MAORI CONTINGENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 293, 20 May 1915, Page 2

MAORI CONTINGENT.

TJIK DESERT. UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT. REQUEST TO GO TO FRONT. Zcitoun Camp, April 4. Of all the troops now in Egypt, the Maori contingent certainly holds the interest of Europeans and natives, llavinu seen the Maoris, the white population can realise bow the pakeba and Maori can live together in terms of mutual -respect. It is hard to know exactly what tlie Egyptian thinks. One thing'is certain, however, and that is that he is coming to tlie conclusion that Britain's resources are far greater than he ever dreamed. In a single street in Cairo lie has seen soldiers from the hills of India and the plains, soldiers from Ceylon, soldiers from England, Australia, and New Zealand, and the Maori, who concedes nothing to any in dignity and soldierly demeanour. Yesterday the Maoris srave a baka for the benefit of the British High Commissioner, Sir E. Mc Million, who was accompanied by General Birdwood and many distinguished English men and women. The performing party, who were stripped to the waist, gave'a number of awe-inspiring hakas—the first which ever resounded across an Egyptian desert—and their ell'orts were highly appreciated. During the performance one of the parly, who had painted tattoo over his face and looked particularly ferocious, recited in English a poem of the past. When they heard his cultured Knglish there were ninny astonished faces amongst the visitois. Another pleasing item was a Maori love ditty, sung in parts by the dancing party. At the conclusion of the performance one of the Maori olliecrs who spoke for n moment "as a Maori chief and not as an ollicer," addressed his Ex' celleney. Tie spoke of the feeling of the Maoris that they were in duly bound to help the Empire in its battles', end finally pleaded for the contingent to be given a chance to prove itself at the front.

Although it was late in the afternoon before the performance was over, a football niafch between the old boys of Te Ante College and the old boy's of the Waiignnui College was commenced. When the score was three all, the liriit became too bad, and the niafch had' to be stopped, but in fho play that took place there were many Hashes of tied brilliant play which gives the annual Te Auto-W'angniui match its importance, even though the game was played on the sand.

UK week the whole ( .f (lie division was reviewed by CniiTal Sir lan Jlan.illun. The popularity which t h;if distinguished soldier .uaiiiod during his inspection of i!„. >;,.„■ /,,iland' terriloriah; lust year has not yet diminished, and i(; is 'f'lilc safe In say ilmi. Ule'XcW Zealand troops v.-onl.l 'wish no .(renter honour lliiin hi lie commanded hv ],: m «hen they take (he held. Within flu- 1;K week [hero lias In a limitation of locusts, which Ims been causing nmeli anxiety fhnmidionf Kyvpt. A Cain, newspaper states tint it is'the worst, visitation for seine years and speaks „r (lie ejvat less (hat will he sustained si Id t1.,. insect attack (!■■• yonii..,' cotton crops. At limes (he clouds of locnsis overlienil have been so thkk that the li-ht has been a fleeted. When they appear natives in the gardens of Xeitoiu, in,mediately eoi mice (o lieat iuis (o prevent (he myriads from alight-