THE NATIVE FEAST AT ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2757, 15 March 1890, Page 2

THE NATIVE FEAST AT ALEXANDRA.

The Native feast at Whatiwhatihoe settlement, yesterday, was a great success, being attended by the majority of the inhabitants i of Alexandra, and the settlers of the vicinity. The school children were granted ;i half-holiday to attend, and were as cordially welcomed and entertained, as their progenitors. Quite a number of ladies wero amongst the visitors. Tables down each side of tho large new whare were nicely set out, witli seats for 122 persons. All the necessary condiments wero on the tables, a large statf of waiters iu whito shirts and aprons, and young Maori girls, in gay attire, were most active and assiduous in [ the performance of their duties. The tables were cleared, and set out again four times, the native visitors and the European ladies and gentlemen all sitting down together. Provisions of good beef, pork, etc., well cooked, with puddings, tarts, and cakes, with plenty of tea, furnished as good a dinner as one could wish to sit down to, and ! in as cleanly a manner, that would shame | many an Auckland restaurant. Not the least part of the enjoyment to the pakeha visitors, was tho evident delight of their hosts at their presence on the occasion, a more hearty and unaffected welcome could not have been offered. After the dinner, which took a considerable time, as more than 500 wont through that ceremony, some speechifying took place outside, on the subject of Tawhiao's meeting at Pukekawa on the 23rd April next. Grey Kaihau read out the programme of the subjects to be discussed there, and a proposal that all present should attend there on the occasion and support Tawhiao in his views, iSc. Hone Wetere and Pi kin, from Kawliia, having replied affirming this, the meeting on that subject concluded. Kaihau then spoke of their meeting there that day. He explained that their view had changed in regard to the manner their feasts should be conducted in future. Hitherto the food had, first of all, in the old Maori style, to be placed in a large heap, and afterwards portioned out to the various tribes and hapus present, and tho pakehas, if any were present, had their food placed for them alone. On that day, as all had seen, Europeans and the various tribes amongst themselves had all sat down together as one family and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and this they meant to do in the future; he hoped there would never be any differences amongst their pakeha friends and themselves. Kaihau then stated that the sum of £17 12s 7d had'been voluntarily subscribed that day in the dish placed for that purpose, by the Maori and pakeha guest«. He wished to explain that money was not to bo looked upon as being in any part payment of that day's entertainment. The feast today was given bv them, the natives of the settlement Patara to Tuhi, Toka, Wetere, Penetona, and the others, to commence with, the money subscribed would be kept to go towards another feast on a future occasion, when he hoped they all would ouce more eujoy themselves as they had to-day. On behalf of the riativos he had to thank the Alexandra visitors and others for giving them (the natives), their presence on an equal footing that day especially they felt honoured by the number of ladies who honoured them with thenpresence. A spirited game of football then took place between sides chosen from Kawhiaand Waipa, and it was not concluded ere darkness set in. Many of the natives have a good knowledge of the game, and most of the visitors were of the opinion that a team could bo picked out from them that would be hard to beat by any Waikato club. At six o'clock tea was commenced, when another good spread was placed before those present, and notwithstanding the previous efforts was again partook of by all present. I have been requested by a number of the European visitors to express publicly their sincere thanks to the natives for the hospitality and attention Bhown to them on their visit. Sports are going on at the settlement to-day (March 11)—horseracing, football, etc.