CONFIDENCE CARNIVAL

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 71, 21 September 1933, Page 9

CONFIDENCE CARNIVAL

ASSISTANCE OF MAORIS

PAGEANT ARRANGEMENTS

When representatives of the National Confidence Carnival committees visited Otaki recently they were given a hearty welcome by a representative gathewng of Maoris at the Native meeting-house, and comprehensive arrangements -wier* made regarding the part which mam* bers of the Maori race will play in Uh« carnival programme between Novcmßer 18 and November 25.

Captain Tahiwi, who, at the instance of his brother, Mr. Kingi . Tahiwi, f. a member of the carnival management committee, had called the meeting, acted as interpreter with Mr. Rikihana. tiL* ideals of the carnival and the methads by which the Maoris could make uselof their talents for acting, singing, 4nd display to achieve an adequate presentation of historical scenes and progwes* sive developments, were explained. /

The meeting was addressed by Mr. G. G. Stewart, chairman of the carnitral executive, and Mr. H. Amos, the organiser. Mr. Maurice Ralph, managing producer, exhibited graphic coloured (tiesigns of some principal pageant sta ga effects, and explained the main fiaturea of Maori participation in ti.is and other major carnival events. Aft ir an animated discussion in Maori, the s» present unanimously decided to proce »d immediately with preparations for t i« carnival along the lines proposed. The visitors were afterwards «h°l^» a magnificent set of Maori carvinfcs, consisting of sixty pieces, which hajva been modelled to adorn the large nfcw meeting-house now approaching completion. It is probable that theW carvings will be lent to the carnival executive for exhibition purposes. TMcy constitute probably the finest single Wo Ilection of Moari woodwork in flh» Dominion.

Mr. J. R. McMillan, of. Levin, Jias offered to supply the flax, -and suitawla Maori patterns required for maksjng piu-pius, and this work will be a cpß*" munity effort. A notable feature of Kn9 desire among the Otaki Maoris to H'-lp in the carnival is that anything ean^d by them in connection with their effoits will be devoted to the purposes of tM>ir meeting-house. During their stay | ifl Wellington the party of fifty Maoris will live, Maori fashion, in an encampment. This should provide an interesting feature for visitors from overseas as well as for those from other pasts of the Dominion who see little of tM Native race in their own districts, f