MAORI CHIEFS VISIT WARSHIP

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 91, 18 April 1913, Page 8

MAORI CHIEFS VISIT WARSHIP

Yesterday, Maori chiefs of Ngatiraukawa, with Major Ballinger in charge of 250 cadets from Levin, at the special invitation of Lieutenant Jones, of H.M.S. New.Zealand, visited the warship. The members' of the Ngatiraukawa had been prominent in the welcome extended to the party of sailors who visited Levin oil Tuesday, and Lieut. Jones wished that Captain Halsey should personally thank them for their cordial welcome. ' The chiefs forming the party were Kipa Roera, Kereihi Roera, and Miss Ngahira Roera, Miss Amo Tamihana te Hoia, Rere Ni&tini, Mr. and Mrs. Patuwaka Tauwhere, Te Kawe te Hatete, Piripi Hopo Henare, and many others. Lieut. Jones presented the party to Captain Halsey, Commander Grace, and other, officers. After the girls of the party had performed a poi dance, a presentation of piupiu (garments of war) and pois Were wade to the officers. Rere Nikitini in addressing the officers said :• "This ship bears the name of our islands. It was presented on behalf of the people to His Majesty by our Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward. We, the Maori people entirely concurred in the gift, and ,we realise that some part of its cost v has come direct from the land of our ancestors. We are under the niana of England by special treaty—the Treaty of Waitangi. We are under the protection of England, therefore we give her a battleship. As to these garments let them be as sails for your ship, carrying you to distant shores, and even to the presence of war if that .should happen- liet thefe be a further inspiration to you at that awful day—if the day comes—when our ship should clear for action." The party then gave their song of welcome, "Toia Mai*te waka." Captain Halsey in reply, said he would always remember the oc* casion. The presence that day of the Maori chiefs was a proof of their loyalty to the flag and Empire. He would keep the gifts and preserve them in remetn*, brance of the kindness" of the Maoris. The visitors were then hospitably entertained, and after viewing the ship, were taken to .shore in one of the ship's pinnaces. Of the party Kipa Roera and Kerehi Roera remained in town to attend the luncheon given to Captain Halsey and the officers of the New Zealand. The address on -the warship was interpreted by Kipa Roera (S. Royal). For to-night the Citizens' Committee have arranged a concert for the sailors of H.M.S. New Zealand. The programme has been arranged by Mr. James Dykes, and he has secured the services of Misses Phfflbe Parsons, A.R.C.M., Ethel Lissack, Little Cecil mines, Messrs. D. Kenny, A. W. Newton, -F. G. Twies, Hickmott, E. J. Hill, and H. N. Fletcher, and " The three Dreadnoughts." The remainder* of the programme will be supplied from men from the warship. Members of the crew will be admitted free to the Town Hall, but a charge of Is will be made to the general public. The Wellington Harbour Femes, Ltd., will entertain men from H.M.S. New Zealand at Day's Bay on Monday. A large party will leave the Ferry Wharf in the Duchess at 11 a.m., and on arrival at the Bay luncheon will be served In the pavilion. The afternoon will be devoted to sports, including hakas and pert dances by the Maori welcome troupe. For ,the Orphans Club entertainment in the Town Hall to-morrow evening, • only a very limited number of gentlemen's tickets are now available. Hundreds of happy, expectant children arrived by rail from the Hutt Valley schools to-day to visit the battleship. There were altogether about 1700 children, of which number about 900 came from Petone, 600 from Lower Hutt, and 300 from the Upper Hutt.