RAROTONGAN WARRIORS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 244, 12 October 1916, Page 7

RAROTONGAN WARRIORS.

ENTERTAINED, AT DEVONPORT.-,

About thirty years ago Makea, the then Queen of Rarotonga, took part in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Devonport Congregational Church, and about three years since the present IJH.S. missionary in the Cook Islands (Rev. G. H. Eastman), on hia way to commence work in; Rarotonga, was married in tbe church to a niece of Mr. Edward. Grimwade, the DeputyMayor of Takapuna, Mr. Grimwade*'s brother (late Mayor of Ipswich, England), the bride's father, "journeying from the Homeland for the ceremony. It was, therefore, becoming that tbe officials and congregation of the church should take a special interest in the Rarotonga ' natives who volunteered for military service, and have been in training at Narrow Neck for some four months, beyond some difficulty in regard to boots fit is rumoured one man required fifteens). The men, 120 strong, under their capable non-coms.,'who were educated at the London Missionary Society's school at Rarotonga, and speak good English, have provecl themselves worthy sons of the Empire by attaining remarkable smartness in drill and conducting themselves in a most exemplary manner. Every Sunday morning, wet or fine, under the command of a lieutenant, the contingent has attended.service at the oharch, a considerable number bringing their own Bibles supplied by the I— __-, and printed in the native language, and by their devout attention to the service,' translated by Sergeant Beni, have won the respect of the con-, gregation. The word having come that they must shortly move on towards the "real thing," a most successful send-off took place last evening under the chairmanship of their chaplain, tbe Rev. Steele Craik, the desire of the officers and Congregation being to express tbeir appreciation to those loyal servants of the King in their devotion to duty and strict behaviour. At'7—o the quietness of VauxhaO Road was broken by the martial tread of some hundred brawny and dusky warriors, who never march without singing. The proceedings took tbe form of-a bright social evening, the men themselves by most stirring native songs and dances providing the major part of the entertainment, and after light refreshments, provided by the ladies, heartily appreciated by the men, and partaken of in quite correct style, each man received a souvenir khaki handkerchief. "Do you know the missionary-" Mr. Eastman asked the chairman,-the reply being a torrent of khaki-clad arms and a thunderous burst of applause: "Very good man," The lieutenant ■in charge having addressed his men, the proceedings were reluctantly closed by the singing of the National An-. them, the men -forming up, marchisg round the ball to the strain of ' _pperary," and shaking hands with everybody.