KING WELCOMED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 149, 25 June 1936, Page 5

KING WELCOMED.

MAORI CEREMONIAL. BIG TRIBAL GATHERING. i WAHINES AND WARRIORS. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. With traditional ceremonial the young Maori King, Koroki, was welcomed to Mamtkorilii Pa, Waitara, late yesterday afternoon, where he was the first officially to enter the new and elaborately carved meeting house, Te-ika-a-inatii. Of much significance to the thousands of natives gathered 011 the big marae was the removal by the king of the tapu on the building. This was done to the' accompaniment of a solemn incantation by the Maori priest accompanying King Koroki. To the Maori mind the occasion was extremely important in the week's ceremonial commemorating the great work of Sir Maui Pomare, as it was purely native, in contrast to Saturday's approaching ceremony of opening the meeting house and unveiling the statue, by the Governor-Oeneral, which will be of a European nature. The arrival of the Maori king yesterday, with his Waikoto and King Country party of 2">o. swelled the number of Maoris at the pa to about .'IOOO, from all parts of the North Island. The distinguished visitors were given a wonderful welcome.by the local tribes, while representatives of several tribes were selected for certain parts in the tribal welcome. Smaller parties from the less remote parts of the country arrived during the morning and the pa was a scene of great activity as the new arrivals took up their quarters. Fire Alarm Raised. The cooking and the providing of meals for the large gathering is a piece of fine organisation. Throughout yesterday there were large numbers of European visitors to the pa. A diversion was created amid the final preparations for the reception of King Koroki w'hen an incipient lire broke out in the house of the Kaliu pa chief. When it was discovered there was a rush towards the place, but the natives were quick to place a cordon across the approach to tlie house, while others riwhed to assist to remove the furnishings and belongings of the occupants and visitors quartered in the place. 11l a very short time these were brought out to safety, and the prompt action averted a serious result. The Waitara Fire Brigade was summoned and the engine and team of men soon had the outbreak under control. before much dama.se had been done. The fire originated in the kitchen and before being noticed crept up the wall. Songs of Welcome. Elabotate arransrenients were made to welcome the king and party, whose late arrival caused a long wait. A group of women and girls of the Arawa tribe, armed with green branches of macrocarpa. and singing songs, waving their tree branches and swaying their bodies to the rhythm of music, took up a position 011 either side of the main passagcwav leading from the entrance of the pa to the marae.

A group of braves in war paint and carrying taiahas, and some with tewhatewhas, were detailed to meet the king at the gateway and escort him in traditional manner to the marae. Next followed two large companies of women and girls from the Ngati-Knanui tribe, and a sub-tribe of the Ngaruahines. wearing piupius over white silk dresses, and carrying pois. They chanted songs as they slowly walked round the edge of the crowd. To while away the waiting time some of the tribal leaders gave short addresses relating to tlie occasion and to matters of interest to the Maoris, and there were frequent expressions of approval and evidence that some humour was incorporated in the comments. Sir Apirana Ngata and laita J e TOlllO were among the speakers. . King and Chiefs Arrive. When at last the king arrived and entered the pa, surrounded by his chiefs, the leader of the liaka team of men advanced to the gate to greet him and some of the women chanted a greeting. Then the men returned to the marae. retreating before the king in a backward movement, half dance and half march. At the same time the women and girls lining the entrance sang songs and waved branches. Once the party was fairly within the enclosure a full-throated welcome broke forth with tremendous enthusiasm. The A. Taliupotoki Haddon, of the Methodist Maori Mission, as direct descendant of the ancestors of those tribes selected to give the welcome greetings, offered a prayer. After the welcomes had been concluded the king's party moved to the new meeting house, where they were met by Sir Apirana Ngata, and the king entered the house with a party of representatives of the Waikato, Kotorua and Urewera tribes. This was the ceremony of driving away the evil spirits, lifting the tapu and declaring the house open.

When the official ceremony was concluded the house was opened to all Maoris, but Europeans may not be admitted until this week's official ceremonies have been concluded. Symbolic Carving. The Maori carving in the interior of the house is of exquisite design, and the workmanship is symbolic of the lore and legend of the Maoris. It represents the best work of modern carvers. There is history in every panel.N One panel represents the migration of the Maoris in canoes. The figure of a man at the entrance to the house is intended to represent "the man who saved Waitara," YViremu Kingi, and that over the top of the front Sir Maui Pomare himself. The late arrival of King Koroki was due to waiting for some of the last representatives of the Ngapuhis from North Auckland, in the hope that they and the Waikatos might arrive together, but the Waikatos came on without the Northerners. The whole of yesterday afternoon's proceedings were crammed with interest for the pakeha who could appreciate the native viewpoint, and the interest by Saturday will reach a climax, when one of the largest gatherings ever seen in Taranaki will assemble 011 the lharae to do honour to the memory of one beloved by Maori and pakeha alike. At present the Maori hockey tournament is in full swing, and there will also be football fixtures. 111 addition there tire nightly entertainments and competitions among the Maoris. Clergymen of the Methodist and Anglican missions among the' Maoris are holding services every evening for their people at the pa. Bishop Bennett may be a visitor to the pa for some part of the ceremonies.