MAORI WARRIORS' RETURN.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 83, 7 April 1919, Page 5

MAORI WARRIORS' RETURN.

A TRADITIONAL WELCOME. BACK WITH THEIR PEOPLE. "THE CANOE IS BEACHED." The return of the Maori Pioneer Battalion—the first complete unit to return from the war —was the occasion of one of the most enthusiastic welcomes that has yet been extended at Auckland to returning soldiers.* Pakehas and Maoris alike joined in making the reception one worthy of a unique occasion.

The transport Westmoreland, which brought the warriors back, arrived in the harbour at 7 p.m. on Saturday. During the night, a ferry steamer went out to her with a concert party, consisting of boys of St. Stephen's Maori College and the girls of the Queen Victoria College, who entertained the troops on the vessel with a programme of music and hakas. A band on the ferry steamer helped the serenading party, and the soldiers seemed to thoroughly enjoy the concert. Early the next morning, seaplanes from the Kohimarnma Flying School (Messrs. Walsh Brothers( circled over the transport, and dropped messages of welcome, packets of sweets, cigarettes, and buttonholes. The transport, flying all her flags, came alongside the wharf at about 9 a.m., while all the steamers along the waterfront were sounding their sirens, and a salute was being fired by the Permanent Artillery, who, on this occasion, brought the guns to Stanley Point. Two bands on the wharf, and another which had boarded the transport, played rousing airs as the .transport drew alongside. The work of disembarkation,was carried out with the greatest possible dispatch, and without any hitches whntever. RECEPTION AT THE WHARF. The party on the wharf waiting to officially welcome the troops included Sir James Allen, Acting-Prime Minister the Hon. W. H. Hcrries, Minister of Native Affairs, Dr. Pomare, member of the Executive representing the Maori race, the Mayor (Mr. J. H. Gunson), and Mrs. Gunson, Sir .las. Carroll, M.P., Mr. C. H. Poole, M.P., Colonel H. R. Potter, officer commanding the Auckland district, Mr. H. D. Heather, chairman of the Harbour Board, and Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Hospital Board.

In a brief speech of welcome, Sir James Allen said that the soldiers before him, descendants of a proud and chivalrous race, had come back with peace, honour, and victory. The Empire was frill of pride and thankfulness for their great deeds. Mr. Gunson, in extending a welcome on behalf of the citizens, said that he trusted that after their long and splendid service, the soldiers would enjoy happiness and success.

The troops were then marched to the Domain to the music of the bands. Thousands of people lined the route of march and cheered the soldiers as they passed. At the Cemetery Bridge, a guard of honour of veterans was formed up, and at the Domain gates there was another, of, the St. Stephen's College cadets. After the soldiers had passed, there was a great rush of people to the Domain cricket ground, where the Maori welcome was to take place. ARRAY OF THE HOME PEOPLE. The Maoris directly participating in the ceremonial of welcome wore drawn up in three bodies facing the Drive gates. On the left were ranged the Waikato and Hauraki section, the Ngatimaniapoto, Ngatitipa, Ngatimatcra, Ngatipaoa, and their sub-tribes, headed by the chiefs, John Ormsby and Te Moerua; in the centre lay the Northern tribes of Te Aupouri, Rarawa, Ngapuhi, and Ngatiwhatua, each under a chieftain of famous descent, with Tau Henare at their head; while on the right were arranged the Arawa and sub-tribes, of the Tuhourangi, Rangitihi, Pihiao, Whakatane, and others, under the leadership of the old chief Mita Taupopoke, with him Ibeing many others of rangitira rank, including Te Memaro, Mika Aporo, Te Wharetoroa, Manarau, and Ereatara. On the extreme right of the line waved the muchtreasured Union Jack of the Arawas, the gift of Royalty, the standard-bearer being Mika Aporo. Many were the handsome mate and robes of ceremony worn in honour of the occasion, some of them valued beyond price as tribal heirlooms. Tau Henare wore a very fine korowai mat presented by Lady Liverpool's committee to the Ngapuhi tribe in appreciation of their war sacrifices, and Mita Taupopoke looked splendidly barbaric in a wonderful kiwi dress, with finelyworked kaitaka and pare, or headdress of kiwi feathers. Tohikuri, of the Waikatos, Rawhiti, late secretary to the Maori King, and Wikiriwhi, of the Arawas, were also handsomely robed in mats of chosen workmanship. Of rare design and texture were those worn by some of the chieftainesses of the hunga whenua, or home party, for the Maoris honour their women even more than do the pakeha as counsellors and leaders on occasions of state and war Of mere meres, taiahas, and other valued relics of old-time warfare and ceremony but few were visible, but makeshift war axes had been fashioned to serve for the hakas of defiance and welcome. One blade of pakeha steel and make was flashed proudly by its wearer, Hcmana, who carried the sword presented by Queen A ictoria to his illustrious grandfather, Major Fox. i

BEACHING THE WAR CANOE.

By the time the leading files of the kharki-clad column swung • into the ground and marched to their ordered places to the inspiriting strains of military music, the awaiting tribe.-; were keyed to a very proper state of excitement, and worked themselves into a fine fervour. Several old rnngitira, men and women, ran towards the advancing troops and began the opening phase ol the challenge to an approaching taua, whose intent—hostile or friendly —is supposed to be in doubt. At the same time the marshalled tribes danced their haka of defiance, making a very creditable display of rolling eyes, protruding tongues, and fierce gesture as they beat the earth in good rhythm. Following the challenging haka the women of the home party performed the powhiri, or dance of welcome, and this was followed by the final haka of welcome and invitation— Toia mai te whaka. literally "drag up the canoe," in which the pei-formers go through the semblance of helping thenvisitors, who now have declared their peaceful purpose, to haul their canoea from the water. "Haere mail Haere mai!" was called in hearty greeting across the space between the hiinga whenua and the home-coming warriors, who had shown a more stolid front to the brave welcome of their own folk than had the curious pakeha looking on. Next came that part of the ceremony

■ dearly cherished by the people of the I Maori race, who are lovers of rhetoric I and spoken imagery, and will now, as in the old days, -it for hours listening to the eloquence of their chiefs and orators.

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S MESSAGE.

Sir Jnmes Allen first read a greeting from the Governor-General and the Countess of Liverpool to the native soldiers, which the Hon. Dr. Pomare translated to the assembled tribal representatives.

The Acting - Prime Minister, the Mayor (Mr. J. 11. Gunson), and the Hon. W. H. Herries then briefly addressed the homeeomers, extolling their bravery and bearing on the field of battle and abroad, congratulating their people on their return covered with the honours ot war, and expressing confidence that the sons of the Maori people would do their share worthily in moulding the destinies of their native land.

THE TONGUES OF ELOQUENCE.

Sir James Carroll then delivered an oration in the Maori tongue. "Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! to the children ot the warriors that have gone," he said. "Many greetings to you who have been to the furthern.ost ends of the world; and those who have fallen they have died to uphold right and that peace may Teign on the earth. Grieve not for them. They who died will live. They have but gone to their fathers and forefathers gathered into the other world, following the example of their fathers since the Treaty of Waitangi. They have died as warriors, lighting in a great cause with their pakeha brothers. The errors and misunderstandings of the past are buried. In your absence your people have been veiled in sorrow and in mourning They have now become full of joy and your canoe has safely reached its moorings, in your own homes your welcome will be completed and your hearts will swell with the joy of your people." The Arawas now chanted the lament of welcome in accordance with ancient custom for the return of war parties. Dr. Pomare then spoke on behalf of the Western Maoris, and Tau Hcnare, Mita Taupopoke, J. H. W. Ure, Henare Kaihau, Rawhiti, and other speakers added greetings on behalf of the various tribes they represented to the returned warriors, and graceful poi dances were performed by the girls of the Arawas and Waikatos, Tuhi Tene, daughter of Tene, the famous carver, being timekeeper for the Arawa girls. GREETINGS FROM THE WARRIORS. Colonel Ennis, in thanking the representatives of the tribes for their welcome, told them of his pride in having led their sons, and of their splendid beating and soldierly qualities. He had no doubt that, being returned to peace, they would prove equally worthy as citizens as they had proved valiant in war.

Major Buck (Te Rangihiroa), D.5.0., delivered an eloquent oration in Maori, thanking the kinsfolk of the soldiers for their welcome.

Chaplain-Captain Wainoho also spoke in the poetic and~ eloquent vein of Maori imagery. He spoke of the warriors who had fallen, dying nobly in the great fight for pakeha and Maori alike. Of those who were now returned many bore on their breasts the emblems of their valour in the battles of the great Empire to which they belonged.

A break was made in the ceremonies for the feast of welcome to the returned warriors. The food, in ample portion of beef, mutton, and pork, with great garnishments of pumpkin, kutnara, corn, and potato, was cooked in the neighbouring camp in proper kapa Maori style, and partaken of by some 1700 diners. Mr. J. T. Sinclair, the caterer, and his staff, assisted by the girls of the Queen Victoria School and 'boys from St. Stephen's, were kept busy ministering to the eager appetites of the soldiers and native visitors.

In the afternoon the ceremonies of welcome were resumed, and included the sweetly wailing karakia, with its minor notes of sorrow, while later in the afternoon Dr. A. W. Averill, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, conducted a service and delivered an address of welcome to the soldiers.