CHOIR ON TOUR

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20499, 16 May 1938, Page 9

CHOIR ON TOUR

WAIPA PARTY’S ITINERARY VIVID DESCRIPTION GIVEN AUDIENCE WITH THEIR MAJESTIES (Special Reporter) NGAIRUAWAHIA, Saturday A vivid description of the recent tour of the Waiata Maori Choir through Australia and the British Isles under the guidance of the Rev. A. J. Seamer, was given when the choir arrived at the Ngaruawahia pa yesterday afternoon. After an official welcome had been tendered the tourists, they assembled on the verandah of the meeting house and a commentary on the tour, interspersed with songs which had been sung en route, was given by Messrs Wikirhvhi Eureti and Te Uira Tuteao, two members of the party. A bright description of the early part of the trip, which started in March, 1937, was given by Mr Eureti who said that the first highlight was singing to an audience of over 3000 people in Hobart. While in Australia they found the life of the Australian aboriginal very interesting, but they’ could not help being impressed by the fact that the Australian natives had not reached the high stage of development that had been attained by the Maori. The speaker did not know whether to put It down to lack of adaptability on the part of the natives themselves or to poor administration on the part of the authorities. Continuing their tour the party later arrived at Ceylon, where the speaker was impressed by the beautiful teeth of the natives. This fact impressed him so greatly because it was wellknown that the teeth of the Maoris had deteriorated considerably during recent years. Despite the encroaches of civilisation the natives of Ceylon still maintained a high standard in this respect. Similarity In Languages “At Aden the land looked as though it had been baked,” continued the speaker. “And so did the people.” The tourists were rather surprised to find a number of similarities between the Maori and Egyptian languages, pointing to a common origin at one time- While visiting the pyramids the choir entered the chamber of one of the ancient Egyptian kings, but found that most of the treasures they had expected to see had long since been scattered amongst museums. Several o*f the songs which had appealed to audiences in Britain were sung by the choir at this juncture and the* recital was then taken up by Mr Tuteao.. The historical places in England made a great appeal to the tourists who also met the High Commissioner for New’ Zealand duringtheir stay there. A number of concerts in Ireland were included in the itinerary and on their return to England the choir met the Maori footballers at Bradford. During their second to last concert in England the choir also met Lord and Lady Bledisloe, who extended greetings to New Zealand. The party was also entrusted with letters from Lord Bledisloe to Princess Te Puea and King Koroki. The real highlight of the tour was the audience with the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace. The party met Their Majesties in a large reception room in the palace, and the King and Queen showed great interest in the tour. They stated that, although it was eleven years since they visited New Zealand, * they retained vivid memories of a very happy stay in the Dominion. At the conclusion of the recital at the pa the party sang one of the songs which appealed greatly to Their Majesties during the audience at the palace. _