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Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20498, 14 May 1938, Page 9

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MAORI CHOIR’S TOUR WELCOME AT NGARUAWAHIA SANG BEFORE THEIR MAJESTIES

Special Reporter

NGARUAWAHIA, Friday After a fourteen months' tour of England and Australia, the W’aiatu Maori choir, which returned to New Zealand on Thursday, was accorded a Maori welcome by the Waikato tribes at the pa, Ngaruawahia, to-day. A number of tiie leading Maori chiefs of the district officiated at the function, and associated with them were several workers of the Methodist Maori Mission. The welcome, which had been arranged by King Koroki and Princess Te Puea Ilerangi, was on behalf of the Maori Royal family. The choir, which comprised 21 members led by the Rev. A. J. Seamer, superintendent of the Methodist Home and Maori Missions, undertook the tour for educational purposes and in an effort to raise funds to carry on the work in the interest of Maori welfare. In the course of their tour in Great Britain the party met the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace. During their visit to the palace the party sang several songs to Their Majesties. Prior to the arrival of the touring party a welcome was extended to a group of district workers for the Methodist Maori Mission. The group filed through the main gate of the pa and, halting in the marae, wasg reeted by a number of Maori women, bedecked in halos of greenery and waving green branches, who performed a chant of welcome as the mission workers took their seats at one side of the marae. Arrival of the Choir The touring party’s arrival at the gate of the pa was heralded by a long chant which was taken up by the Maoris assembled in the marae. As the choir, led by Miss Ripeka Moerua, of the Maniapoto tribe, arrived at a space in front of the assembled Waikato "Maoris, they were greeted by an impressive powhiri, after which several more chants were carried out. Several Maori speakers also extended greetings to the homecomers. Speaking on behalf of King Koroki and the Waikato tribes, Mr Pei Te Hurinui expressed pleasure at the attendance of several pakehas at the pa. The day for welcoming the tourists had been eagerly awaited for a long time, said the speaker, but now it was tinged with sadness owing to the recent deatli of Tumate Mahuta, who was to have taken part in the ceremony. The assembled Maoris would make the ceremony an opportunity for extending sympathy to the bereaved family and for endeavouring to relieve their suffering. Suitable replies to the chants and speeches of welcome were made by Mr Wikiriwhi Eureti. of the Te Arawa (Rotorua) tribe, and Mr Te Uira Tuteao, of the Ngati-Mahuta tribe. Following the ceremony the visitors were entertained to lunch at the pa, and later in the afternoon an interesting account of their travels was given by members of the choir. The party also sang several of the songs which had made a great appeal overseas. During the week-end a conference of the Methodist Maori Mission will be held at the pa to discuss several matters hearing on the welfare of the Maori people. The Rev. G. I. Laurenson, assistant superintendent, and the Rev. Eruera Te Puhi, senior Maori minister, will be present, and tribes from all parts of the mission’s territory. including Auckland, Wanganui, New Plymouth and other districts will also take part in the discussions.