EVENING OCCUPATIONS. THE DUCHESS IN MAORI RAIMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 140, 15 June 1901, Page 5

EVENING OCCUPATIONS. THE DUCHESS IN MAORI RAIMENT.

Rotorua was brilliantly illuminated tonight. Lines of Chinese lanterns were Stretched along the streets ; and Dr. Kenny's house, the telegraph office, and the Sanatorium and grounds, -were a blaze of coloured lights. There was also a fireworks display, whioh was quite a revelation to the Maoris. After dinner at the Grand Hotel, a number of high chiefs visited the Duchess and presented her with valuable mats and huia feathers. The Duchess put one of the mats around her, stuck a huia feather in her hair, and came down the room to the chiefs, who were greatly delighted with the compliment thus paid them. Both the Duke and Duchess have had a very big day, but they are delighted with their reception, and the mfhy wonderful sights they have witnessed. TO-DAY'S DEMONSTRATION. NOTABLE MAORI PRESENTS TO THE DUKE. DEATH OF A CHIEF. i [PRESS ASSOCIATION.] , ROTORUA, This Day. The .final demonstration at Rotorua commenced this morning at 10 o'clock. Their Royal Highnesses left the Grand Hotel at 9.30 for the racecourse, where for the past three weeks a large camp has been established in preparation for the great event. Many historic flags were hoisted, along with the general display bunting. Notable, among«nem was the handsome silk flag presented by the Government to the Wanganui natives by the late Major Kemp's tribe (the Ngatiruaka) to commemorate loyalty to, and the bravery displayed by them on behalf of, the Europeans at Moutoa and elsewhere. • The tribes, as they were marshaled up to perform war-dances and hakas, made, through their respective chiefs; presents to the Duke, consisting of mats, meres, etc., and the Arawa chiefs presented a model carved Maori house and a carved canoe representing the historic canoe of the ancestors of the tribe, which was burnt at Maketu, Bay of Plenty, over 500 years ago* This was, it was explained, intended to be a link between the' Maoris and Britain. Yesterday Major Fox, a gnarled old warrior, was addressing the young Maoris afr Ohinemutu. All in Rotorua were present at the demonstration, which was such 0.3 has never been witnessed before and is unlikely to recur.' It was the first friendly forgathering of all the Northern tribes, including friendly and former hos-; j tile natives. ! The Maori chief Hohepa Hikutaia, 74 years of age, one of the chiefs of Tauranga, has died at the camp at the Rotorua racecourse. His death has been kept quiet so as not to disturb the proceedings of to-day.