MAORI COWBOYS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21353, 14 March 1944, Page 4

MAORI COWBOYS

AMERICAN IMPRESSION VISIT TO RUATORIA An American impression ot' an East Coast town which lias probably never been obtained by New Zealanders is contained in an article written by a Marine Corps combat correspondent Cot distribution to United States newspapers. It followed a visit to Ruatoria for last year’s Victoria Cross investiture.

The article says that the United States Naval and Marine Corps officers who attended the recent presentation of the Victoria Cross to the parents of the late Lieutenant Te Moana Ngarimu, first Maori to receive the award, were well repaid for their trip. "Not only did they witness a colourful Maori hui, or pageant, but they had a chance to see at first hand an exact replica of an American frontier town in tlie wildest days of the West,” says the article.

Although he does not permit his cowboys to carry revolvers, the correspondent has allowed himself some license. For instance, whereas the investiture ceremony was held in squally weather after several days’ torrential rain, he goes on to tell how the Maori cowboys “came racing into town on their ponies, dismounted in a cloud of dust, tied their horses to hitching posts, and popped into the meeting-place. They play the part well, mainly because they have seen so many American films. Naturally they are partial to Westerns, and Tom Mix is still their favourite.

"The saddler of the town learned this well recently,” continues the article. “After seeing a Mix picture one evening, some of the cowboys, all friends of the saddler, talked over the fine points of cowboying. Then they ail mounted and raced towards the hills. A short time later they came galloping back into town, forced open the saddler’s door, burst’into the back room where he slept, forced him into a straight-backed chair, and proceeded to tie him up. Then they rode off into the night. “Next morning when local bobbies untied the saddler, they were somewhat puzzled when he refused to press charges. But the saddler assured them there was nothing to worry about. He understood the boys’ motives perfectly. They just wanted to be sure they were capable of the tricks of the trade.”