Touring with the N.Z. Maori Rugby Team by RALPH LOVE If a visitor to New Zealand were to ask where he could find the biggest gathering of Maoris there would be an inclination to say that the days of the big huis and tangihangas are past. When a study is made to find what is the biggest attraction to bring Maoris from the far corners of New Zealand together, however, it will be seen that the modern counterpart of the hui of other days is the sports gathering, especially when a New Zealand Maori Rugby team takes the field. July 26, 1952, will always rank as a unique event in the history of New Zealand, when a Rugby football match between New Zealand Maori team and a New Zealand team was staged as a tribute to His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Freyberg, V.C., and Lady Freyberg. The cream of Maori and Pakeha players was on parade, and a sparkling display of Rugby football was seen by the 30,000 people —hundreds of whom were Maoris–who assembled at Athletic Park, Wellington, that day. A vast assembly of buses conveyed Maoris from Taranaki, Wanganui, Maniapoto, Manawatu, Hawke's Bay, and from as far afield as Whakatane and Ruatoria. All were intent on seeing the best of the selected Maoris in a game which has been such a great attraction to our Maori people. It was at a meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union that a match, as a farewell tribute to the Governor-General, was suggested, and as there had been no game between a Maori team and a New Zealand team since 1927, it was suggested that this match be played. Arising from further discussion, it was suggested that a short tour of the Golden Bay, West Coast, Buller and Marlborough districts be undertaken by the Maori players in order to acquire combination and polish. On July 9 the Maori players boarded the s.s. Tamahine at the Queen's Wharf, and left Wellington at 8 p.m., en route to Nelson.

Motueka: Apples, Tobacco and a Victory The boys very soon became friendly, and despite being told that they were better in bed as a Tonga (Southerly) had not yet blown itself out, they continued in their songs and merry-making until they left the shelter of Whanganui a Tara (Wellington Harbour) and breasted Te Moananui a Kiwa. It was here that Tangaroa, the God of the Sea, made his presence felt, and within a few minutes not a player was seen on deck. Indeed not a player was seen until next morning, when the ship berthed at Nelson in fine sunny weather. Motueka greeted the players with brilliant sunshine, as well as with a welcome Apart from training, members of the team derived great interest and pleasure from a visit to the apple dehydration plant, a factory which processes the dried apples which we see in shops throughout New Zealand. After a talk by the manager of the plant, the team was invited to inspect the interior, and the first sight that greeted us when we entered was the long machines, whose metal fingers were forever stretched out to be fed with apples. The apples were peeled and cored by this machine, and rolled along a chute, where girls inspected them for any further flaws, before they went through the drying process and were finally packed for distribution, overseas as well as in New Zealand. Among the 40 girls who operated the machines for coring and peeling were many Maoris, and it was but a matter of a few minutes before the Maori boys were sitting down feeding apples to the machine and to themselves, and talking to the girls. This was a most enjoyable visit. The next visit at Motueka was to a tobacco grower's farm, where tobacco leaf was being graded. Here again a number of Maori workers were met, and of course relations were soon sorted out. The boys were shown the method