WAITANGI CELEBRATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 21639, 7 February 1934, Page 5

WAITANGI CELEBRATIONS

THE FINAL DAY CEREMONIES [Per United Press Assocxatton-I WAITANGI. February 6. To the grassy uplands from where the British Residency looks out over the Bay of Islands the scene of the celebrations moved to-day. There was an im- ; mense crowd, and among the leafy trees j in this appropriate setting the various' tribes were sitting. Each in turn presented dances, chants, and incantations,giving in every case a remarkable performance. The hakas and war dances on this occasion were not so fiercely, interpreted as on the marae ground, the intention being to convey a different,; almost a reverential, meaning. Under! an elm had been erected a platform for the G ovcrnor-General and Ladyj Bledisloe and party, and in the inune--diate front was an oak tree, and totara' and manuka trees,' the intermingling of the English and native trees being significant-;) s an indication of the transition, that is taking place in the cases, of the races represented that day. Be- ! hind all -was the bay, with H.M.S.-' Dunedin and H.M.S. Diomede lying at anchor, and launches cutting through the water, and directly opposite was Russell, the Kororareka of old, where. Hone Heke’s war broke out in 1846.- j Overlooking Russell stands the famous’ flagstaff cut down by Hone Heke’s men. j It is appropriate that in front, of the Residency stands, the. very tall flagstaff on the spot where the treaty was actually signed, and the first act of the Governor-General to-day was to break the Jack 'at the 'masthead, the function taking place in the'.presence of a naval guard of 150 men, who first gave the royal salute. To the accompani. ment played by the warships’ hands,the crowd sang the National Anthem., Cheers wore then called for, and tha Maoris danced the haka ‘ Kainate.’ After this function the ■ afternoon’s programme, provided by the Maoris, began, the various tribes dancing in front of the old oak tree. As each tribe appeared the chief addressed the Go-vernor-General, testifying to the loyalty of his tribe, advancing proof of this loyalty even though their ancestors, as in the case of the Taranaki Arawas, had.not signed the treaty. Some or the speeches were quaintly expressive. Several presentations were made to the Governor-General, including cloaks, taih'as and an old painting of the signing of the treaty in 1840, the artist being a young Maori, Mr Haddon. At the conclusion of his speech tha Governor-General proceeded to the site of the Whare Runanga, where he laid the foundation stone, and afterwards inspected the guard of honour comprise ing seventy Maori returned soldiers. The historic occasion was closed with' the singing of the National Anthem. The dense crowd then made its way downhill to Waitangi. , The exodus from the camp commenced to-night, the first to leave being the Arawas. By to-morrow night only the Ngatoporou Ngapnhis will remain. M ESSAGE TO TH E KINGSpeaking at the flagstaff ceremonythis afternoon Mr Tae Henare,- i1.P.,-1 presented to the Governor-General the following resolution which was . carried unanimously by a meeting by the assembled tribes■ That,we .members of the Maori race assembled at Waitangi on this t ninetyfourth' anniversary of the signing of the treaty .reaffirm' Our; allegiance and loyalty to the British Throne, and respectfully request your- Excellency to address this our message ‘to Hia Majesty the King. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S MESSAGE. ; - AUCKLAND, February 6. following message has, been received by the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) from Sir Janies Parr, High Commissioner, for New Zealand in London:—“ Some hundreds of'loyal New, Zealanders gathered to-night at the annual New Zealand Day dinner are present inspirit with you at the imposing dedication to both races at New Zealand’s most historic spot. Descendants of. Archdeacon Williams, James Busby, and Captain, Hobson are gathered here and hope .that Mr Anthony Eden, Lord Privy Seal, whose kinsman, Lord Auckland, was instrumental in Captain! Hobson’s appointment, will join us later. Lastly, we tender our respectful greetings to you and Lady Bledisloe.”