FOR WAITANGI

Evening Star, Issue 21622, 18 January 1934, Page 12

FOR WAITANGI

TOTARA CHAIR AHB GREENSTONE PRESENTATION TO LORD BLEDiSLOE [Per United Press Association.] PICTON, January 18. Picton’s beautiful foreshore formed an ideal setting, in glorious weather, for a picturesque function this morning, when the South Island tribes presented Lord Bledisloe with a massive totara chair, ornamented with magnificent Maori carving, to he placed in the old British Residency on the Wait'angi estate. Accompanying the chair was a block of greenstone-from the West Coast Natives. The presentation followed traditional Maori forms, and was preceded bv a dedication service. A representative gathering of Maoris and pakehas watched with rapt interest while, with incantations and hakas, the tapu was lifted from the chair before it was presented to His Excellency as a_ mark of the Maoris’ appreciation of his gift of the Waitangi estate and to commemorate the signing of the Treaty. In eloquent flights of oratory, Te A'H Pitama. acting under the authority of the whole of the Southern Maoris, made the presentation amii scenes of groat enthusiasm. Receiving the gift, Lord Bledisloe said that the chair would be accorded a place of honour in the Treaty House. It would be used by the chairman of the Trust Board at all meetings and gatherings held there. The greenstone block, at the wish of the donors, would, like the stone scone under the English throne, be placed under the gift chair. He welcomed the presentation as. evidence of an even closer welding together of Maori and pakeha friendship and nationhood.

The Hon. J. Bitchener spoke on behalf of the Government.

A big Native feast and sports followed, and their Excellencies returned to Wellington. .