A NEW HAPU.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 206, 25 May 1908, Page 6

A NEW HAPU.

— -9- ——- " OPENING OF. THE PALMERSTON ( - SAVAGE CLUB. ; :■: WELLINGTON WARRIORS PARTICI- : PATE. .. ' fET lELEGBAPH -SPECIAL REPOBTER.) Paimerston North, May 24. The opening of new Savage Club at Paimerston Nortli celebrated last' evening by a great and memorable- korero with the Wellington hapu. ■ About, thirty ofthe . hardiest , and. most practised warriors of tlic latter hiipu : ni;ulo the trip to take part, carrying with them the fearful, skull'"and leg" bone" emblems of Poneke . office and rank. The korero was held at tlio Empire Hall, and though tho night was wild a,nd wet several'hundred local savages and their wahines were present. 11l conventional ' language the , gathering ■ was large, fashionable, and'brilliant. At eight o'clock the ' local "Toa," Dr. Pcacli, to»k his, seat'.on a corner of the stage, placed his ' flax* mat. round his ' broad shoulders, and in • a loud voice cried "A hearty welcome ' to. the,. warriors from Wellington.": Curious . and ' expectant eyes sought' around for thoinvisible visitors. Then strange sounds issued from the front entrance door, and in-came tho Wellington hapu with grotesque jumps .and grimaces, and as they came, they chanted a composition 1 of their own.. Roars of laughter and' applause greeted/this sally, and continued long after tho hapu had taken their places on tho stage. "Toa" ' Peach greeted the savages,' and an amusing interchange of compliments ensued between the.'two hapus, tho words being the words of Savage Eillick (as were all the original cdmpositions of tha evening), and the tunes catcliy, scraps from Gilbert and- Sullivan. . Savage Dykes led the dialogue 1 in the absence of Savage H. Plimmcr. When, these playful preliminaries were over knd the audience had almost laughed themselves helpless, Savage Malcolm Ross was solemnly installed master of ceremonios for the 'evening,. and 'the: visiting' hapu preceded to submit its. .entertaihmont. This' was carried , out with! great ; Songs were sung by Say'agos Ballance, Carr, iiocidey, 'and' Parsons; Savage''Bo'stin sang an original composition of his own (rendered tho ' more improssivoly original by a time .accompaniment in the snapping. of tha jaws of. a grinning' skull by "Toa" Peach); Savage Cook played a: violin solo; Savage Hunt, who also accompanied many of the ■ items, played a piano selection; Savage Marks told■ yarns of old savage days that made the audience yearn again for the palm tree, and the grove; Savage Newton'. sang quiet songs that were passively comic: Savage Watts , drew lightning sketches ,of ■ Paimerston's leading savages, and also wrth Savage Newton' played a strange duet on barbarous instruments; and tall- and: shapely Savage Secretary Dykes, ; who. was ; in charge of the melody-arrangements,.'sang, amongst; other curious ' things,' topical' verses . oy. Savage Killick, written .'as'; the entertainment proceeded; V .; ■ After a long interlude for refreshments,the •fun.- proceeded, .-.merrily.. l -."till• eleven, o'clock, : when the visitors', gave a very effective series of finales. Clum compliments were interchanged, and a-, reluctant curtain "war, at last rung down. . Tho motto of the lieiv Cltib is "Tanc Nui a Rahgi." and 'officers are as follow Patron, Lofd Plrinket;.- president, Dr. Peach; vicepresidents, Messrs.'E..D. Hoben, J. Gifford, Mooro, Harrv Palmer, and Dr. Martin; committee, Dr. Greig, Mf\ F. Bond, Dr. Sto\vo, Mr. H., Cooper, Dr. O'Brien, Messrs. J. A:. 'Nash;' W. Durward, and 11. Mullcrmusical tohunga, Mr. M. Cohen; treasurer, Mr. W. Beck \ .secretary, - Mr.: Reginald' Davis; auditor,; Mr. G. H. 'Bagnall. Tiio Ciub has a strong orchestra, which fully exhibited its capabilities in a couplo of, selections last, night. ' ' . .'- '' '

The Palniorston North ; Savage Chih yes-: v terda.v entertained tho WellinEt-on visitors by'taking them out'to see the Tiritea water- • works. Last cvenins they were' entertained - at tho Mayor's residence. Several, of thorn will return.by this morning's train.