MAORI AND PAKEHA NOW ARE ONE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 20, 14 April 1927, Page 1

MAORI AND PAKEHA NOW ARE ONE

RANGIRIRI CEREMONY “The Lord made peace at last and now we all are one.” Aram a, Harama, one of the defenders of the famous Rangiriri redoubt in 1863, concluded his oration at the unveiling ceremony yesterday with these words and took his place beside two other snowyhaired veterans, Captain J. Stichbury and Wiremu Awhi. When first these three met the two Maoris were prisoners after the surrender of the redoubt and the pakeha was a member of their escort. Rangiriri revived stirring memories yesterday, when the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. R. F. Bollard, unveiled the memorial gates at the entrance to the military cemetery. Hundreds of settlers came from nearby districts and 42 members of the King’s Empire Veterans’ Association went there from Auckland. The returned soldiers of the district provided a guard of honour. The unveiling ceremony was preceded by a luncheon in the Rangiriri hall, the guests including the Minister, Mr. J. Hislop, under-secretary for Internal Affairs, Lieutenant J. H. Venvile, of H.M.S. Philomel, representing the na*val veterans, Major H. C. Glendining, N.Z.S.C., Captain James Stichbury and his 42 veterans, Miss Statham, and Mr. V. Scott, of the War Graves Division. The ceremony began with the Lord’s Prayer, the congregation being led by Archdeacon Cowie. The chairman of the reception committee, Mr. J. H. Potter, welcomed the visitors and thanked the Minister for the interest he had taken in the memorial. Speaking on behalf of his comrades, Captain Stichbury said that they were now all over 80 years of age, and were proud to be present at a function which commemorated the loyal service and bravery of those pioneer soldiers of early days. As a member of the escort which brought the Maori prisoners back to Auckland after the Rangiriri attack, Captain Stichbury paid tribute to the military skill and courage of the Maoris. The old Maoris.Wirenu Awhi and Arama Harama told the tale of the battle in their native tongue. Wherua Herewini one of the principal Maoris at Rangiriri thanked the Minister for his services and his presence. Lieutenant R. H. Travers spoke on behalf of the veterans of the South African and the Great War, and Mr. G. Mclnnes, secretary of the Whangamarino Road Board, expressed the thanks of the people of the district to Mr. Bollard and his officers for the work done in restoring the cemetery. THE UNVEILING

In his speech Mr. Bollard, quoting from General Cameron’s despatches, gave an account of the battle, making special riiention of the fact that scaling ladders were first used by the British in New Zealand against the formidable Rangiriri Redoubt, and that they were also used by New Zealand soldiers in wresting the town of Le Quesnoy from the Germans in the Great War. The Minister then unveiled the gates, disclosing the granite tablet commemorating the valour of those who fought in the engament. Entering the cemetery, Mr. Bollard laid a wreath on a stand at the foot of one of the obelisks, a tribute of remembrance and homage from the Government. “The Last Post” was sounded by the trumpeters of the Technical College Cadets.