MAORI STATESMAN

Evening Star, Issue 22988, 20 June 1938, Page 14

MAORI STATESMAN

MEMCRIALS TO SIR JAMES CARROLL CARVED NESTING HOUSES OPENED ■ [Pea United Piiess Association.! WAIROA, June 19. Unforgettable scenes were witnessed in Wairoa yesterday when Maoris numbering many hundreds and Europeans gathered to do honour to the memory of one whose name will ever be remembered as a man who played a tremendous part in bringing about a better relationship between Maoris and pakehas at a time when that relationship was very much strained—the great Maori statesman and orator, Sir James Carroll. The occasion was the opening of the beautiful Takitimu carved meeting house, which stands on Waiherere marae, and Taihoa Hall, situated near the famous cabbage tree on the banks of the Wairoa River under which the beloved “ Timi Kara ” (James Carroll), born of a Maori mother and an Irish father, first saw the light of day. Both buildings have been erected as memorials to the great Maori leader. The ceremonies were performed by the Acting Minister of Native Affairs (Mr F. Langstone), and each will leave a lasting impression on all those who were fortunate enough to witness it. The ceremonies were the culmination of nearly a week of celebrations in which Maoris from all parts of the North Island had been taking part, and after several days of rain, which had turned the marae on which the visitors had been camped into a sea of mud, the morning broke beautifully fine. Hakas of Welcome The scene of the first ceremony was Taihoa Hall, at Te Uhi, where a large crowd had arrived early awaiting the appearance of the Ministerial party and King Koroki, who had come from Waikato to pay his respects to the dead statesman. Hakas of welcome and the rendering of waiatas by parties of Maori girls and women signalled the arrival of the official party. These demonstrations were followed by an address of welcome by Puti Rahunga, a chieftainness of the Ngati-Kahungunu tribe, and which was translated by the Minister’s secretary (Mr Balneavis). The Minister then opened the building with a golden key, and, accompanied by XCinK Koiokx. entered the hall. The Minister stated that it gave him great pleasure to be present to take part in the great memorial service. They were present to commemorate the work of one of New Zealand’s greatest sons. “ Giver of Much Good “ “He was born on this spot/’ Mr Langstone said. “ From his mother he learned all there was to know of the Maori, and from his father he learned all there was to know of the pakeha. As he grew up, so his great knowledge expanded. Through his influence and knowledge he was the giver of much good to both Maori and pakeha. He was a friend of the people,' and he had sanctified the name Taihoa. He saw the surge of the pakeha to get land, and there was n deep wound in the breast of the Maori when he came among us. He therefore said ‘Taihoa,’ the time was not ready. If ha were here to-day he would say ‘Kaitere,’ which in other words means ‘ get on.’ He was pursuing a policy, and because he pursued that policy the Maoris to-day were beneficiaries of his greatness.” Referring to the name of the hall. Mr Langstone said Taihoa had become a sacred word with a vastly different meaning to the one the Maoris had given it. “Timi Kara is asleep,” he concluded. "May he sleep long and peacefully, and may we take up the torch where he laid it down and carry it higher. Let us go on ever forward, onwards, upward and sunward. May we try to emulate the deeds of such men and play our part in welding that bond of friendship and brotherhood between Maori and pakeha.” .The Minister's speech was followed by further hakas, one, which was led by Sir Apirana Ngata. causing a great deal of amusement. It was known as the petroleum haka, and demonstrated in no uncertain manner the attitude of the Maoris of the east coast toward the Government’s petroleum policy as it affected the payment of royalties to them. Memorial Service By the time the official party had arrived at Waihereremarae for the big function thousands of people had gathered, all anxious to take part in the celebrations in honour of Wairoa’s greatest son. The ceremony began soon after the arrival of the Minister and King Koroki with a short service conducted by Canon Williams and assisted by two Maori clergy. Hata Tipoki, chief of the Ngati-Kahu-ngunus, gave a short address in Maori, and Sir Apirana Ngata then described several ceremonies which had already been held at various times in order to remove any tapus or lay any ghosts. “The biggest ghosts in the land today,” he stated amid laughter, “have been created by the Labour Government, and it is appropriate that we should have a representative of the Government here to lay the last ghost. We will then have laid all the ghosts—political, religious, social. Maori, pakeha, Irish, Scottish, and otherwise.” Ghosts formed the subject of Mr Langstone’s opening remarks. He said there were no ghosts left, and there was no need for either Maori or pakeha to worry much on that score. He paid a tribute to Sir Apirana, and added that with his great knowledge he could lay all the ghosts even in the Labour Government. He praised the designers of the building, which would be commemorated to a great inspiration. He hoped such work would be carried further so that the arts and crafts of the Maoris could be preserved. The Government was pleased to see those great works going on, particularly when they were to commemorate men like Sir James Carroll, who had none so much for New Zealand. Sir James Carroll came and lived at a time when he was most required and his name would live for ever, not only because of what he tried to do for the Maori, but also for what he did for the pakeha. No finer or more honourable man ever lived, the Minister said, and he was sorry Sir James was not there that day to continue the work he started. He had. however, been followed by some great men, such as Sir Maui Pomare. Dr Peter Buck and Sir Apirana Ngata. One of the most pleasing features was to see the younger people stepping out and facing up to the many problems which faced then, to-day. No one could have played a greater or more courageous part than “Timi Kara,” and if he had been alive to-day he would have been right behind the forward movement. Native Policy Outlined

The Minister dealt with the Government’s Native policy and scheme to get the Maori back on to the land, paying a tribute to Sir Apirana Ngata and those associated with him in the inauguration of the scheme. The Maori people were to-day beginning to realise what they could do under proper supervision, and he was bold enough to say that within a few years the Maoris would all be occupying their own lands and would be setting a standard of living cental to that at present enjoyed by others. It was his intention to see that the money placed in his care would be spent in such a way as to produce

the greatest amount of good. It was also his intention to settle the Natives so that they would have economic justification lor their existence.