MAORI HUI.

Gisborne Times, Volume L, Issue 5137, 1 April 1919, Page 5

MAORI HUI.

BIGGEST GATHERING OF THE KIND. WILL FAR OUT-RIViL DUKE OF YORK CELEBRinONS. I EFFORT TO RAISE £25,000 FOR MAORI SOLDIERS. ■ The Maori Hui on tie Park Racecourse, for which th? preparations have extended over many months, will be absolutely the biggest thing of the kind that has attempted and it will leave far in the background the huge native gathering held when King George (then Duke of York) visited the Dominion some years ago. ■ In the latter case the Government made a grant to cover the expenses, but with the Hui, a bolt to be held, the natives will be wholly responsible for the cost which wifi reach a sum !of £3600. That seerhs a large amount but- it is expected to realise from the sale of materials used in connection with the Hui alone £3OOO. and in accordance witl custom each native who visits the H« will present not only a sum of money for the I Maori Soldiers’ Fund but will, at. the same time, make a separate contribution towards the expenses. With reimbursements from tie sale of materials and these contnblutors. the expenses of the Hui arc not likely to become a heavy tax upon the gross 1 proceeds. A Gisborne Times reporter, at the j invitation of Captain Pitt, visted the Park Racecourse during the week-end ! and was given an'opportunity of ini' specting the various buildings, sanitI ary arrangements, etc. By the main j entrance, through large double gates, admission is gained to the “Marae” ,or main court-yard, which forms a square with an area of about two ! acres. Immediately in front and I abutting the eastern end of the Stewards’ Stand is a huge stage. ; Within the Marae a number of mar- ; quees and hutments are being erect-, j ed. These are very neatly built and j have an excellent appearance. The I Racing Club’s stables, vhich run al- | ono 1 the south-eastern end of the Marae have been thoroughly reno--1 vated, di'infected and whitewashed The floor of each apartment will be covered with about three or four inches of saw-dust, on top of which the raupo beds wil b placed. Close to tile sleeping rooms so provided, there is a large produce stall. The lawn j is to be thoroughly- cleaned up and the grass cut. The whole of the Marae will be lighted W electricity, the installation being under the control of Messrs F. Hall and Sons, but the running of the dyimmo and engine will be in- the liaids- of Mr J. Heyes, while the setting up of the dynamo and engine was in. charge of Mr Tuiri Tareha, an expert from Hawke’s Bay. The Marae will be connected with the telephone exchange. Visitors from outside Poverty Bay are to be quartered in the Stewards Stand These are not expected to exceed 20 or 30. The bedding for the marquees, hutments and stables is composed of raup'o, which has been cut and knitted into teds by the Muriwai natives. The sanitary ar- ! ran cements in connection with the ! Mai •ap provide, according to rules j laid down by the best authorities, for i 5000 people, and- have the full ap- | proval of the Health Officers. I The Hui Headquarters Staff, head- j I ed by Captain Pitt, will be accommodated in the Stewards’ Stand, which j will be connected 1 by telephone with j the exchange. Provision is being j made for the sale of soft drinks, fruit. | ice creams, etc., at various stalls, all of which will be under tie control of the Hui Committee. The kitchen is situated in the Main Grandstand, and here a staff of women and girls will produce unlimited quantities of puddings, cakes and pastry. In the same building is the buk storeroom. At the rear of the Grandstand and in line with the produce stall a commodious tea room, on cmteen, capable of seating 80 or 90 people, has been erected. . &o that the assistants will not be inconvenienced .with the handling of cash, purchases will be itade by coupons, which will be sold on the ground in bundles of 15 for 5s per bundle. The use of these coupons will be restricted to the purhease of eatables, cigarettes and tobacco. The dining-room is 180 ft long by 45ft wide and has a seating accommodation ’for 500. Along one side are the supply tables made from large cases, each of which has two or more compartments for the i storage of, crockery. Running at the back of the tables is a row of wooden troughs or tubs. There are twelve in all, or one to each table. Hot and cold water is laid on to the tubs which are fitted with the regulation taps, etc. The water, after it has been used for washing up, passes into an iron pipe connected with a steam pipe and is forced far out towardh the beach. Outside the iron fence are two large engines—a portable and a tractor One of these is connected with a bench for sawing wood, hut their main purpose is to provide the steam for cooking and hot water. The Hui i Committee were unable to procure engines locally, and were obliged to I send to Hawke’s Bay for them. They landed by the Ripple on Friday, and are rather expensive items. The food 1 will nearly all be cooked by steam. After it has been prepared it will be placed in tanks or barrels into which steam pipes will be set. About 80 cords of firewood are on the ground, and 40 cords are yet to come. Some 50 tons of potatoes and kiuneras have been supplied locally, ana another 50 tons are yet to arrive, the cooking will be under the, direction }of Captain Taranaki. The diningroom will he controlled by the Hon J 4 t The dming-xoom and the whole of the back portion of the camp will be lit up bv electricity, the engine and dynamo being run by Mr Paetai Wilson A hitchers shop has been erected. Theowhole of the meat used will be killed bv Nelson Brofe.. and will be delivered dai y to the shop on. the ground* The canteen will be under the central of Mr P Keiba, and the laundry, situated under the Grandstand, will be under the care of Mrs Pitt, ,yho will w V e a number of willing workers. All refuse from the camp |is to be carted awav daily. .. ' ' . . , The transport, meeting of visitors, +he cuionlvimr of information re- , £ P SVwm le f «ea T .o fc v the Headquarters Stair. the I hot water service extendi* to the " and provision has been, ! for hot and coid baths at any ! time The dining-room is Provided wfth' a lara e platform for an orchestoa and this building may be used for’ ravine concerts in the evening. Arrangements have been made with fhe toh proprietors for the Hui to Fehifit' by P every passenger earned to , v ovtcnt of sixpence. rersons w- y ,l when cashing the coupon 2s. T .^f e fraV Gladstone Road and on the return journey vehicles Si be required to make a short detour street at the. back of which, thfiy win reach - tile first crossing.-' Unlclers tS A] be. absolutely . closed, and no aumissioh will be'gained; fr<mi this ' “'the' 1 wnbleA <if the labor,. eXfeptH^. where-experts hria to h,o>epgag d, wK?. been Voluntary/:' f«effort +,hey were j &&3S: Ued, to raise ■■WtiM&WgbM Mpn j Ret,yed Soldi*