WORK ON MAORI HOUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 131, 30 November 1939, Page 15

WORK ON MAORI HOUSE

GOOD PROGRESS MADE

PLANS FOR OPENING

The/Exhibition attendances for days in the middle of the week are being ■well .maintained, probably, due to the number of people who are visiting [Wellington, and for whom the day of the week has little significance. Yes- ( terday's total was 10,853. There was,l •the usual morning crowd today, despite showery weather. The grounds were seen at their best , yesterday. The recent rain'and sun- j . "Shine have developed the flower plots i j' : attendance .. ■ 10,853 Total- fdr nineteen: days .. 312,701 .- ,^?''^''':'H*V''*'**^**'*^" j sindgai'densi-which> bring B"bright col^ our'-'relief liito the exterior scene; J ," "': The Maori • carved- Hieeting-house is taking shape rapidly, and promises to be one'of the features of the- Exhibition. Yesterday experts were painting the reproductions of Maori decorations round, the windows and the front! of the building was being thatched in typical Native fashion. The work; was * inspected by the Acting Native Minister (the Hon. F. Langstone), who expressed his pleasure at the progress 'made in so short a time; and with ■ tfie "beautiful and artistic work done by all those concerned; under ; the supervision of Sir Apirana Ngata. ' '.■■ The rwork- will be finished by about the 10th of next month, and the official opening will; be performed by the •Tit. Hon.. Mi J. Savage, who is Minister of Native Affairs, at 3 p.m., on ■:■::Thursday, December 14. The first part of the opening will take place, in "■(■■ the band shefr at southern end ;oof'the Exhibition grounds, where poi ■: and haka items will be given, by Maori "■performers,- and the- actual official opening of the Maori house will be inside. The programme of /. Maori-items for the occasion will-be : .announced by Sir Apirana Ngata I and his; committee of Ngati-Poheke -and others^ :': Lady Galway and her children visited the Port of London Authority ■ Pavilion yesterday afternoon, and were -entertained'by''Mr. T. R. Toovey, the of the.authority in Australia arid New Zealand, who explained the exhibits. Lady Galway expressed keen interest in the display., . Sir; Harry Batterbee will visit the . Exhibition. tomorrow at 3 p.m., and will inspect the Government Court.