MAORI CARVING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 10

MAORI CARVING

NEW MEETING-HOUSE

UREWERA COUNTRY

The new meeting-house of the Tuhoe tribe at Ruatoki, in Urewera Country, was opened by Sir Apirana Ngata in the presence of 800 people, who included representatives from Poverty Bay, Rotorua, and the Bay of Plenty tribes, states the "Poverty Bay Herald." The gathering was the largest seen in that part of the Bay of Plenty for some years.

Sir Apirana said the new building, which honoured the tribal ancestors, had meant a great deal of work. He added that the Government did not mean to subsidise in any way the building o*. meeting houses, but would devote money to more deserving causes, such as better housing and farming assistance. In this connection he spoke of the work of Mr. H. Tai Mitchell, C.M.G., who was present.

Standing under the battle flag of Tawhaki, the first Tuhoe chief to accept British sovereignty, Sir Apirana then d^'ared the. building open.

Mr. Mitchell said he looked upon the order recently conferred on him as given to the Maori race as a whole.

The carving on the house is the work of Te Whenua, a craftsman from Buatahuna, and represents tribal ancestors in the traditional manner. The work is noteworthy for the fact that the old style of Maori design has been adhered to. Modern influences have not been permitted to intrude.