TRIPLE SIGN OF UNITY

Evening Star, Issue 21638, 6 February 1934, Page 8

TRIPLE SIGN OF UNITY

FLAGSTAFF AND MEETING HOUSE NEXT RESIDENCY j GOVERNOR'S ELOQUENT ADDRESS AT WAITANGI [Pbr United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 6. , Lord Bledisloe, speaking to-day at the breaking of the flag at the summit of the flagstaff marking the site of the signing of the treaty, said: It affords me great joy to unfurl this Union Jack over the cradle _of this dominion, the spot on which was signed the Treaty of Waitangi,whereby New Zealand became part of the British Empire. May this flagpole never be broken down, anct may this flag, the symbol of British rule, ever betoken justice, equality,; and peace between the two races. God save the King. In his speech at the foundation ceremony of the Whare Runanga, Lord Bledisloe, on behalf of the Trust Board, expressed deep gratitude for manycon- 1 tributions by generous patriotic friendsj towards the restoration and equipment! of historic property. He mentioned inthis connection the late Sir Alfred, Bankart, the Ngapuhi Tribe, and’. Maoris of the South Island, and, forgratuitous services, Messrs Gummer' and Ford, Mr Lindsay Buick, and Mr; F. C. Goldie. Finally he expressed, warm appreciation of the valuable as-; sistance of the Government in many directions. His Excellency said that to the an- j cient Maori, the erection of a house,-} great or small, was an undertaking of.; high importance and special signifi-j cance. Let its importance continue tot be 'recognised, and due ceremonial at* its initiation be observed. The Maori? race need never be ashamed of its archi-, tecture and mural decoration, if they, conformed to the old tradition. Who’ could truthfully say that Europeans’! taste in buildings exceeded that of the Native race, or that their ancestors had 5 blended with the beauties of mountains, lakes, and incomparable Native" bush more fittingly than those of their,, dark-skinned compatriots. After dwelling upon the significance attached by.;, the ancient Maoris to the building of} such a house, and mentioning the. customs observed in its erection, His Excellency expressed the hope that this; national building would never be al- : lowed to fall into disrepair. As it was to bo a Whare Runanga in the sense typical of the finest Maori traditions, let .the Maori people make it their corporate responsibility. Let those whose brilliant conception it was endeavour to typify in it the nobility, of the Maori race, and thus provide a fitting rendezvous to which their people could resort on occasions ,of national rejoicing or mourning. He hoped it would , provide a common meeting ground where old feuds would be forgotten and new friendships forged; where national issues could be debated, and national problems approached from the Maori standpoint, and explained in such way as to assist the, pakeha in fully understanding and appreciating the Maori mind. Above all, let it be a centre where pride of race was to be fostered, and expanded. Henceforward there would stand in close proximity, to the old British Residency, the Meeting House and the flagstaff. . “ May not this triple association of significant structures on this _ hallowed spot be deemed at this crisis in the history of the world to typify the determination of our two races in this highly favoured dominion whose joint heritage it is, to cultivate harmony and - mutual understanding, and, as trust- ; ful comrades, to march forward to- ; gether with confidence and hope, with’ the standard of Imperial freedom float-) ing overhead, to an assured future of unbroken prosperity, contentment, and peace such as our forefathers who met on this raarae ninety-four years ago could not in their wildest dreams have foreseen. Such is my fervent hope and prayer, as I now formally declare the foundations of this meeting house well and truly laid.”