MAORI BAZAAR

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 33, 3 November 1937, Page 4

MAORI BAZAAR

Ngati-Poneke Mission Society Holds Fete The Maori bazaar held yesterday afternoon in aid of the funds of the Ngati-Poneke Mission Society, was a complete success and there was a large attendance at St. Paul’s schoolroom, Sydney Street East. A great deal of thought and hard work on the part of the society’s committee, and of Lady Pomare in particular, had transformed the schoolroom into a colourful and beautifully decorated room. Long fiags were draped cross-wise from the ceiling, the walls were hung with picturesque whariki cloths and mats, and the well-stocked stalls were adorned with typical Maori scrolls. Two rare and beautiful korowai mats, lent by Lady Pomare, decorated the back of the stage, and the stage floor was covered with a large island mat. At either side was a carved wooden figure with a bowl of arum lilies and blue irises at its side. Lady Galway, who opened the bazaar and who was accompanied by Bishop and Mrs. Sprott and Lady Pomare, was met on arrival by Mr. 11. Park (president of the society) and by Mrs, Heketa. She was accorded a rousing Maori welcome, led by Mrs. Heketa, as she made her way to her seat on the stage, where she and Mrs, Sprott were presented with bouquets by Doreen Tarrant. The Rev. Paul Temuera welcomed her Excellency, and said how happy the Maori people were to have her again in their midst. He then asked her to declare the bazaar officially open.

Lady Galway, in a brief speech, said she thought it most fitting that the Maori clergy should minister to their own people. She paid a warm tribute to Lady Pomare, whose work in the interests of Maori welfare was steadily gaining with the progress being made by the Maori people as a whole. Statistics, she said, showed that a 28 per cent, increase in the Maori population had been made during the last 10 years —a decidedly encouraging fact and one which was due very largely to the work being done by the Maori Mission Society. After extending a wish for its success financially, she declared the bazaar officially iopen. After afternoon tea, poi dances were given by Mesdames Ruru and Maunders and Misses Heketa, Black and Ward-Holmes. The beauty and grace of these dances lent a further appropriate touch to the occasion and evoked keen applause from the many spectators. Stalls and their holders were as follows :— Flower-stall: Mrs. Potiki, Misses Mowbray, Meta Kingi and Sinclair. Disabled Soldiers’ Art Craft: Mrs. B. W. Irwin. Fancy goods: Mesdames H. Tahiwi, Curtis and Black and Miss M. Pitt, r Maori art craft: Mesdames Heketa and R. Love and Misses M. Heketa and L. Kettlewell. Cakes: Mesdames B. L. Hammond, N. Smith and R. Pelham. Sweets: Mesdames H. Park and G. Shepherd, Miss I. Lane. Produce: Mrs. Wallis, Miss Watson and the committee of the Women’s Missionary Auxiliary. Ice cream and soft drinks: Mesdames To Milia and Harford. The bazaar was continued in the evening, when a concert programme featuring Maori songs, choruses and dances was presented by the NgatiPoneke Young Maori Club. This club ordinarily interests itself iu the entertainment of young Maori people living at Wellington. It makes its aim a development of their individuality by arousing their interest in native games and entertainment generally. The combined branches of the NgatiPoneke .Society, social, welfare and sporting, were responsible for the organisation of the bazaar, but it was under the special charge of the welfare society, with Lady Pomare at its head. THE SEz\ HATH ITS PEARLS. Pearls of fabulous fortune have been wrested from the sea. (if untold worth, too, are the organic iodine and minerals yielded by the oyster. Medicinally compounded as Thyrodoue, these properties are the finest known remedy for all nerve, anaemia and goitre troubles. Famous physicians recommend Thyrodone. All chemists sell it.—Advt.