MAORI SPORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 294, 13 December 1898, Page 2

MAORI SPORTS.

NORTH SHORE NATIVE REGATTA.

AN ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMME

One of the most interesting features of the Christmas and New l rear holidays in Auckland will be the North Shore Native Regatta and Aquatic Carnival, which is to open at Christmas and continue till the sth of January, providing no less than twelve days' novel entertainment for the public. The Maori canoe races and other native contests are to be the chief attraction, and to this end the committee of the regatta are making extensive arrangements for the presence of several hundred Maoris at the fete. The last native sports and races of importance in the harbour were held in 1887, and a very good series of ii;.i ive. 'canoe' races also took place in .188:.'. Tlic regatta of 1898-90, however, is confidently expected to be the best display of Maori water sports yet. seen in Auckland, and the big canoe races especially should prove splendid contests.

THE NATIVE GATHERING

About two hundred Maoris from

Mercer, Rangiriri, Huritly, Taupiri, Kohanga, and other localities on the Waikato River .are expected to come down, bringing several large 'wakativ.Tii' for the big- canoe races, and also a number of .smaller canoes for the smaller Svaka-tawai' and hurdle races. The fine 'war-canoe' known

as the Taheretikitiki, belonging to Mahuta, the Maori King, and now at Waahi, will also be brought down, and when fully manned will present a splendid appearance with her fifty paddlers. She may also take part in a 'waka-taua' race with the isorthern canoes Koputai and Omapere. In addition to the Waikato natives, about a hundred Ngapuhi natives are expected to arrive from the Bay of islands, bringing down the two large canoes abovementioned, which are to be earned free by the s.s. Clansman. The Waikato canoes are also to be carried down free by train. Several score of Maoris from the Kaipara, with a brass band, and a large number from llotorua, including a party of girls, who are to perform the

'pop dance, which is more graceful j and pleading than the generality of - ! native dances will also be here. '; An agent of the committee 'I is now in the Waikato arrang- • j ing for the presence of the Maoris ! and their canoes. The Waikato, • Rotorua, and Kaipara Maoris are to arrive by train on the afternoon of Thursday, December 22nd, bringing about a dozen canoes, and the Bay of Islands Maoris will arrive by the s.s. Clansman on the following morning. ''. A ferry steamer will meet, the natives ;at the wharf, and convey them across •to the North Shore, when- they are to • bo housed in the Calliope Dock grounds < the use of which, as well as the Adc. mi rally Reserve, has been secured for " the purpose. A small Maori village L will be established here, and material • 'such as nikau, toetoe, manuka, etc., 1 will be brought up here by one of 1 I the Devonport ferry Company's • steamers beforehand for the erection of Maori whares. The native 'Kai--51 nga' itself will be one of the. attrac- < | tions to visitors, as prizes are to be ■; offered for the best built and decor- - ated houses. The Maoris are to be - j provided with food free of charge > during their stay here, and in other respects will be treated liberally, so ! j that they will have every inducement •J to do their best for the amusement • iof Aucklanders and outside visitors. I THE PROGRAMME. The Regatta sports are to commence , on Boxing Day, and from then up to tJ the sth of .January there will be a ( continuous programme of very interesting events, including war - canoe ' j races, 'waka-tiwai' races, canoe hurdle events, swimming races, Maori band ' contests (for which about half-a-dozen native bands from the Waikato and elsewhere will be present), hakas, warj j dances, poi-dances. etc.. besides yacht | r;:ccs. The big- canoe races, for 'waka- ' i tana," decorated and fitted up in imitation of the old-style war-canoes, will! jbe three in number, for a prize of '.\ i." 100, to go (o the winner of the two out of three. There will be one or two big 'waka-tiwai' races for crews numbering from 24 to 40 paddlers. for which prize-money totalling £65 is' offered. There will also be a race for smaller crews in 'waka-tiwai' not exceeding 20 men, for which substantial prizes will be given, and another attraction will be ra<?es for women in 'waka-tiwai,' each canoe to contain twelve wnhines. The canoe hurdle races will be held in the Calliope Dock, and should provide great amusement. Besides this there will be races for men-of-war and naval cutters, and ■special events for raen-of-warsmen, and the whole will conclude with a big dance of the combined tribes, and a fine sub-marine explosion in Rangitoto Channel on the afternoon of January 5, when the old p.s. Enterprise will be blown up by a mine laid by the Permanent Force under the superintendence of Captain Coyle. It is intended to invite Mahuta, the Maori King-, to press the button which! fires the mine from the shore. At night there will be numerous attractions, dances, etc., in the Calliope Dock Reserve, which will be brilliantly lighted with electricity. The intercolonial challenge race- for one-raters for .£IOO and a. Cup will be the principal yacht race and will be sailed on three afternoons. THE PRIZE-MONEY. The whole of the prize-money and the expenses of the Regatta, are expeted to amount to about £1,000, of | which between £500 and £600 will be! paid away in prizes. The sum of about £;iSO is to go towards Maori events, and the balance to yacht races, etc., so it will be seen that the Regatta altogether will be ova very large scale. Spectators arc to be carried across from town to the native camp at the Dock, where they will see the. land sports and the canoe, races, etc., for the fare of one shilling return. MEETING OF THE "COMMITTEE. A well-attended meeting of the Regatta Committee was held last "evening in the Devonport Council Chambers, Mr J. C. Maeky (Mayor of Devonport) presiding. Arrangements in connection with the Carnival were advanced another stage. It was decided that Wednesday, tlie 21st inst., should be the entry night for the yachts, and that the Calliope or Auckland Dock should be asked for for Saturday afternoon, the ,34th, for the purpose of measuring- the yachts. The entrance fee is five per cent., except for the one-rater race, for which 21 per cent, on first, prize will be charged". ; It was decided to alter the prize for « the general handicap yacht race from a trophy to cash. It was resolved to ■ auction the booths and programmes ! and to call for tenders for the supply : of provisions, stores, firewood, etc., for ( the Ma.oris. Jt was also resolved to 1 extensively advertise the Carnival and i

to. send picture-posters out through the North Island calling attention to the Ilegatta.