GREAT OCCASION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1938, Page 12

GREAT OCCASION.

EAST COAST MAORIS.

MEETING-HOUSE OPENING.

UHK WITH OLD HISTORY , .

Haka, chant, poi dance and song , . Feasting, merry-making, epeech-making and festivity. And the casual pakeha passing through the little town of Wai-o-matatini, near Gisborne, this week, would say that this was simply another Maori hui. Little would he realise that the event of to-morrow, the opening of the Porourangi meeting house, represents a link between the present and an occasion of more than half a century ago. For this meeting house is not the original. That was beg\m in 1878 by the famous Major Ropata, and was designed to be what in actual fact it has become —a monument and memorial to the Ngati-Porou people. But therein lies a etory. ...

For a short period yesterday, Gtebornc was thronged with Maoris from all over the North Island, all going to Wai-o-matatini; and in that party was the Maori King, Koroki—a fact which is not without a deep significance, for it is further evidence of a. growing unity between the different tribes. The leaders. besides Koroki, were Taiti Te Tomo, a former Maori M.P.. Tai Mitchell, of Rotorua, chairman of the Arawa Trust Board, and a number of eleijrymen. The party spent last night at the l'obo-o-rawiri pa, Gisborne; and thus it wt.* that at that pa the years slipped away and Maoridom reigned as it formerly did on the East Coast. There were' -.ho famous chants of welcome; them was oratory; there was the recitation of legend and story —and to give a modem touch, there was deep and serious discussion of Maori problems. Waikato Delegation Numbers 400. It is important to note that the largest delegation came from the Wai-

kato; and since Koroki left hie home his followers have increased in numbers until now tlioy arc 400 strong.

Included in the general party were the members of the Maniapoto footbatt team who will play a Ngati-Porou team for the Tainui Cup.

But 'perhaps the story of the house, going back a* it does into the early hietory of the Ngati-Porou, holds the most interest. And this is the tale, ae told by Mr. Pene Hai Haihi, an old resident of Wai-o-matatini.

Subject to Flooding. It should be mentioned, said Mr. Heihi, that some eight years ago the Wai-o-matatini stream, near which the meeting-house was built, began to flood. Each year conditions became worse, until it was eeen that the house itself wae in danger. It was decided to shift it to higher ground,- and in January of last year Sir Apiraua Ngata began dismantling the old building.

The renewal of many of the tukutuku panels took six months to complete, and in the meantime, with due regard for ancient ceremony, the work of lowering and rebuilding the ancient timbers in the new location proceeded, Mr. R. .T. Will*, of Tikitiki, being charged with the operation. On July 17 last the whole work was done, and this is the new-old house which is to be opened to-morrow.

The beginning of the old house goes back actually to 1860, when the project was raised by a Hawke's Bay chief. The timber was obtained up the Mangaoporo River. One tree went to the making of tlio ridge pole, and two more trees for the back ridee pole and the front ridge pole respectively. The largest pole was fiO feet long and the other two 30 feet paHh. They were hewn and carved. but owing to tho outbreak 01 the Maori wars tliey were not shipped from Hangitiikia to Hriwkc's Bav, but were left and forgotten.

In the meantime, Ropata Wahawaha icturiiod to tilt' Kast Coast with the rank of major, the decoration of the Now Zealand i iKs-i. and a eword, presented by Queen Victoria. Major Ropata determined to go on with the building of the hoiiM', and lie said. "I will build a meeting house for the Ngati-Porou and cull it I'orouranpri." The tribal name of means "the descendants of Poiourangi."

Forourangi and hi* wife. Hamo. lived at Whangara. They died there and were buried in the clifTs at Tapuae between Whangara and the mouth of the Pouwa River. Hamo ie represented as a carved figure in the meeting house with lie. daughter Kongomaianiwaniwa. It i* from the descendants of this daughter that the Xgati-Porou are descended. So much for the history of the people. Mr. Heihi said that it was in 1878 that the actual building of the house was begun, and it took ten years to finish.

Representation of Ancestors. Inside the building between each carved poet was a tukutuku panel, each of which represented an aneesto< throughout the whole district. The wh.de of the interior work was carved totara. with the exception of the roof rafter*. which were puketia, covered with scroll work. The outeide walls and roof were of corrugated iron. The building was finished m Mnmi. 1888. It was named Porourangi, and one of the carved figures supporting the ridge was his wife, Hamo. A ? reat meeting was held on the occasion of the opening, when the restrictions of the tapu were removed by the recitation of the karakia kawanga—the dedication to the god«—and on March 28, 1888, it became a free house. In 18M, when Major Kopata felt that his day* were numbered, he called together his people, and these were his last words to them: 'My relations, my children! Uphold the church. Uphold the people. Uphold your chiefs. I have served the people. So must you." And for 50 years the house stood a* a memorial to those who passed, and as a monument to those ideals.

For those 50 years tlio house ha« 6tood for something of vital importune* to the Xgati-Porou; and with no le<ss importance is it now viewed by the Government. Thi* is shown by Lhe fact that the acting-Minister of Native Affairs, the Hon. F. Langstono. will officiate at the opening, while the Bishop of Aotearoa, the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, wiil be at Wai-o-matatma •„;>• morrow to conduct Divine service.