MAORI CULTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 37, 13 February 1934, Page 8

MAORI CULTURE.

ARAWA TRIBE'S SUCCESS. MESSAGE TO LORD BLEDISLOE. '{By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) ROTORUA, this day. The Arawas are very pleased with ths "congratulations received from the Governor-General upon winning the cup presented by Lady Bledisloe at Waitangi. Mr. *H. Tai Mitchell has sent the following telegram to his Exeellcncv at Rawene to-day: "Your messages ot congratulation to Mita Taupopoki and myself are very much appreciated. The Arawa tribe are delighted with their success against the distinguished competitors they met, and are proud of being the first holders of her Excel-, leney's beautiful cup. The Afawas ■desire' to (express their thanks and gratitude to both your Excellencies for your deep and affectionate regard for the welfare of pakeha and Maori in this country. Her Excellency's trophy is but another example of that regard: for the revival and preservation of . the best elements of Maori social culture, for which the trophy was presented, and which will now be restored to its pristine position, and the most valuable therein will in time, I hope, be incorporated in the social life of New Zealand as a distinctive and valued 1 feature. "In 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi promised immunity to Maori custom from disturbance. Her Excellency's thoughtful act 94 years later again concerns that treaty gesture, but in a more practical manner, for it. recalls the Maoris to save from decay what is best in their customs, and thus retain their individuality in the vigour and rhythm of the haka, iji the harmony of song and veree, and in the graceful evolutions of the flying poi.—The Arawas."