TREATY OF WAITANGI

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22936, 5 February 1940, Page 6

TREATY OF WAITANGI

Re-enactment Ceremony To-day OOVERNORRENERAL’i FAREWELL TO MAORIS (PRB3S ASSOCIATION tKteOHAM.) WELLINGTON, February 4. One of the outstanding features of the centennial celebrations will be the ceremony at Waitangi to-morrow, when,Jn the presence of a large number of distinguished guests, the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi will be reenacted. On arrival at Waitangi members of the official party will be required' to walk a distance of 32 chains to a point overlooking the beach, where they will see the approach and landing at 9.30 a.m. of Captain Hobson, Captain f’ias, and officers of H.M.S. Herald. Maori canoes and other craft will also be seen approaching. . - Hobson will be received by a gathering of Maoris and by pakehas dressed in costumes of the 1840 period, Hobson and Nias, accompanied by the officers, and followed by the Maoris and the pakehas in costume, will then proceed up the Nias track, the principals going to the Treaty House, and the others taking their places beside the stage in the treaty ceremony enclosure. Their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Galway, with Lord and Lady Willingdoh and the Australian Senator, Mr P. A. Mcßride, and Mrs Mcßride, having seen the landing from their launch, will arrive at the Waitangi wharf about 9 40 a.m., where they will be received by mem--1 er- of the Waitangi National Trust Board, The vice-regal party will then be conveyed by cars to the entrance gate to the treaty house garden where their Excellencies and party will be welcomed by the Hon. P. Fraser, acting for the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage). Signing of Treaty In front of the treaty house, his Excellency will b§ received by a salute from a guard of honour furnished by the Maori Pioneer Battalion. After Inspecting the guard, his Excellency Will join the other members of the viceregal party and the party will then proceed to the dais in the treaty ceremony enclosure. At, 10 a.m. Captains Hobson and Nias will leave the treaty house and proceed to the stage, and the re-enactment of the signing of the treaty will begin. x ’ . At the conclusion of the re-enactment ceremony, about 11.30 a.m., the cast will march from the enclosure in procession. Their Excellencies and party Will then go to the treaty house. At 11.45 a.m. the Vice-regal party will proceed to the dais, and the Ceremony of Officially opening the Maori meeting house by his Excellency will begin. Addresses of welcome and hakas Will be.given by Maori representatives, and speeches will be delivered by Mr Fraser, Lord Willihgdon, Mr Mcßride, and his ExeellerlC;. It should be noted that this ceremony will constitute their Excellencies’ farewell to the Mr Fraser, on behalf Of the Prime Minister, will Unveil, a memorial commemorating the Services of Captain Hobson. The memorial Is erected close to the ' entrance to the treaty house grounds. v ■ 4 . At 2.45 p.ffl. the HOfl. W. E., Parry will unveil a memorial tablet m commemorate the send iof James Busby, British Resident, and the Hon. P. Langstone will unveil d. similar memorial commemorating the native chiefs Who sign id the Treaty of Waitangi. . At 3.15 p.m. their Excellencies vmII rec§?Ve the direct descendants of thole who participated in the making of the treaty itt February, 1640. There will he present descendants and c mnexions of Hone Hake, Kawiti, Patuone, Jam* i Busby, Henry Williams,. Richard Taylor, Charles Baker, j. R. Clendon, ana others. At 3JO p.m. their Excellencies, will receive a farewell from the Maori people from the gate of the treaty house grounds.