UNIQUE BALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 16

UNIQUE BALL.

MAORI FUNCTION. ART IN DECORATIONS. An atmosphere of Maori tradition. Maori decorations, and the singing of Maori songs and hakas created an unusual scene at the Town Hall last night when a Maori ball was held with a threefold purpose. The ball was organised to stimulate interest of the Maori race for the forthcoming centennial celebrations, to welcome home from Fiji the Maori Rugby team, and to estatvlish contacts with members and visitors for provincial co-operation in the centennial. The character of Maori art was to be seen in the decorations of the Town Hall for the occasion. Tea-tree foliage, backed by hundreds of small golden lights, was suspended in loops from the gallery. Under the gallery baskets of fern and rose-coloured lights made an; effective setting for the dance, while the j stage was massed with green foliage and flowering pot plants. Two large replicas of Maori carving flanked the stage, one representing the mammalian stage, and the other, nearly human, depicting the evolution of human life from one stage to another. In the centre of the decorations was a representation of the Maori tiki. The arrival of the official -party was heralded with traditional songs and hakas performed by a large crowd of young Maori men and women. Later in the evening songs were sung by Miss Ramai Temiki. The official party, the members of which were received by the chairman of the Maori race sub-committee, Mr. J. Rukutai, comprised the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis; Sir Apirana Ngata and Lady Ngata, the latter wearing black crepe suede with a brown fur coat; Princess Te Puea, in black velvet trimmed with white fur; Judge Acheson; Mr. J. Melling, town clerk; Canon R. G. Coats, and Mrs. Coats, in saxe blue lace; Mr. Harrison Leaf, manager of the Maori Rugby touring team, and Mrs. Leaf, who j was in black lace; and members of the team. The ladies of the committee comprised:—Mrs. H. M. Cohvill, who was in black flamisol silk; Mrs. E. McDowell, navy georgette; Mrs. Ropilia, black crepe suede; Mrs. U. A. Forgic, navv floral crepe; Mrs. R. J. Taylor, midnight blue lace; Mrs. Ernest Asher, cyclamen ninon; Mrs. Mari Tuliapi, black crepe suede; Mrs. E. T. Leys, palest blue cloque. Mr. Rukutai, in an address of welcome, made reference to the interest taken in the activities of the Maori race section of the centennial committee by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis. Mr. Rukutai also paid a striking tribute to Sir Apirana Ngata, whom he described as "the Father of the Maori Race." In replying, Sir Ernest Davis said that in the great centennial event the Maori people were designed to play a part that would harmonise with their tradition and recapture something of the glories of the past. He appealed to all the Maori people to support Mr. Rukutai and his colleagues in the effort to make the Maori association in the celebrations something to be remembered.

Greetings in the native language were extended l>y Princess Te Puea. Mr. Rukutai acting as interpreter. Sir Apirana Xgata and Mr. Leaf also spoke.