OUR MAORI COLUMN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 February 1929, Page 11

OUR MAORI COLUMN

SUMMARY IN ENGLISH.

The editor of Aotea this week takes for the subject- of bis leading article the significance of the 18th diay of the month, and particularly of the 18th of March, to' the Maoris of Taranaki. As some pakebas know, the ißth of every month is a spebiaji day in the calendar of the Maoris of this province, and on the 18th of March large assemblies of natives gather at the vairiouspaihs. This date has no significance to Maoris in other parts of the Dominion, and the; reason for its celebration is, not always, known to Maoris in other j parts. The 18th of March is the anniversary of the outbreak of the nine years Maori War of Taranaki, and it has -been known since 1860 as ‘‘Akerarna” —“The Day of Blood,” Or “The shedidng of blood.” The Maori editor, in the: course of his article, compares this day of celebration with the Acel [Darna of the Scriptures, and reef-rs to: the events which -ultimately lead to the declaration of peace-. The second article -refers to the Methodist Conference now sitting in Auckland, and attended by Maori and pakeha ministers of the Gospel. The working together of representatives of both races in the cause of religion is particularly commented upon. Reference is made to the Wesley College- at Paerata, where Maori and pakeha- students work together. . The third article gives the gist of Sir Joseph Ward’s replv to- the; deputation of Maoris- who waited upon ihiimi last week in connection with South Island land matters. _ The following l article is a reply to the correspondent who wrote 'last week asking how cam© New Zealand, to he named Aotea-roa. The reply is to the effect that the- editor invites -some of the old men to answer this question m tlie first instance. . This week the conchidang list. of important dates in aMori history i-s pub- 1 lished. ending with the death of Titokmaru. in 1887. As -so much Maori sentiment is attached to this 'latter ©vent neither the exact date of Ins death nor his burial place m mentioned. The concluding article is a. circular from the Department of Native Health dealing with the treatment of influenza.