TUKAKI MEETINGHOUSE

OFFICIAL OPENING

VICE-REGAL PARTY ATTENDS

Te Kali a, 44 miles from Opotiki,y and the chief settlement of the great Apanui Tribe, was the scene of an historic ceremony on Saturday when Hisi Excellency the Governor General, Sir Cyril Newall officially opened! the carved meetinghouse Tukaki. Sir Apirana Ngata Avas in charge of the proceedings, while, hundreds of people, representative of five or six tribes, and numbers: of pake-has were asembled in the' form of a large horseshoe to Avelcome the official party Avhicli arriA r ed promptly at the appointed hour, 11 a.m. Sir Apirana Ngata Avas at the microphone assisting in the appeal for funds for the memorial. Later in the day, it was annoiinced that £2718 had been raised on the ground. Greetings by notable personages together with action songs by children from all parts of the Apanui district. Avere extended to welcome the- Governor-General who immediate, ly after inspected the guard of honour —Avarriors of the famous Apanui tribe returned from overseas. The Official Party With Sir (jyril and Lady NeAvall . on the dais Avere Flight-Lieutenant-. H. A. Eaton who attended Their Excellencies during the. tour; Bishop Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa; Hon. H. G. R. Mason, Minister of Native Affairs; Mr Jones, Secretary to the Minister of Native Affairs; Mr Paora Matanga;. Lieutenant-Colone.l Oliphant; Lie,utenant.-Colonel Bennett, D.5.0.;. the Chairman of the OpoUki County Council, Mr W. A. Gault and Mrs Gault; Chief Judge Shepherd and Mrs Shepherd. " Representatives of the, various ribes present spoke words of Avel:ome to Their Excellencies, and as :ach speaker concluded his message hose members of the tribe who were jresent joined, in a dirge and haka >f Avelcome. Tukaki The meetinghouse, Tukaki, was lamed after the great Chief Tukaki vho is the chief ancestor of the jeopl-e 'living at Te Kaha. He was issociated Avith Avood-carving, and ounded a school or type of carving inexcelled in NeAV Zealand. - An official welcome to the Gover-lor-General from the dais was exended by Mr Peter Karehana representing the Ngaiterangi Tribe of Taruanga, Ma* Tamarau Hakurua, •epresenting the Matatua Canoe [Whakatane district) t Mr Mitchell, ;on of Mr Tai Mitchell, representng the AraAva tribe, and Mr J. Ornond, M.P. for the Eastern Maori District. The Maori Battalion On rising to reply to the various iddresses, His Excellency thanked :he speakers sincerely for the warm nvelcome they had extended to himself and Her Excellency as tatives of His Majesty the King. Speaking about the Maori Battalion, His Excellency stated that the A.panui Tribe had the highest, percentage of men fighting for the Empire and he offered them his humble congratulations. The Maoris in this and in the last war Avere knoAvn throughout the world for the wonderful performance they had put up and they AA'ere admired by all the civilised world. Their example would remain as an inspiration which Avould fittingly repay them. The Maori people in recent times had lost a great many leaders and elders, and His Excellency mentioned the distinguished list of those who had passed on, including the name of the late Mr Tai Mitchell. In conclusion His Excellency expressed the hope that the neAV meetinghouse would serve as an inspiration to the tribe who would guard and preserve _ their heritage for a long time. The Minister of Native Affairs. Hon. H. G. R. Mason, thanked Their Excellencies for being present at the function, and on behalf of the Maori people he thanked Sir Cyril Ne.Avall for his interest in their Avelfare. Their Excellencies were then presented with a large Maori mat and an artistically carved AA-alking stick. Formal Opening and l Inspection Sir Apirana Ngata called upon Sir Cyril NeAvall to perform the ceremony of opening the meetinghouse, and led by Mr Tiweka Anaru and his grand-daughter, Ata, the official party crossed the horseshoe where His Excellency declared Tukaki meetinghouse officially opened. The gathering then viewed the meetinghouse, a feature of Avhich Avas the artistic carving work which had been done by Captain Pine T'aiapa, a returned soldier of the Maori Battalion, Avith other assistants. The total cost of the meetinghouse Avasi £4000. After the inspection of the meetinghouse was completed the official party Avere entertained to a sumptuous repast in a large marquee which had been erected for the occasion, and all spoke highly of the. hospitality accorded them during the ceremony.