laid on a snow-white cloth-covered table in a long building erected for the purpose, with seating room for 65. This was decorated with native fern, etc. At each end of the table was a three-decker wedding cake, beautifully iced, and evidently the work of an expert. Fruit, cakes, sweets and temperance drinks were laid thickly down the centre of the table. As soon as the visitors were seated, smart youths and Maori maidens dressed in whit© waited on the table and skilfully carried out their duties. The food left nothing to he_ desired., - j Leaving the breakfast table a number of us returned to the meetinghouse, where some splendid singing by a number of Maoris was to be heard. They sang in both Maoriand English. Occasionally an old orator would rush on to 1 the green ■ and’ har.angue, the natives dancing, yelling, 1 and strutting up and down until eithed his eloquence or body wore exhausted. ;i| : ? "J- ■ i During the day a collection in 1 mid’ (if a church fund was taken, and as a start ten one pound notes were fixed in a split stick, which was stuck in the ground in full view of the assembly. This novel start evidently appealed successful} 7 , and w© were informed that £74 odd was collected. Having mow spent several hours with these happy and hospitable people, we left for home, after a most' enjoyable outing. Christmas Day is, I understand^.,a, piopul aiG.day for Maori' 1 beddings. kohas freely invited.