GOVERNOR’S PACIFIC TOUR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 17 May 1926, Page 10

GOVERNOR’S PACIFIC TOUR.

WELCOME AT RAROTONGA. For months past tne natives of Raro_ tonga had been practising their songs and dances in anticipation o ftlie arrival of His Excellency the GovernorGeneral and Lady Alice Fergusson, and dances in anticipation of the arrived on Tuesday, March 4, on board the Government steamer Tutanekai, escorted by H.M.S. Laburnum, the people flocked down to the landing wharf at Avarua, the port of the island (writes the Auckland Star’s Rarotongan correspondent under date May 4). Men, women, and children, all in their best and brightest attire, assembled in great number. Their Excellencies put off from the Tutanekai, which was anchored a short- way offshore, and as they did so a salute was lirecl from the warship. Sir Maui Pom a re, head of the Cook Islands Department, who had gone from New Zealand on an official visit, received the visitors, and accompanying him were the Resident Commissioner (Mr. H. F. Ay son) and all the other white officials. The native arikis (supreme chiefs), with their hereditary spokesman (no person of Royal blood being allowed to do his own speaking), were also there, while in the background was the rest of the population. One of the wrineipal orators who voiced the cordial welcome the natives extended to their Excellencies was Tupureta, who is one of the oldest of these “officials” on. the island, and occupies a position much akin to that of toastmaster at a London banquet. The day of arrival was wholly given over to the official reception, or rather receptions, for in the afternoon there was a garden party at the Residency, and in the evening an official ball

For the visitors the main interest will centre round the purely native receptions, which will • take place at “Taputapuatea” to-morrow. The men and women will be grouped in squads according to their villages in front of the dais on which their Excellencies will take their place. Then will follow a bewildering series of dances. Before the Tutanekai was at Itarotonga she called at Mangaia, one of the largest islands of the Cook group. She should have come on to Avarua, but as "the anchorage was occupied by the mail steamer she put in the time by calling at Mangaia, JIG miles away. Although probably the least fertile of tlie group, Mangaia has an energetic and hospitable population of over TOO!), who alh assembled on tlie side of the isia'ud where the landing is situated, and gave the Governor and Lady Alice hergnsson a wonderfully hearty reception The island is encircled by what is known as a “fringing reef,” and over this the party had to be taken in canoes. It was at Mangaia that the newcomers were greeted with their first “kioranu,” the Karotongan form of salutation. It sounded very reminiscent of our Maori “l-:ia ora.” and as a matter of fact it is the island form of the same greeting. The natives were unaffectedly glad to receive their disti 11 gni shed visiters.