WAITANGI TREATY CELEBRATION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21081, 5 February 1934, Page 12

WAITANGI TREATY CELEBRATION

FINAL PREPARATIONS MAORI APPRECIATION OF GIFT [THE PEE3B Special Service.] WAITANGI, February 4. The stage is all set for the Waitangi Treaty celebrations, which will commence to-morrow. The last of the Maori parties, from Taranaki and Wanganui, came into camp today. The Government steamer Matai, with the Vice-Regal party aboard, arrived off Russell last evening and in brilliant sunshine his Excellency made the trip to Waitangi and motored to Mount Bledisloe.

A great reception awaits His Excellency and Lady Bledisloe to-rnor-row. Their interest in the Maori race and their gift of the historic house and land have appealed to native senliment .and imagination, and these will find expression in dances by selected teams from the assembled tribes, all of whom are represented. More than 5000 natives will be present, and the dances will excel anything seen since the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales to Rotorua 14 years ago. The marae, with an area of several acres, has been the scene of many colourful crowds. As each party of visitors ha 3 arrived there has Jpeen a great assemblage, all in camp rolling up to the welcome. The Maoris seem never to tire of dancing displays.

Many Visitors. The Prime Minister arrived by car yesterday, and a special sleep-ing-car express brought to Opua this morning the remainder of the Parliamentary party, numbering 140. Sir Apirana Ngata (Minister for Native Affairs) will take the foremost part in all welcoming ceremonies. The week-end saw a big influx of visitors, and the motorists' camps are well filled. A big meeting of Maoris is held every evening to discuss matters to be placed before his Excellency for presentation to the Government. A final meeting will be held this evening. The northern Maoris took a keen interest in the youthful "king" Koroki, who was accorded a reception yesterday afternoon. Sir Apirana Ngata, referring to the Treaty of Waitangi, said that it was the foundation upon which intertribal friendship had been madepossible. Without the Gospel and the treaty the tribes which were mingling so happily to-day would probably be still at enmity. This afternoon Archbishop Averill (Primate of New Zealand) and the Bishop of Aotearoa conducted a service before a very large congregation in the marae* Afterwards before thousands of people, the Wanganui and Taranaki Maoris and the Rarotongans danced and sang. r lhe Rarotongans were very picturesque, and pleased immensely.

PURPOSE OF ASSEMBLY

MR FORBES LEAVES AUCKLAND AUCKLAND, February 4. Before leaving Auckland for Waitangi the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) said that the Waitangi gathering was being held to show appreciation of the Maori people of what his Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloc) had done. It would also prove valuable in making the people of New Zealand realise the historical importance of the signing of the treaty. Mr Forbes arrived by the Limited on Saturday morning from Wellington with Mrs Forbes, and his two daughters. He will return on Thursday evening, after visiting various centres on his way back from Waitangi, and will officially open the Royal Show on Friday. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, who arrived by the Limited, left immediately for Matakohe, and will attend the yacht races at Kawau before going to Waitangi. The Minister for Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, attended the Warkworth Show to-day, and after going to Waitangi expects to return to Auckland on Wednesday.

The Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. C. E. Maemillan, spent Saturday in Auckland, and left to-day for Waitangi, being accompanied by the Hon. R. Masters. MAORI ORATORY MORE WET WEATHER WAITANGI, February 3. A very large meeting held at Waitangi last evening was addressed by various speakers, interspersed by numerous chants and laments. One party sang Hongi's wife's lament over the death of Hongi, recounting his exploits and leading incidents in his life. The principal speakers were Mr Taite Te Tomo, M.P., and Mr Rewiti te Kohcre, from the East Coast. Mr Te Tomo referred to the Treaty of Waitangi as having died several times and been resurrected several times. He championed Sir Apirana Ngata and advised the Maori people to keep him in Parliament, as nobody else could take hkfc place. Mr Kohere replied on behalf of the East Coast tribes and particularly the Ngatiporou tribe. If the treaty were dead, he said, he would bury it, and he recited part of the burial service. He contended that the spirit, of the treaty still had life and it could only show that life by kicking, speaking, and seeing. He hoped thv? Ngapuhis would make the meeting successful and repay all the people for the trouble gone to in coming to Waitangi. The speakers were graphic in driving home their points. "This is my first visit to the Bay of Islands," said Mr Rewiti te Kohere, a visitor from the East Coast, "and there are spots round the bay which are the most historical in New Zealand.

On Holy Ground. "Before I landed at Waitangi I took off my hat, and, when I trod on the soil, I felt like taking my shoes off. As was said to Moses, 'Take off the shoes from off they feet, for the ground on which thou standest is holy ground.' "We come from the land of the sunrise," continued the speaker, "as did the Wise Men who came from the east to worship the Saviour at His birth; we come to the shrine where the Government was born and to the shrine where the Church of New Zealand was born, and we

bring gifts not of aloes, frankincense, and myrrh, but of affection, thoughts, and help—and, I may say, of appetite." After a line morning the weather has again broken, a downpour setting in while dancers and a crowd were lined up awaiting the arrival of a party of 700. The toas danced defiance to the weather, but nearly everyone else sought shelter, subsequently reassembling, and the welcome "ceremonies are now in full progress. King Koroki bas arrived, also the Bishop of Aotea-roa. He and Archbishop Averili will take part in a mass religious service on the marae. in front of the grandstand to-mor-row afternoon.