MAORI WELCOME AT ROTORUA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XL, Issue 9292, 29 April 1920, Page 4

MAORI WELCOME AT ROTORUA.

ItAIX SPOJI.S PROGRAMME

(Vcr Tress Association.) ROTORUA, April 28. The morning broke wot and bleak oa-> what would in the ordinary coursehave boon the "star" day of the Prince's visit. The rain varied from a. light drizzle to a steady downpour, but .. about nine it lifted somewhat and a stream of people moved out to historic Ohinemutu, where the Arawa tribe were gathered-to extend a welcome to the Prince. The Prince, accompanied, by Admiral Halscy, the Hon W. H. . Iterries, and Dr. Pomare, and several officers of the Renown, was received, according to 'Maori custom, a single Native heralding his arrival at the en- ■ trance of the pa. Thence the main body of waiting warriors and maidens ■• escorted the Royal party to the marae • or courtyard, in front of the historic ■ meeting-house Tamatekapua ("son of the cloud.") As he took his seat the ■ assembled throng of dusky Natives' raised .the welcoming shout "Haere . Mai." Two Arawa chiefs, Rangi. Te Aorere and Kiwi Ermohau, „ then de- - claimed the speeches of welcome, inter- ■ preted by Lieutenant Kapa Ehau. The ■ speeches "expressed the hearty welcome the Prince's father and great-uncle hadU received in years long past, and also referred to the consistent loyalty of the Arawas to the dynasty to which the Royal guest belonged. 'About fifty warrior's then gave a war dance in a ■ manner so realistic as to cause bystanders to marvel and wonder if the time had not arrived for, an incontinent departure. As. a change from the fearsome depiction of the war scene now came a party of 100 girls and women, dressed in white blouses with blue scarves and red skirts, draped with IVlaori mats, who occupied the central space in three lines, the front row being'young girls seated on a long mat representing a canoe,' and they the rowers. A clear alto voice rose, leading thepoi song, while the women kept tho time with poi balls. At intervals the warriors behind joined in the rufrain, the effect being delightful, captivating all in the stand, among whom were Lady Liverpool and . Sir Joseph and Lady Ward. The colour and movement of the dancers were almost obscured at times by steam rising from' the bubbling vent holes in the ground and mingling, with the thick drizzling rain. •

phief ."YVheorq, Te Poiii came forward and in a florid speech, brief but full of poetic references, presented to the Prince a handsome mat and a valuable, huia feather. The Prince at once had the mat placed on his shoulders and put the feather in his hat. He addressed the Maoris in a few Words, expressing appreciation or" the .Arawa's loyal sentiments and conduct in the past and thanks for.,the welcome and, gifts. The Prince then walked along the lines of'girls and women, shaking, hands as he went; One maiden of prepossessing appearance varied this pre--ceclure by gracefully curtseying and kissing the Prince's hand, an action that" evoked warm applause and caused an extra spurt of activity among the photographers. The warriors in the rear wore next inspected, the old church visited and, a pause made in front of ■the .statue, of Queen Vcitoria, where the Prince stood at attention for a few momenta, the assemblage- 1 wiaaing in revqrent silence. As thePrince left, the" Maori girls waved. Union Jacks and sang tlie ' National. Anthem. '

Tiie Prince's party next went to the King George '.Hospital, on Pukewa Hill, fuid made a close inspection of the wards-and workshops, the Prince saying a few words to the various patients. This occupied .some time, as the lioyal visitor was most thorough. in his methods and ilegloc-ted no one in his calls.

The next objective was "Whakarewarewa, where the Prince% was met by hoys carrying flags presented by Queen victoria in l87(J, and by King Georgein 190 J. The Prince was conducted by guides Holla and Miriani, well-known to tourists; to the bridge over the Piiarenga River. Thonco the party proceeded to a nearby meeting house ■ where a formal welcome was'extendedto the Prince from the Tuwharetoa and Tuhurangi tribes, the ceremonies being, similar to those at Ohinemutu, an ovation being delivered by Mita Taupopoki, Captain Vercoo interpreting. Gifts wore then handed to his Royal Highness, including a mat, a^ tiki, and tewha tewha, the latter being a Native weapon of war. "Both tiki and tewha tewha are of great antiquity and consequently objects of veneration among tin; tribes. The poi girls find warriors, 'of course, had a place in ■' the programme and when the Prince shook hands with a number of.tTTein their delight was unbounded. The Prince then walked through the pa, taking great interest in the carvings of the ivhares and in the boiling springs and other features of this striking part of the thermal region. Pohutu geyser was not playing much, to the Prince's disappointment, when the nature of the geyser's upheaval was explained to him.

A return to the Grand Hotel was made at nearly one o'clock. The last hour or two had seen rain falling in a steady downpour that gave no/promise of breaking, and it was decided to suspend the programme till tomorrow morning. In spite of the discomforts of rain and mud, the streets along the route traversed by the Prince were lined with crowds, while at Whaka the press was great, but the happy Natives . had seen their Prince and heard his voice, and thoughthe heavens might fall they cared not. As he passed the gates of the Maoricamp the Prince came in for a great ovation on his journeys to and fromWha ka rewa rewa.