GREAT NATIVE GATHERING

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 74, 27 March 1923, Page 5

GREAT NATIVE GATHERING

1.500 MAORIS ASSEMBLE. UNVEIUNG Or MOMMEXT. IKroni Otir Own Correspondent.) KOTORUA, this day. Whakaruwarewa is a great scene of activity 10-day, and the interest will be continued for several days. For many weeks the Mnoris have been making preparations for this immense gathering and notices were sent far and wide. During the past few days hundreds have been coming in and to-day it is estimated there are from 1400 to 1500 present. The wahines have been busy for weeks making tlax mats, kits, etc., and all the committees have been elected for the various duties, such as waiters, etc. The by-laws adopted by the Arawa Council are to be observed and six native policeman have been engaged to preserve order. The new Borough Council insisted on proper sanitary arrangements, and all cattle used are to be slaughtered at a local abattoir, while the pig-killing pen has been erected close by a steam hole, so that as soon as killed the pigs will be scalded and cleaned almost before one could say "Jack Robinson."' In order to ensure that the policemen shall do their work efficiently they are to be paid as wages 25 per cent of the fines imposed on the delinquents brought to justice.

Immense supplies of food have arrived, and no less than six tons have been received from Te Telie. consisting of kumara, beef, pigs, vegetables, etc., while a ton of smoked eels have been received from as far away as Shannon. Three large marquees have been erected and these, in addition to the meeting houses and private dwellings, will house the visitors.

A large number of residents and tourists present appear greatly interested in the proceedings.

Ostensibly, the main object of the meetine is to unveil a memorial to the late Maika Kepa to Ranpipuawhe, the prominent chief of the Tuhourangipeople, whose father, generally known as Major Kemp, is so well known in our New Zeiland history. But the meeting will have matters of more immediate importance to discuss, and probably the most important of these will arise out of the recent dispute as to the ownership of the lakes (Rotorua, Rotoiti. Rntoma. cJlotopliii. Okataina, Tarawera. Rotomahana. Tikitapu (Blue Lake), Rotokakahi (Green Lake), and a few smaller ones which are not bo lenerallv known.

The lakes question, which was dealt with t"-da»\ ha? h"en the subject .if a considerable amount of litigation. Vint in arrangement was recently entered into between the Crown and the natives on thi=. !e"«latinn was enacted last rear whereby the ownership of the lakes was absolutely assured to the Crown. The Act reserves to the natives the ri?ht to fiHi for and cotch for their own use any indigenous fish (kourn, inanea. enrp. etc.). and Mso provides for the payment, out of the Consolidated Fund, of the sum of £«ono per rear, the first payment to be made in 1924.

For the purpose of administering this fund, a special District Trust Bnard. to be appointed by the Governor (General ilf Council, is'provided for. The nowers of this hoard are defined by the and it is Hntieirxited tlvt Mip niret- ; ne will decide what representations ■=lmll be made to the Oovernment as to the personnel of the .board and as to other possible mncliincrv measurpe necpssary to facilitate the proper administration of this new bo'"-c<> of revenue.

To the uninitiated, there seems to l>e quite a field open to the persons who control these moneys. The native settlements at Ohinermitu and Whakarewarewa. with all the-r wonders, are "apible of a ereat deal of improvement. bo*h from architocturnl and hvs : enic viewpoints.

Tn *Ho nhsence of the \ f *ornev-C,"ne-al the unveilinsr of the monument will he in the hands of Sir Maui Potflare. Mr. Xgata. M.P. for the district, is also present, and Mr. F. Earl, K.C., is acting as counsel for the Maoris.

The monument is erected in the Maori cemetery adjoining the pa at AYhakarewarew*.