ANOTHER MAORI TROUPE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 101, 29 April 1910, Page 8

ANOTHER MAORI TROUPE.

——TENSIVE TOUR TO BE MADE. A movement is being financed by a number of New Zealanders to organise c party of Maoris for the purpose oi making an extensive tour of the world with the object of giving an adequate representation of Maori life and custom per medium of a. Maori village an« efficient stage nianagement. It is intended to thoroughly fit up a Maori village,, and transport it from place to place, in order to show at : first hand specimens of Maori carving, to explain Maori mythology and ancient superstitions, , the .primitive but wholesome, methods of the natives in obtaining and. cooking food, and also to give hakas land poi dances, and waiatas and concerted items under realistic conditions. The members of the party are to be carefully selected, and about forty will be taken on the tour, with a probable preponderance of men. Young and old will be included, in order to have three generations represented to illustrate the evolution of the race.

It is' probable that Sir. Alfred Hill will undertake the training of the |troupe for tbe singing, and arrange Maori tunes and chants. An extensive itinerary has been tentatively arranged. Leaving New Zealand early in October, the party will make a complete tour of Australia, and will set out for London in February, l&ll. Various centres in England will be visited, and also in Ireland, and then the party will tour the Continent, and subsequently America and Japan, returning to New Zealand in from two to two and a-half years.