MAORIS FOR AMERICA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 551, 5 July 1909, Page 6

MAORIS FOR AMERICA.

. EVERYTHING READY FOR DEPARTURE. . (By Teleeraph.—Press Association.) , ' Rotorua, July 4. ■It is a'long time since such excitement has prevailed -among the. Maori population here as at present, -consequent on tie departure by to-morro,w morning's train for Wellington. of a party of forty • Natives en route-; to America. ■ Great interest is ■ also being shown in the matter by ■ the .Pakeha residents. A greai -crowd; is expected to assemble at tho railway station in V the morning. The final arrangements have been made.' The' Maoris have got the,ir kits together for the; long trek to America; Mats, spears, feathers—everything his been got together for; the' nine months' sojourn in New York.- Several members of the local committee responsible, in conjunction with the Rev. F." A. Bennett, - for the selection 'of the company, will go with the .party- to Wellington, 'and- Beo them off -by the Manapouri. on Wednesday. ' They go j first to Tahiti, and will ~arrfiio just, in ■ time to see the celebration at Papeete-in connection with the' big French ' holiday .'/ Then; they sail 'from, thore by the Mariposa,' fbr'Trisco, being due at the latter'place about' July .31.' The joiurney to;• New York will occupy about, a week longer, : and, as the company ; is not. to begin performances! till about the, beginning of there will: be' plenty of time to see the 1 sights : and to rehearse. ,i : Mr. M'Bride, the representative of the New York Hippodrome, is well satisfied with the selection made, : and he says he is 'confident that' the Natives will make, a big hit. The men are 'fine 'and stalwart, and the poi girls are charming. To-night there will' be a farewell meeting, at the Tamatekapua.' The Hon. A. T. Ngata had : intended poming-'up to .say' good-bye to the Natives, but unfor-. he was unable to do so. ' It is likely, - however, _ that the - Hon v J. 1 Carroll, Acting-Prime Minister,; will' take the ,oppor T tunity of a'■ few farewell words to the' Natives at Wellington, jAs previously Btated, Mr. W. Fanner Whyte, of Auckland, accompanies the company as manager,' and he expresses himself as more than satisfied with tho selection- . ' '