MAORIS ASSEMBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 135, 10 June 1938, Page 15

MAORIS ASSEMBLE.

TRIBAL CEREMONIES. KING MAKES HISTORY. FIRST EAST COAST VISIT. I (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) GISBORNE, this day. Maori history will be made to-morrow when for the first time a Maori King will visit tribes on the East Coast, the occasion being the visit of King Koroki to the tribal ceremonies at Waiomatatini. The East Coast Maoris, the majority of whom are of the Ngatipouru tribe, will give King Koroki a warm welcome as he claims with them descent through Porourangi. A party of 500, who are travelling with the Kinjr, will reach Gisborne to-night, and will stay at the roho-o-rawiri meeting house, one of the most beautifully carved houses in the Dominion. King Koroki had intended to pay a visit to the traditional landing place of his ancestors at Whangaparaoa, Bay of Plenty, but the uncertainty of the weather and road conditions precluded this. A notable absentee from the King's party will be Princess te Puea Herangi. who was prevented by illhealth from making the trip. A comprehensive programme has been drawn up in connection with the opening of the meeting house at Mangahanca, Kuatoria, which will bs opened to-morrow morning. In the afternoon a Tainui Cup football match between Maniopoto and Horouta will be played, and in the evening there will be a gathering of the tribes at Waiomatatini to meet the Hon. F. Langstone, ActingMinister of Native Affairs, and Minister of Lands. On Sunday Mr. Langstone will perform the principal part of the celebrations, the opening of the Porourangi carved meeting house. Mr. Langstone will also lay the foundation stone of the new Lady Ngata social hall. Preparations for Hui. The final preparations for the big hui to be held at Wairoa on the occasion of the opening of the Carroll Memorial meeting house are now being made, and by the end of the week all will be in readiness for the opening ceremony, which is to be performed by Mr. Langstone. The meeting house is 96 feet long and 30 feet wide. The work of preparing the camp to house hundreds of visitors is being carried on apace, and the cooking arrangements for feeding the vast crowds have been installed and tested. Boilers, hot water tanks, and casts to do all the cooking by steam have been installed. The first parties of visitors are expected to arrive to-day or to-morrow.