V.C. INVESTITURE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 84, 6 October 1943, Page 6

V.C. INVESTITURE

COLOURFUL EVENT

THOUSANDS ATTEND

(By "The Post's" Special Reporter.) RUATORIA, This Day. The green sward of Whakarua Park, lying between low grass and treei covered hills, was a picturesque setting for one of the greatest Maori gatherings in history—the Ngarimu V.C. investiture meeting. Here, this afternoon, the Governor-General (Sir Cyril Newall) will present to Mr. Haknuera Ngarimu, father of the late Lieutenant Moana Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu, the V.C. awarded posthumously to his son for gallant deeds during the Tunisian campaign.

The population of Ruatoria normally is not large, but for today's celebrations it was swelled by. several thousands. Last night rain made the prospects of holding the gathering remote, but after a threatening dawn the sun burst through the clouds and the gathering got away to a good start, even though the wind was cool and conditions underfoot soggy. It was not long, however, before there was another*heavy shower, but Maori men stripped to the waist and the wahmes carried on, and the weather cleared again. There was an attendance of some 6000 when proceedings opened. For several days by road and rail visitors from the Bay of Plenty district and from places further afield arrived for the notable occasion. Special trains were run to Gisborne from various points, including Wellington. Ruatoria is between 80 and 90 miles by road north from Gisborne, and the successful transportation of so many visitors presented a task /involving the use of all available vehicles in the Gisborne district. Arrangements provided for the official catering of between 2000 and 3000 visitors.alone. Besides' these, however, there were several thousand more, both pakeha and Maori, who made their way to Ruatoria. Sir Apirana Ngata supervised the organisation of the hui at Whakarua Park. Grandstands to seat 2100 people were constructed, and canteens were also erected on the ground. Sir Apirana welcomed the visitors, and in

reply the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, said that not only was it a notable Maori meeting, but also the greatest gathering of ■ representatives of the United Nations ever assembled in NewZealand to do honour to a brave warrior. .■■•..■... Sir Apirana was master of ceremonies. ■■.■■■":■.■ ' - " This morning was devoted to a reception by the Ngatoporou, Te. Whanau-a-Apanui, and associated; Maori tribes to the Governor-General, who was accompanied by his daughter, Miss Georgiana Newall, and to the Prime Minister and other Ministers of the Crown, the Leader of the Opposition and Mrs. Holland, Service chiefs, and diplomatic and consular representatives, who had come from Wellington for the occasion. . . . ■ .' The welcome ceremonies began at 10.45 a.m., and were carried out in traditional Maori style, with nakas, chants, dances "of welcome, and action singing by Maori' girls and wornqn. CHILDREN'S PART. A feature of the proceedings was the part played by Maori children, some j hundreds of whom had been brought 'to the district for the occasion. During the singing of the girls' song of welcome, floral representations of the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, and other military honours earned by the Maori Battalion were laid on the marae. A speech of welcome was given by Mrs. Materoa Reedy, aunt of Lieutenant Ngarimu, who went overseas with Mrs. Reedys eldest son, Captain Hanara Reedy, who is a prisoner of war in Germany. ■ Addresses were presented to his Excellency by the school children. A high light was the formation, by a thousand children, of the letters "V.C." Speeches by Ma6ri elders and welcomes by tribes and sub-tribes also contributed to the morning programme, the proceedings concluding with a reply by his Excellency. An important item was the announcement of a proposal to institute ■ a Ngarimu V.C. and 28th (Maori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund. The investiture after lunch this afternoon will be preceded by a religious service, conducted by Bishop Bennett, and an address by an elder of the Ringatu Church, followed by addresses by the Prime Minister x and his Excellency. Besides investing Lieutenant Ngarimu's father with the V.C, his Excellency will present honours won by several other Maori members of the Service. ________»»____