TE HEUHEU, THE MAN

Evening Star, Issue 18263, 1 May 1923, Page 10

TE HEUHEU, THE MAN

LORD JELLICOE UNVEILS MONUMENT.

STRIKING. MAORI CEREMONIAL

For some days past Natives from almost every part of the North. Island have been congregating at Tokaanu, Lake Taupe, in connection with the unveiling of a monument to the Hon, Te Heuheu Tukino. The scene enacted yesterday took place by the sparkling waters of Taupo. Elaborate arrangements had been made, and the huge task of housing and feeding over 1,000 people was carried out without a hitch. Sunday was spent chiefly in addresses of welcome between the local and visiting tribes, aiid in reference to the Western Maori election.-

Yesterday morning a typical Native welcome was extended te His Excellency the Governor-General (Viscount Jellicoe). A stalwart party ’ of fifty strong gave a .spirited haka, and then preceded His Excellency and party to the centre of the marae.

Addressing His Excellency, Hoani Heuhett, son of the late To Heuheu, said: “ Greetings, O Governor. The Heuheu family and all the Ngati Tuwharetoa greet yon. W o thank your Excellency for the honor you. have done ns ;in coming here to-day. It is a true mark of respect to our dead. Welcome to our village by the shore of the great lake, See with the eye of the spirit the perilous journeys of our ancestors from the fir distant Hawaiki, and yon will know then why it is we love this land, won for us by our forefathers. I call upon my people, the children of the warrior chiefs of old, to freot the great man of the pakchas in the laori way, to show them that the spirit of the race is not dead.”

Then once again the haka party gave a dance and song of welcome to His Excellency. , The Governor-General said that ho appreciated the honor done him in inviting him , to be present. He thought it fitting that His Majesty’s representative should perform the ceremony, because of the loyalty of Te Heuheu'and his people to the Empire. They were present to honor a great chieftain, a patriot, a wise legislator and counsellor of the Maori people, and a man of great public spirit. On his way he (His Excellency) had seen evidence of that spirit in the beautiful Tongariro National Park, given by Te Heuheu’s father and completed by himself. That in itself was a grand lasting monument to his memory. His Excellency had heard also of his people’s gift of 40,000 acres for the needs of Maori returned soldiers. Te Heuheu’s last words were: “Support the Government well.” His people carried out that behest, as shown by the part played l by the Maori Battalion. The tribe had distinguished itself in war. “ Let us hope," said His Excellency, “ that Ngati Tuwharetoa will equally distinguish itself in the days of C>?’ Ho urged them to work their and support their local industries. A great future was awaiting the district, in which the tribe would share. He appealed for even greater unity between the two races. The monument and the flagpole about to be unveiled represented the nail and vino respectively. With regard to those two symbols—the first European and the second Maori—of the unity of strength, the gathering and the accompanying ceremony illustrated not only the comradeship of the Maori and ihe pakeha, but also the unity as between the different races of the Empire. “ Lot that unity prevail, and the British Empire would live for ’ever. Let there be one cause, one King, one flag. ‘Kiamau te aroha; kia ora.’ To the glory of God, and in memory of Te Heuheu, I unveil this monument.”

His Excellency stood at the salute while a hymn was sung by a Maori choir. The monument bears the “ Here lies Te Heuheu. Te Heuheu lives, followed 1 by the ancient Maori proverb: “Tongariro the mountain, Taupo the lake, Tuwharetoa the tribe, lo Heuheu the Ulan.” , t n -n •The stono was consecrated! by the Kev. F. R. Callaghan, who said the greatest gift to man was that of being a peacemaker. Te Heuhou had that gift. He did not regard it as the prerogative of the Church to preach pence _ and good-will, but himself exercised the gift to the utmost of his ability. . „ , . , , The unveiling followed, a nominated member from each of the seven canoes of the Great Migration performing the ceremony. The flag of Te Heuheu was then hoisted. , , The Hon. J. G. Coates, who was present ini his capacity as Native Minister, regretted that his friend and predecessor (the late Sir William Homes), the friend also of the Maori people, was no longer with them. Replying to a request made for the removal of the proclamation over various blocks in the district, he said the Government could not remove them alt. The Treaty of Waitaugi gave the Crown a pre-emptive right. However, so far as it was possible the Government would meet the request in cases where it was satisfied that the handling of Eative land, other than by Crown purchase, was m the interests of the Native owners. In at least two cases affecting the people of the district the proclamation "°' dd ‘’e lifted immediately, ns it "as realised ha the Natives’ interests would be best served. Regarding Lake Taupo ; he advised the people to heed the ad'ice of Su Maui Pomace to allow to be disposed of as a. test case. ■ Natives would then know where they stood with regard to Taupo.