GREAT MAORI GATHERING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 135, 9 June 1910, Page 6

GREAT MAORI GATHERING.

CO>nraiRKN"CE AT" .WAAHL. anNisTEES, aekive; tckqax, (From- Our Own Correspondent.) HTDTTLX ;Wednesday. , The native settlement at Waahi presented quite an animated appearance this afternoon, and elaborate preparations are being made lor the large native iorero which commences to-morrow, when the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph iWard). accompanied by 'the Hons. Carjrell and Ngoxa., will be present to confer tmh them on matters of vital importance to the native race, the most importajit of which are the confirmation of ■the business done at the last meeting, what land is to be reserved for the naitives, land on which to establish farms on which the natives can build a home, and work in a manner similar to the European; land for a papa, kainga; land for the mana of Mahutu; definition of the power of Mahutu over his people; •to affirm the principles of the proclamation -of ISS4, whereby liquor was to be iept out of the Rohe Potate Country.

The members already present have •been variously estimated: at 1200 to 1500, ovA the number expected "by tomorrow's trains from Tarrpo and : the King Country are expected to bring the total up to consi-der-aibiy over 2500. Reyrresontatives are present from tribes at •Kawhia, Kihikihi, Waikato Heads, Russell, Raglan, Whatawhata, Hukanui, HaEgrriri-, Takuapu, Mangapeehi, Kai-p-ara, an«l TTauraki, besides a large numTjer of the Waikato tribe. A large committee, wliich has had several all-night sitting?, have made thorough arrangements for the reception and comfort of the visitors, and an abundant supply of -stores are in charge of the commissariat department, of •wiiorn Moana is the chief. The secretarial work is in the able hands ■of X. Tvaihau, and Mrs. Mahutu is TβEponsible for the financial side. Elaborate rules are drawn up for the general behaviour of the visitors, both STaori and pakeha, no liquor being allowed inside the kainga. The large dining hall is laid out to seat *.bnut 200 diners, and the total number of meals served to-day was nearly 1200; a staff of 16 waiters is constantly employed, while nearly 100 cooks are busy .prpparirrg the food. The following is given as the daily consumption::—3so Irkaves of bread, 12 'bags of sugar, 15ewt of flour, scwt of rice, 301bs tea, oewt of biscuits, lewt of butter, besides a large qnantitv of pota-ioes, ktrmaras, pipi, eels, toheroas, etc. Seven four-horse •loads of firewood were to-day brought icto the kainga. A quaint ceremony is performed on the arrival of a. tribe, who march -up to an appointed place with, a bundle of pound notes-tied on the-endj.of a stick, chanting a sonn , . and snimxion the oiEcialeof the local tribe to accept their gifts, which, after several ceremonies have t>een gone i through, are graciously accepted. One tribe to-day-went through the -ceremony, «_r±d prjesent-ed£so"tojie exchequer.