THE NATIVE GATHERING AT PARIKINO.

Evening Post, Volume XII, Issue 154, 30 December 1875, Page 2

THE NATIVE GATHERING AT PARIKINO.

The Wanganui Herald of Wednesday, ' received by steamer to-day, says :—: — .The gathering of the Maoris at Parikino was large and a most successful affair. There were from 800 to 1000 Maoris present at it, and extensive preparations liad been made to extend the rites of bospi- ' tality to all who chose to be preßent. The , festivities commenced on Christmas day, when the children from , Jerusalem came down to meet their fellow scholars at Parikino. The whole-of them were niceljr and cleanly dressed,. and showed that consider* able pains had beeen taken with them. On the evening of Christmas day the children assembled in the school-house and recited a number of pieces which they had .been taught in a .highly creditable manner, and to the intense delight of the listeners. The room was inconveniently crowded, and a break up followed sooner than otherwise would have been the case. The next morning an assembly was made outside the building, and R. W. Woon, Esq., R.M., distributed a number of prizes. The distribution of the prizes gave great satisfaction to all present. The School Committees and the parents of the children were present, besides a large number of the leading natives. After the distribution of the prizes, the children were addressed by R, W. Woon, Esq., the Rev. Mr. Taylor, and many of the chiefs present. The company then adjourned to a large tent, which had been erected for the occa sion, and where a splendid Christmas dinner was served. There the usual roast meats, &c, besides a large supply of plumpudding, cakes, and other delicacies ucte in the utmost profusion. Plates, knives, and forks, had been provided' for- the guesA, and that nothing might be wanting, Maori stewards and waiters attended on the guests, and saw that every want was supplied. The chiefs, school committees, and parents sat down first, and then relay after relay of guests partook of the good things which had been provided so abundantly. On Sunday morning 'the Rev. <Mr. Taylor, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Edwards, a Maori Missionary, held Divine service, which was largely attended ; in fact the large meeting-house was crowded to excess. After the service he married somewhere - about forty couples, and baptised upwards of fifty children in the presence of a large Assembly. . „,,••' As we have before stated, great preparations had been made for their meeting, Which was the largest Assembly df* Maoris ever heldon the place. All the Wanganui tribes were well represented, and there could not have been less than 800 to 1,000 present. The quantity' of food prepared was enormous, and all who came were made welcome, whether Pakeha or Maori,