MAORIS IN LONDON.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 September 1924, Page 7

MAORIS IN LONDON.

HOUSED AT WALTHAMSTOW. t LONDON, July 14. Mr T. .W. Ratana and his Maori party have left the- vicinity of Paddington and are more pleasantly and economically housed at Walthamstow, a- suburb in the vicinity of Epping Forest. Here the Y.M.C.A. have a new* memorial headquarters, and in the grounds is one of the Y.M.C.A., huts, used during the Avar as a canteen and. meeting place. The association has been able to hand this over to the Maoris, and here they are installed. They have, made their own sleeping arrangements, and they do their ; OAvn cooking and housekeeping.

Since their arrival in this country they 'have taken care not to seek undue publicity. Most of their time has been occupied in sight-seeing, and they have escaped mention in the metropolitan Press, except for the few notices- on their arrival. They have been gndng a feAV concerts, however. One of the jfirst of these was arranged by the Y.M.C.A., at King George 5 s Hall, near the headquarters of the association in Tottenham Coutt road. In addition they given concerts at WalthamstoAv Toavii Hall and at Stratford, and they have offered their services free- of charge for any charitable performances in any part, of England. So far they haA*e four or five engagements, one of these in aid of the funds of the Royal Northern Hospital. In this ease they are to perform at a “summer fete and country fair 55 at Grovelands Park, Southgate, on Saturday, 26th July. They Avill also give some items at the High Commissioner’s reception on 21st July, at the NeAv Zealand paA'ilion at W embloA*.

At each of the concerts given in and around London, Mr P. T. Moko, Ratana’s secretary, gives a brief address explaining * Ratana 5 s religious work. Already- some 3000 letters have been received Avith reference to healing-