MAORI CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1937, Page 3

MAORI CONCERT.

Judging by the appreciation ehown by an audience in the Empress Theatre last evening, when Princess Te Puea's conceit party, which is making an effort to raise funds to build 6even war canoes for the centenninl celebrations of 1940, presented a typical programme of laments, hakas and poi dances, their projected tour should be an outstanding success. The opening number was a chant describing the coming of the Tainui to New Zealand, and a thanksgiving to the gods of the sea and storm when the beaching of the canoe wae completed at Kawhia. Then the rousing papain haka, generally reserved for occasions when great feats of endurance are to be undertaken, was performed. Much appreciated wae a waiata (old Maori air). Other items included demonstrations of fighting with a tailia and of the amusements of the old Maoris. "E Pari Ra.' , the song that gained fame during the Great War, was sung. An excellent base voice was revealed by Inia Te Wiata in the old haka "Kamate. Inia has refused several offere to tour Australia. America and England. The programme was completed with solos, quartets, poi dances and a performance of the waka or canoe poi arranged by Sir Apirana Ngata. The Maori and British national anthems were sung.