The Maori Contingent in London

Hastings Standard, Issue 395, 10 August 1897, Page 4

The Maori Contingent in London

Describing the ai rival of the Ri\i : hine with the New Zealand Jubilee contingent and the Bisley team, the London Times says : The captain of the Maori contingent i? named Hoani Paraone Tu-nui-a-rangi. Hoani is the Maori for John, while Paraone is Brown, the name of his father, the captain of the Maoris being a half-caste, as are several of the men. Tu-nui-a-rangi means " Standing-great-every-day," or, as it might perhaps be rendered, " Always magnanimous." Honi traces his ancestry on his mother's side back for 20 generations to Tamatea, who came to New Zealand in the canoe Takitimu. During the passage the Maoris composed a song which they propose to sing to Her Majesty if they are permitted. As is the case with all Maori songs sung on great occasions it has a purpose, and it is accompanied by somewhat startling action. It begins : —Leader—E Ivui te Kuini! All Wikitoria ! This is repeated three times and is a "Whakanui, or ascription of greatness. -The translation is " 0 Lady the Queen ! " to which all cry, " Victoria." Then all sing : E Kui te Kuini E ! This is a calling of attention, and when it has been sung three times Her Majesty is supposed to answer with a cry of ' O !." which in Maori is equivalent to saying " What is it ? " Then the chant proceeds Kei ki mai kce kite take o aku tini mahi e hui nei i te tau tabi i te tau rua. E, ka hui ki roto a Kanana kia tu ai nga mahi o te Kuini ki runga ki te rangi etu iho nei. Ka tu koe, ka titiro; ka noho au, ka raparapa. E, te ax aku kaha kite mahi kai ma tou hui. E ha, e ngau nei i te rohe pakapaka i au e ! A translation of this would be : " Do not think that in what we say and do in New Zealand w T e have any complaint to make against you (the Queen). Now we are assembled in London to establish the power of the Queen on high in the heavens that spread before us. Thus canst stand, thou canst look. The Maoris sit down and consider. Thus we shall be strengthened to provide material for this celebration. But alas, we in New Zealand are chewing dry bread." The Maoris want Her Majesty clearly to understand that she must not suppose that because they have beeu holding meetings of recent years they have any complaint against her —leaving it, of course, to be inferred, that their trouble is with the Colonial Government. The concluding part indicates that the Maoris in New Zealand have been considering their grievances, and that before Tu-nui-a-rangi and his companions leave England they will present a petition showing what they desire in the way of reform respecting the dealing of native lands.