OUR MAORI SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 113, 8 November 1918, Page 2

OUR MAORI SOLDIERS

TOWN HALL ENTERTAINMENT.

The Governor-General, the Earl of Liverpool,, accompanied by the Countess of Livei'pool, was present at the Town Hall last night, when the talented Native entertainers gave a performance in aid of Lady Liverpool and Mrs Pomare's Maori Soldiers' Fund The Vice; Regal party was welcomed in Maori song, and a.party of "braves" also gave a haka of welcome. Then a couple of tiny Maori maidens presented Her Excellency with handsome floral tributes The Minister of. Natiye > Affairs. (the Hon. Dr Pomare) apologised for the fact that the programme would be i interfered with owing to some of the. arfiists haying been , stricken down with influenza. He went, on to refer to how.'.the Maoris wanted to relieve the burden of the pakeha and look after their own sol' diers as well as they could. The Minister paid a tribute, to the war work of the Maori women, .and added that,j9oo returned soldiers had been placed on tho land, but not one Maori soldier had applied for land, thus leaviiig more opportunity for the pakeha. The concert itself wae excellent. The concerted items'were melodious and well chosen, the various voices blending nicely. Nurse Te Au, who is the possessor of a rich soprano voice, sang "A Request" with much expression, andshe was vigorously encored. An artistic poi dance, cleverly executed, was the contribution of the Ngati-Raukawa girls, and it was warmly received. So also were the sweetly-sung numbers by the Tahiwi family, of Otaki, five in number, who replaced Miss Ana Pomare on the programme. A glee, "Come Where My Lo^e Lies Dreaming," was rendered by ■ the Te Atiawa Company, and they were better still in the Maori part-song winch they gave by way of encore. A stirring haka, "Tukua Mai kia pin," was given by' the Ngati-Tuwharetoa warriors, bringing to a close the first portion of the programme) which was opened by a striking tableau, "Britannia and Her Warriors," in a most appropriate stage setting. Another 1 pretty tableau, "From East to West," opened the, second half of the entertainment. Nurse_ Te Au.repeated her triumph of earlier in the evening by her rendition'of "A Cradle Song. 'The Te Atiawa Company sang the old favourite "Sweet and Low" most harmoniously, and the vocal selection and poi dances of the Ngati-Raukawa were charming. A haka and peruperu, "Mate, ha Mate," was given in fine declamatory style by the Ngati-Tuwhare-toa warriors, and the comic element in the programme wae ably sustained by Jacob Utiku, Puku Rikihana, and Tama Te Puni. The National Anthem, with organ accompaniment, opened and closed the proceedings. During the interval Major Samuel offered at auction a Union Jack made, of the bark of the whauwhi tree—a rare noveltjn—two Maori mats, and three Maori kits of excellent design and workmanship. There was only one bid of 10s for the flag, but Major Samuel announced that that day at the Commercial Travellers' Club he had received bids in advance for the flag amounting to £09 15s. (Applause.) It is intended to ask the Government to acquire the flag and hang it in the new Parliamentary Buildings. The first Maori mat offered was purchased by Dr. Pomare at £7 7s, and at his request was put up again, when it realised a further £6 6s. The other mat realised £4 4s, and the three kits £2 2s each. Owing to. an error through the butts o fthe tickets cold not being available the art union for the prize in the reserved 6eats could not be drawn, but His Excellency drew the unreserved seats art union, and the three lucky winners received handsome kits at the conclusion of the programme, which, considering many handicaps, was a Success' in every way.