MY OF COLOUR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 207, 1 September 1943, Page 2

MY OF COLOUR

AROUND ROTORUA

VISITOR DELIGHTED (Special.) ROTORUA, Tuesday. Speeding through New Zealand in one of the most rapid fire compressed tours yet made by a celebrity here, Mrs. Roosevelt arrived to-day at Rotorua, a scenic wonder that has drawn many thousands of tourists to this country. Like them, she was impressed even beyond her expectations. For the first time New Zealanders rather than American servicemen took the centre of the picture with her, and, as would be expected, Maoris played a prominent part in the proceedings. Among other highlights she pressed noses with famous Guide Rangi, who conducted her among the thermal attractions of Whakarewarewa as she had formerly conducted English Royalty and 'many other prominent visitors, liaiigi's "Wisecrack" It was Guide Rangi who to-day provided the brightest moments of the tour to date. In her continuous patter of story telling and comment she called laughter from the American party with quick-witted "wisecracks" that would have done credit to Bob Hope. One of these "cracks" touched off an explosive burst of laughter. It was when Rangi was showing Mrs. Roosevelt the largest boiling mud pool in the world, with its constant mushrooming bubblinfs. "See the frogs ..aping?" she asked, pointing to the little blobs of mud being flung up all over the area in flapjack motion. "In America you would call it Congress Pool, uh?" And she glanced mischievously at Mrs. Roosevelt. Mrs. Roosevelt- and the other Americans burst into laughter. "And maybe we would!" said Mrs. Roosevelt. America's First Lady took the greatest interest in Maori cooking in hot pools, and agreed with Guide Rangi that the method was probably the most healthful as well as the cheapest in the world. Geysers Behave For her the geysers behaved in exemplary fashion. Pohutu boiling pool regurgitated and burst forth to overflow (incidentally winning a 5/ bet for Rangi from the UnderSecretary of Internal Affairs, Mr. J. Heenan), and the famous Prince of Wales Feathers shot up to schedule a moment later in glorious afiandoned leapings. Again and again Mrs. Roosevelt ejaculated: "It's just marvellous!" She had been told frequently, she said, about Rotorua's thermal won-d-ers, but she had never imagined that it would be as enthralling in interest as it was. She was shown examples of Maori carving, and expressed interest in the revival of this almost forgotten art. One of the most interesting events of the day was Mrs. Roosevelt's visit immediately afterwards to two excellently appointed farms in the vicinity of Rotorua. From there Mrs. Roosevelt went to the New Zealand Army Convalescent Hospital on the lake shore— one of the most pleasantly situated and most modernly designed and appointed institutions she has yet seen. She made a complete tour of the buildings after passing through a guard of honour of nurses, and visited and shook hands with each of the patients. For some she signed autographs. In one pleasant sunroom ward overlooking the lake she asked the wounded New Zealanders if this was where the marvellous trout she had been hearing about were caught. "I have been told repeatedly that in order to persuade my husband to visit New Zealand all I have to do is to tell him about those wonderful fish," she said. "I think that might succeed, too. Unfortunately, he can't do the kind of fishing now that requires him to walk, but when he can go out fishing in a boat he just loves it." As a final touch Mrs. Roosevelt posed for a photograph by a Maori soldier who had lost a leg, and also for a battery of nurse-wielded cameras. She was cheered rousingly as she left.

Maori Presentations

New Zealand native race was again to the fore to-night, when Mrs. Roosevelt was the guest of honour at a Maori concert at the Centennial meeting house "Tamatekapua" at Ohinemutu, and was delighted by the hakas, dancing and singing of the Maoris. _ As a memento of the occasion she carried away a beautifully carved and ornamented panupe (paddle) and tiki, and a greenstone tiki pendant but, even more, she carried away an outstanding memory of a people who had taken her to their heart and expressed their admiration and regard in glowing speech, delightful poi and song, and stirring haka. It was an occasion which carried striking impression even for the New Zealanders present who had seen such ceremonies before. The Maoris- had called her the "Queen" of America, they had addressed j rousing words to her regarding their admiration for her, for President Roosevelt and for the servicemen of [ the United States, who had come to this part of the world to take part in the war against the Japanese. One of their number. Sergeant Hani Manihi, D.C.M., had been called forth to speak to Mrs. Roosevelt as a representative of the famed Maori Battalion of the Middle East campaigns, and their chiefs had spoken with poetic words of the democracy of the United States, words of praise i from warriors to warriors. Fame of Maoris Then, in the concluding stages, stepped forth Mrs. Roosevelt. Women do not speak in the meeting houses of the Maori, but for her there was privilege. In the opening stages the toliunga had called upon the gods that she might be so privileged. She told how; even in the United States, the fame of the Maori Battalion was known. She had heard of their feats of valour, of Lieutenant Ngarimu, V.C., and of the many other warriors of the race who had been decorated by the King in this war. "We in America admire the quality of courage," she said, "the willingness to fight for the things that are believed in. We are glad to be fighting side by side with you in this war to win freedom for all people." She spoke in appreciation, once again, of the hospitality that had been extended to Americans in New Zealand. Her welcome that night would live long in her memory, and she was sure the greenstone emblem she wore about her neck would be to her as a talisman in carrying her about the islands she had yet to visit, and bring good luck to the men of her race who were there. "They, like you." she said, "are good fighting men. Victory will some day, some day not far off, be ours." And so the First Lady of the United States moved off, the hakas of khaki-clad Maori warriors in her ears, and a journey ahead. It had been a day of striking impressions, of beauty and colour. i