FRIENDS OF MAORIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 299, 18 December 1935, Page 18

FRIENDS OF MAORIS.

PRESENTATIONS AT ROTORUA.

TWO COLOURFUL CEREMONIES,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ROTORUA, this day.

One of the most impressive Maori functions seen in the Rotorua district for some time past took place on Sunday night at Ohinemutu, when many members of the Xgati Wliakaue tribe gathered to bid farewell to Dr. J. G. Mackereth, medical superintendent at the Rotorua Hospital, who is leaving Rotorua to take up a private practice at Matamata.

The Ngati Wliakaue tribe originally gave Pukeroa Hill, the ra/lying place and central eminence of their tribe, as a site for the public hospital, and in return for this gift, under the terms of the Fenton Agreement of 1880, they arc entitled to free treatment at the institution.

Led by their old chief, To Ngaera Te Houkotuku, the elders of the tribe united in paying a moving tribute to the work done by Dr. Mackereth during his term at the hospital, and valuable native gifts were literally heaped upon Dr. and Mrs. Mackereth as evidences of the natives' good will. Among other things they were presented with a wakahuia, jewel casket, a piupiu, a carved aslistand, and a cigarette box and a greenstone memento. The Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson, as chairman of the Ohinemutu komiti niarae, also paid a tribute to the ability of Dr. Mackereth, his remarks being supported by Mr. A. F. Moncur, M.P., who was himself presented with a carved paddle "to paddle his canoe during the tlireo hard years of work before him."

A similarly impressive function was held last night in honour of another •popular public oflicial, Mr. L. J. Bayiield, recently district manager of the Tourist Department and the newlyappointed manager of the Chateau Tongariro. The ceremony opened with the ° recitation of a prayer usually accorded only to chiefs of high rank, and this was followed by speeches in Maori and English by the leaders of the tribe. Mr. Bayfield was then presented with a carved canoe paddle and Mrs. Bayfield with a piupiu.