MAORIS’ WELCOME

Grey River Argus, 10 March 1938, Page 5

MAORIS’ WELCOME

TO CATHOLIC PRELATES

Totara Point Ceremony

[Per Press Association.] KOHUKOHU, March 9.

High on a bluff overlooking the camp at Totara Point, Hokianga, where thousands of natives and pakehas assembled for the celebration of the centenary of the Catholic Church in the north, candles were lighted this morning on the missionary altar of Bishop Pompallier. Mist lay all round, and dawn was just breaking over the hills, revealing a scene of splendour, but there, at the alter, the Mill Hill Maori Missioner was celebrating Mass. It was the opening scene of the day when the Apostolic delegate (Archbishop Panico) landed at the Point, re-enacting the drama of a century ago, when the first Catholic Mission, led by Bishop pallier, landed on the same spot, and the first Mass in New Zealand was said. , All through the night koreros had been in progress, the elders of various tribes extending from the North Cape to Auckland, speaking at length on past heroes and past days of the Mission. Now all was activity about the

cooking pits, and in the dining marque was a bustle and activity, as the Ngapuhi hosts prepared for rhe day of days. Over 2000 more visitors, pakeha and Maori, arrived during the early hours, huge city transport passenger buses traversing the one-way country roads, bringing visitors to the most inaccessible part of the Northland. Traffic problems were numerous but full preparations were made by the Transport Department, and the least possible difficulty was experienced for visitors from the south. The long journey was well worth while. The exquisite setting of the bush-clad hills and sunlit waters of the Hokianga Maori camp presented an enlivening site, and the scene at the greeting of Archbishop Panico was rich in Maori and religious ceremonial, in colourful combination. When the “all clear” signal was given from the camp, the official party headed by His Excellency, left Rawene, and as soon as the launch was discernible, the Maoris assembled in strength on the hallowed hills of the Point, and the wailing cries of the wahines heralded the party with the traditional “Haeremai Ra” welcome, all repeated continuously. The • scene at the landing had all the ele- < ments of romance. MAORI GREETING.

As the feet of the Apostolic delegate touched the soil, four southern chiefs and four wahines advanced to greet his Excellency. The Maori custom was not being fully observed, there being no hakas and no rubbing of noses, but Piu Piu and mat-clad warriors and women, with gestures and symbolic posture, waving meres and taihas, added a picturesque note, as the Apostolic party, in purple and full canonicals, advanced up the hill, led by fearsome looking guards. The assemblage of Maori women. still waving green twigs and still crying “Haeremai Ra,” parted, and between the two lines his Excellency, smiling and bowing, reached the crown of the hill, where were erected the memorial plinth and mahau that was to be the soene of the Mass. Here the native greeting ended, and the church ceremony began.

Met by a cross-bearer and soutaneclad priests, the Archbishop was led to the vesting tent, behind the altar. Shortly after, the procession emerged again.

MAORI CHILDREN’S CHOIR.

The scene now centred round the altar, where Bishop Brodie, the first New Zealand-born Bishop, celebrated the centenary Mass. To the colour of the ancient ritual was added a unique note, a Maori choir of 240 children from the Napier and Northland Convents singing, unaccompanied, the Gregorian Mass. It was a most impressive spectacle, extending far into the maere meeting ground and far across the hill. The huge assemblage knelt, and reverently joined in the responses. Now came a further ceremony. . From the altar at the conclusion of the Mass, his Excellency was led to the plinth, which he unveiled amid a tremendous ovation. Then the voice of the new representative of the Pope was heard in a short address, dealing with the significance of the occasion. This, too, was dealt with in the now revealed bi-lingual inscription, In grateful acknowledgement to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for the blessing of the Catholic Faith brought to New Zealand by the Right Rev. John Baptist Pompallier, Vicar of Western Oceania, and of his offering the first Mass in the land on this site, in the house of Thomas and Mary Poynton, January 13, 1838.” With this religious aspect the ceremonial ended, but still to come was the continuation of the hui, reaching its climax late this afternoon, when the various tribal leaders would extend to the Apostolic delegate ceremonial greetings and addresses.

Maori Addresses

PRESENTED TO DR. PANICO.

KOHUKOHU, March 9.

Gathered about the plinth that commemorated the landing and the first Mass of Bishop Pompallier on New Zealand soil, descendants of the first Maori converts to the Catholic Church to-day presented to his Excellency (Archbishop Panico) an illuminated bi-lingual address, telling of their memory of the Bishop, and their gratitude for the Faith he brought. Couched in the picturesque language of their race, it gave a welcome to the Apostolic delegate, who came down following the steps of Bishop Pompallier. “My Lord, Bishop Pompallier brought you hither from far away beyond the sea. Welcome. As part of that rock which holds the anchor of St. Peter, in the See of Rome. Welcome to you and all the distinguished prelates from distant countries You have been broughv hither by three mighty seas, Ngarunui, Ngaruroa and Ngarupaewhenua. These were the three mighty waves that brought Bishop Pompallier across the sea of Kiwa to this land, Te Ika Maui, in the year 1838. Welcome to ye holy sons of the Church, to this historic spot, Te Totara. From

here Bishop Pompallier commenced his noble work, spreading the Faitn among our people. Bishop Pompallier made peace on this land. We, who are the descendants of our elders, who first embraced the Faith, and are assembled here, too are gratefid to Bishop Pompallier for guiding us.” In his address, Archbishop Panico also recalled the memorable journey of Bishop Pompallier, and his great work among the Maoris througnout New Zealand and expressed pleasure that the Maoris gathered to-day should retain the Faith the missionaries brought.

Prelates Depart PLAINTIVE MAORI FAREWELL. AT TOTARA POINT.

KOHUKOHU, March 9.

Two Maori youths introduced a unique note of the farewell given by the Northland Maoris at Totara Point, Hokianga, this afternoon. While thousands of Maoris and pakehas lined the bank of the river, these two concerned placed themselves alongside the Apostolic Delegate’s launch, and when the craft was in midstream, suddenly emerged. Archbishop Panico had just risen to wave a smiling farewell to his hosts of the day, when, with a fearsome gesture and the chant of a naka, he was confronted by the two Maoris. He apparently enjoyed the happy tribute, and raised his hand in salutation. It was promptly seized and shaken, and then the two daring braves dived from the narrow stage and struck out for the shore.

During the afternoon his Excellency had been entertained by various tribal groups who had in turn presented through their chiefs and elders an oratorical tribute, interpolat ed with paos and Maori songs linked with speech, pois and hakas.

" HONOUR FOR DR. PANICO.

Tribal representatives from the far south of Hawke’s Bay joined in the gesture friendship, and one of them, Waimarama Pukara, on behalf of the Maori Marist Missions, paid compliments as claiming Archbishop Panico as a fellow chief. He had said Pukara built his name in the hearts of the Maori people by his graciousness that afternoon. As a further gesture of esteem the Archbishop was presented with a chieftain’s shoulder mat which he wore on his departure. Down at the landing stage, practically the whole encampment, together with hundreds of visitors, crowded the bluffs overlooking the river, and a farewell scene was enacted amid wailing paos of the Maori women, and the singing of “Haere Ra,” both in Maori and English, by pupils of St. Joseph’s Convent, Napier, and cheers for all. After leaving Totara Point to-day, his Excellency will spend the night, at Kaikohe. To-morrow he will visit the Waitaruke Native Convent at Whangaroa, returning to Auckland later in the week, and sailing for Australia on Monday next.

Though the major guests of honour had departed, the end of the hui has not yet come.

To-night, Very Rev. Father Owen Dudley, Superior of the Catholic Missionary Society, London, delivered, through an interpreter, his famous address: “Why I became a Catholic,” and there were further tribal koreros. For days still the Maoris will live in the camp, clearing up after the hui. That will be no easy task, but’ it will be lighter than that experienced during the past few days. The Ngapuhi Tribe has been most hospitable, and the guests have been treated regally, particularly in the matter of food. Tremendous supplies of combestibles have been consumed, and yesterday’s luncheon menu comprised twelve bullocks, nine pigs, and 900 fowls, in addition to many tons of kumeras, potatoes, fruit salads, trifles, watermelons, cake and bread.