EVENTS OF 100 YEARS AGO RECALLED

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23001, 22 April 1940, Page 10

EVENTS OF 100 YEARS AGO RECALLED

South Island National Celebrations FRENCH, BRITISH, AND MAORI PAGEANTS Akaroa this week-end celebrated with colourful pageantry, with addresses of tribute to the pioneers, and with religious observances, the arrival of the French colonists and the assertion of British sovereignty on the shores of its harbour 100 years ago¥or the occasion the town, which was gaily decorated, was thronged on Saturday with about 4000 visitors, including an official party numbering nearly 300. With the re-enactment of the hoisting of the British flag 100 years ago, combined with Maori ceremonial, and the unveiling of a memorial to the French pioneers, there were called to mind those events of so long ago which had so important an influence on the development of Akaroa and on the history of the South Island. The occasion was not merely a local commemoration, for Saturday’s events were the national centennial celebrations for the South Island. The considerable and able part played by the Maori people in the celebrations gave them an unusual and memorable character. About 500 Maoris were present, including 100 • from the North Island. The Maoris themselves will have their principal celebrations to-day.

I Those present at Saturday’s ceiebrations included many distinguished visile tors including the Governor-General « (Lord Galway), the Prime Minister I (the Hon. P. Eraser), nany members | of the Cabinet (who included the | Hons. W. E. Parry, D. G. Sullivan, P. \ ,C. Webb, ,H. T. Armstrong, F. LangI stone, and F. Jones), the Leader of ' ,the Opposition (the Ho.i Adam.Hamilj ton), members of both Houses of the i “Legislature, the Consul for France (M. I Andre Pouquet). the High Commisi sioner for the United Kingdom (Sir 1 Harry Batterbee), the Primate of New Zealand (Archbishop West-Watson). Archbishop Averill, Archbishop O’Shea, Bishop Bennett, and Bishops Liston, Whyte, Brodie. - The local celebrations continued yesterday with commemorative church services in the morning, the'special events being the reopening of the restored Maori Church at Onuku (The Kaik), a public thmiksgiving service, and the South Island Roman Catholic celebrations. From an early hour the road from Christchurch on Saturday was thronged with'cars on their way to Akaroa. Through the control exercised by the Transport Department ’ on the hilly stretch from Little River there were no hold-ups, although the traffic, which included many large motor-buses, was very heavy between 10 a.m. and 11 aim, In thetown of Akaroa itself similar efficient control was exercised over traffic, with the collaboration of the Police Force in handling the crowds.: There were about 4000 visitors to Akaroar on Saturday, and about half .that niiinber yesterday. Governor-General Welcomed . The celebrations began, when the Governor-General. landed from the Government steamer Matai at 11 a.im on Saturday, and was welcomed at. the old jetty at the end of Balguerie street by file Mayor of Akaroa (Mr F. R. E. Davis) and borough councillors. He then went to the Recreation Ground, . where the morning’s celebrations were being held, and was met fay the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet His Excellency then moved bn to the ground, where the Maori welcome , was. being held. After advancing some distance he was challenged by a warrior in old-time Maori costume (Mr E. T. Tirikatene. MP.), who placed a wero (a anal' elaborately-carved wooden challenge spear) on the ground ..in front of Lord Galway. While the party halted, the-warrior retired and gave a taiaha display before joining the body of the welcoming Maori party. Lord Galway then picked up the wero as an indication that he and his party were ' on a peaceful mission, and moved forward to the pavilion. With the wero when he picked it up was a greenstone hei, the •dft of the South Island •Maoris to the Govemor-GeneraL Maori Reception Then followed the. general Maori reception, with songs, hakas, and the poi dances being given by various groups, including the Nagti ; Poneke (Wellington), the Ngati Otautahi (Christchurch), and the Pipiwharauroa (TuaWith the dignity of a , Maori chief of the times commemorated in the cen-

tennial. Chief Temairaki Taiaroa, pqramouht elder of the South Island Maoris, who was clad in fine native costume, then . advanced to speak. He was accompanied by an interpreter (MrKingi Tahiwi). First of all he welcomed the Gov-ernor-General on behalf of the Maori people. They had met to confirm the friendship of Maori and pakeha extending over 100 years, he said. He would observe that the Maori people were still loyal to the Treaty of Waitangi, Of the late. Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) Chief Taiaroa then said: “He was able to spread the mantle of love oyer r the Maori people, during the time in which he was Prime Minister.” - The chief’s speech was followed by songs by the Pipiwharauroa group from Tuahiwi. Message from all Maoris Further greetings on behalf of the Maoris were expressed by Mr Tirikatene, dressed in native costume and speaking in the old Maori fashion, while parading before the groups of Maori singers. „ The Chfef Taiaroa. he said, had spoken hot only for the South Island, but for the whole of the Maori race. Mr Tirikatene also referred to the sorrow of the Maori people at the death of Mr i Savage, saying “The great and mighty tree has crashed from the forest of Tane. As the development of the Treaty 'of Waitangi' legislation had come and gone. The Maori submitted their thanks for what Mr Savage had put on the Statute Book so that they were receiving a measure of equal-return for services rendered. He hoped they might yet receive equal opportunity. . The Bishop of Aotearoa (the Bt. Rey. F. A. Bennett) said that he was honouxed that the Ngaitahu people had asked him’to represent the four corners of the North Island. He thanked their Excellencies, the Prime Minister, and the members of the Cabinet for their visit, and for the remarkably efficient organising of the celebrations. Bishb" Bennett naid a tribute for the

North Island Maoris to the memory of Mr Savage, whose works remained after him, and in whom the Maoripeople had a great friend. . Bishop Bennett concluded by referring to the imminent, departure of the Governor-General, who, he said, would carry With him the resnect and affection of. the - Maori people. After the. Maori reception the pageant re-enacting the * first exercise of British sovereignty in the. South Island was presented. , , Lord Galway then replied _to the welcome, taking the opportunity of_ say-, ing farewell to the Maoris of the Souttft Island.. Lord Galway’s Farewell - • “It'isr orivilege +r% ta’ the celebration of the centenary of British rule and sovereignty in New Zealand,” said his F—''-u-r,f,v. “One hundred years ago was signed the treaty whic v brought Maori and pakeha. A guiding principle ,was established. The '+etesmon of ion years ago could not have foreseen conditions of 1940. with' a Maori battalion serving beside the pakehas in war time. I am proud to think of the response of the Maori neoole in rallying td.th*> cause of freedom., “There is no doubt that come what may-right and justice will prevail and pear- ~*ign' again on earth. Here in these nbocant surroundings we feel that we are in-an - 4 —' —- -■» peace “Our thoughts this morning are n hipflv W*+K TWsnri nnnnb T 'v . the kindly -words that hav» We have their interests at heart * ; me go~- pn 1 hon« + l -"* fmd bousing nroblems ■.will taken up by the Maori people to improve their conditions and standards of living, and to bring about a

HOISTING THE ENSIGN Sovereignty Ceded To Queen HISTORY RETOLD IN PAGEANT .Timmy Robinson, sailor, adventurer, came on to the marae swinging a bell and announced with a swaggering attempt at dignity: “Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! He ye all and take notice! A court of petty sessions will be opened this day, the 11th of August, in the year of our Lord 1840. ...” . . The Maoris stopped their hakas ana the children paused at their play on the beach to inquire what it was all about. Jimmy Robinson, otherwise James Robinson Clough, gathered his dignity together again and announced: lye been sent ashore from the warship m ttie harbour, the Britomart. I’ve been appointed official interpreter. Captain Stanley’s coming ashore with two Magistrates, who are going to hold a C< Three other men of the pakeha blood came forward perturbed: “Lord help us. What do we want with the law.' But the law and its administering Magistrates were already landing on the shore and making their way to the Maori settlment. In this manner was presented to the people assembled on the recreation field at Akaroa the first scene in a pageant of the landing of Captain Stanley, the hoisting of the British flag, and the assertion of British sovereignty at Akaroa. The pageant was presented immediately, after the Maori people had offered their welcome to the Gov-ernor-General (Lord Galway) and members of the Government at the entrance to the Maori encampment on Saturday morning. Captain Stanley arrived with a company of officers and men from the Britomart and was received by the Maori people with instant good feeling. Queen’s Greeting “Peace be to you, my friends, and greetings,” Captain Stanley said. “I bring you greetings also from Queen Victoria.” Jimmy Robinson turned to the Maori people and spoke these words to them in their own language. Two chiefs came forward and saluted the captain in native fashion. The captain introduced them to the Magistrate. The Maori people of Akaroa had now formally met the Queen’s representatives. Captain Stanley then announced his purpose to hoist the British ensign. He told the Maoris of his mission and reminded them of the signature of the South Island chiefs to the Treaty of Waitangi. He told them of the proclamation of sovereignty at Cloudy Bay on June 17. 1840. The Union Jack was then run up the pole, and a bugle call sounded. Here there was a part of the pageant that was unrehearsed. Maori elders assembled on the edge of the ground could not repress their feelings. “Way goes the Maori land,” one of them murmured. Another said, “Now the pakeha’s got the place.” Court Opened But the flag had unfurled at the mast, the land was the Queen’s, and her representative proceeded to establish a Court as the first exercise of sovereignty. The Magistrates, Messrs Murphy and Robinson called. for tlfe hearing of any suits or petitions. As there was none the Court was adjourned, and Captain Stanley called for three cheers for the Queen. This assertion of sovereignty was actually carried out at Green’s, Point, but the pageant could not be held there as the spot was not accessible for the big crowd attending. The cast who took part in the efficiently presented pageantry, under the direction .of Mr W. S. Wauchop, National Director of Pageantry, was as follows:—Captain_Stanley the Ven. Archdeacon A. J. Petrie; Mr Murphy, Mr F. C. Newton; . Mr Robinson. Mr F. Brocherxe;< Jimmy Robinson Clough, / Mr Robinson, Green Mr W. Davis; First Settler. Mr E Galt; Second Settler, Mr J-E- Armstrong; Captain of Marines MrC. Sealey;/ Buglgn_Mr_Q_H ; _Minifi£^ j _ i _ -->> _ - __. greater amount of prosperity and hapPi “ftake this opportunity of biding farewell to the Maoris of the South IS* land ! shall take back to England with me the kindest of memories, and ri ran afterwards do anything for vou I shall be glad to do so. So I bid VOU farewell, and hope that time will Hml hannilv with ybu. bringing you health, happiness, and prosperity. Kia Ora.” Prime Minister’s Address The Prime Minister (the Hon. PFraser) for the Government and Skeha People of New Zealand, tanked the Maoris which he. described as cnaracxeris tically hospitable, and , artistic. The pakeha people reciprocated warmly and although they could not give such a dramatic display of their feehngs they: were none the less deeply sinHe' thanked Mr Taiaroa. Mr Tirikatene, and Bishop Bennett for-their very moving, tributes to the great New : Zealand statesman who had recently passed, and whose passing had been euch a great loss to the people of New Zealand. Mr Savage had. had a deep and sincere desire to further the interests of the Maori, race and to see the Maori people progress from strength to strength. I Mr Fraser read a message of greeting and goodwill from Mr H. Tai Mitchell, on behalf of the Arawa Maoris. .This, he said, was symbolic of the close friendship that had existed through all these years between the two races, in fact, among the three races—British. Maori, and French. French and British at Akaroa To-day there was being celebrated not only the assertion of British sovereignty, but. also the arrival of the French settlers. The Government and people of New Zealand had come to pay a sincere tribute to -the great French nation and to the gallant band of French colonists who had come to Akaroa. in 1840. The French commodore had been a.civil and courteous 1 gentleman, whose conduct had smoothed away matters of difference that might have developed into bloodshed and flared into warfare. Thus it was that th- people were assembled to-day to do honour to the men of three races. They were grateful for the opportunity of meeting on this marae, in that particularly beautiful spot. The meeting was symbolic of the great unity of the three races that was destined to save the wbrid from despotism., ■ - . The Hon. H. T. Armstrong also thanked the Maori, people for their .welcome. He said that the history of Akaroa was a glorious example not only to this country but to the rest of the world, of what could be ac- . complished by peaceful means. _ He made reference’ to . the Ngaitahu claim, which, he said, the Government was considering on the basis of ■ equalrights for Maori and pakeha. Descendants of the first French and English settlers were then presented to the Governor-General. , • At the conclusion of the morning’s celebrations an official, luncheon was : held on the ground.