THE GREAT NATIVE MEETING.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 61, 15 March 1881, Page 2

THE GREAT NATIVE MEETING.

THE SCENE AT TE ORE ORE. OBJECT OP THE GATHERING. INTERVIEW WITH •• THE PROPHET." (jfKOM OUR BPECIAII CORUEBPONDBNT.) Tb Ork Oa«, 14th March. The " korero," or talk, commences to-mor-row forenoon at the great native meeting at Te Ore Ore, near Masterton. For the last week parties of visitors have been arriving at all hours of the day from different parts of the colony, and with each fresh arrival there is a regular " tangi " in honor of the memory of those who have died Bince the parties last met. On Thursday a large party of Hawke's Bay natives arrived, and were played into the pah by the Masterton Brass Band, specially engaged for the occasion. Then after the "tangi" the Wairarapa natives presented their visitors with an enormous pile of provisions— kumaras, potatoes, flout, tea, sugar, sheep, and pigs, &c, the value of the gift being estimated at nearly .£lOOO, exolusive of the Bupply of dried shark and eels. On Saturday last there were from 1000 to 1200 natives in the pah, and the scene was a most interesting one. Tho tents, 70 or 80 in number, are ranged ia almost military order, and there are a largo number of huts and wooden buildings also available for accommodation. A long row of Maori ovens at one side provide cooking facilities, and a large force* pump has beon oreotod to supply water. Tho utmost discipline and order prevails. A long code of rules and regulations, boginning with a recital of the ten commandments, and dosoondhig to the level of municipal by-laws iv providing that no native iB to ride faster than at a walking pace whon ooming up the avenue to the pah, is conspicuously posted up and the fines therein specified, varying from 2s 6d to .£5, are sfcriotly enforced. There are a large number of polioemen appointed for this purpose, some wearing correct and complete " bobby " uniforms, others distinguished only by a knot of red braid on their shoulders. No intoxicating liquor is permitted in tho camp, and should any of the natives smell of drink on their return from a visit to town, a fine is immediately inflioted. Most of the men in camp are fine stalwart young fellows, but there are a few venerable old Maoris. Most of the woraon are well dressed, some of them in the most fashionable maunor. On Sunday morn* ing the Yon. Archdeacon Williams, of Napier, road service in the splendid Rnnanga houao, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Pinehata, a Mao i clergyman. About 600 natives attended, and the scene was an interesting and impressive one. There were no seats, only mats on the floor, and whon your correspondent came in an old Woman, observing him kneeling on the ground, at onoe offered him a share of her mat, a favor which nccassitated too oloso companionship to bo alto* gether pleasant. Although the number of prayer-books available was small, all tho natives appeared thoroughly at home in tho service, and repeated the responses audibly and accurately. The heat iv the building was intense, as, although ita architects havo devoted an enormous amount of labor, spent a largo sum of money, and shown great ingenuity and much taste in its design, erection, and ornamentation, they have forgotten altogether to provide for ventilation. The great korero, howover, is to be held in the large straw-covered open spaoe in front. The objeot of the meeting seems to be simply a kind of family re-union of the branches of a tribe scattered over differont parts of the colony, »nd to hear the words of a family prophet who has arisen amongst thorn in the person of a chiof named Paul. There is no political significance attached to tho gathering, and it is not expected that he will touch on politics at all. For some months past he has been living secluded in a small wooden house, attended only by hi? two wives and a few favorod followers. Even now there is a police Btation and a guard outside the entrance. On Sunday after service, whioh the prophet and the Hau Hans, of course, did not attend, your correspondent and two or three other gentlemen were, as a great favor, permitted to enter and interview Paul. He was seated, wrapped in a not over-clean rug, on a kind of bed. He appears a thin, wiry old man, of medium stature, and with a rather reßtless expression in the eyes. His face is small, and the features rather sharp, bearing tokens of an acquaintance with both physical and mental suffering. He is very deaf, and has to be attended by a man with good lungs to shout out to him what is said. He received and shook hands with us most graciously, and then suddenly produoed two half-crowns, whioh ho gravely handed to us. We were rather taken aback at this, but one of the party acquainted with Maori manners assured us it was according to native custom, a high compliment as an expression of welcome. Paul also ordered one of his wives to bring a large water melon, which he presented to a young gentleman who formed one of our party. After some conversation, carried on by means of an interpreter, we made up £1 amongst ourselves, and presented it as a gift to Paul, who, of course, received it most graciously, as he did also the tobacco pouch of your correspondent. The practice of giving valuable presents to visitors seoin3 to prevail generally. In one part of the ground we saw a pile of beautiful mats, surmounted by a bundle of bank-notes and a heap of silver, lying ready to be presented to some expected hapu. It would not be fair not to acknowledge the genuine courtesy, hospitality, and welcomo which the natives, without exception, extended to their Pakeha visitors. Cheery salutations greeted us on every side, and they all submitted to our, perhaps, Bomewhat prying, inquisitive inspection of their tents and appointments in the most good-natured manner. No body of Pakehas would, under similar circumstances, have shown half as much true politeness. There is likely to be an enormous gathering of European visitors at Te Ore Ore tomorrow.