INSTITUTE BIRTHDAY

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 October 1934, Page 9

INSTITUTE BIRTHDAY

TAIPOROHENUI MAORI WOMEN FIRST ANNIVERSARY PARTY CONCERT FOLLOWED BY DANCE. "Wearing the colourful korowai or ceremonial cloak signifying her rank among the people, Mrs S. Panenui extended a personal -welcome to every guest who entered the Taipoi’ohenui Maori Hall last evepjpg on the occasion of the Taiporohenui Maori bratiohs. Tjhe function in many re spects Avas a memorable one, marked by the attendance of many visitor#, both pakeha and Maori, including the Mayor of Haivera Mr J. I?. Cam(pbell) and Mr# Campbell, Mrs W. Kaye (Inglewood) president of the Taranaki Federation of Women’s Institutes, Mrs G. Eaton (Rissington), vice-president of the Hawke’s Bay Feneration and representative- of kindred organisations. “Greetings and' welcome I' extend to you all,” said Mrs Panenui, in her address during the evening. “It is indeed a pleasure to see so many sharing these festivities with us, and I

trust that the function gives you as much pleasure as it does to those , whose honour it is to entertain you.” Mrs Panenui was greeted with rounds of applause which she duly acknowledged. At the main entrance the hostess was assisted in her duties by Mrs R. Rangiwahia, Mrs M. R. Jones and Mrs N. Governor. A gay posy of crimson and blue anemones was presented to Mrs Panenui from the Te Itoti Women’s Institute. In the hall a most artistic , effect was created by streamer decorations in colours of blue and gold which radiated from an attractive centre piece ,the work of Mr Heru Williams. Around the w r a|ls were hung fern 'fronds and other greenery, which also went to form the top section of an improvised “stage” at one end, with sliding curtains to mask the lower section when required • POIS AND HAKAS.

The first half of tile evening’s entertainment took the form of a concert arranged by Mr Heneri Toka and stage-managed by Chief “Scotty” Panenui. After the singing of the Institute song “Comrades and Friends” in unison prayer was led by Mr Toka and the programme opened with a welcome chorus, “Hui Mai,” sung by the combined Taiporohenui poi and haka teams. The ever-popular “Waiata Poi” was contributed by Mrs Wanairangi Toka with Hawaiian guitar accompaniment and her lovely voice was heard again in an encore number and later in the evening in a duet with her husband, the two singing “Waiting For a Ship,” and “F Te Iwi.” Other vocalists were Miss Kitty Reid, who sang “Huia” and “Just an Old-Fashioned Street,” and Mi- Jury Anaru, who sang “Memories” and “Underneath The Arches.” Poi parties performed some delightful dances to the music of the Taiporohenui string orchestra, the first being a modern poi to appropriate music, the second a long string poi and the third a combination of long and short string pois to produce a novel effect when viewed by the audience. The haka teams gave several stirring performances , one of a haka arranged as a welcome by the tribe to King Koroki during his recent visit to the Oeo- encampment, another of a haka arranged to mark the dedication by King Koroki of a new building at Oeo and a third, with chorus,* “Haere mai Tainui,” arranged as a. challenge on the field of sport. Other action choruses which added a further spice of variety, to the programme were “Tenei ano Matou,” arranged and performed by the Bast Coast Maoris at Waitangi, “Tiima Ruru” and the closing chorus “E Pari Ra.” A party of maidens gave a clever performance of a tin dish band and Mr J. Wanau impersonated a Hawaiian maiden in a hula hula. An instrumental solo was given by Mr Toka. Music for all the items was played by the string orchestra and the performers wore full native costume, some of the women displaying valuable greenstone ornaments. At the conclusion of the concert the floor was cleared for dancing and Mr Panenui, in his capacity as master of ceremonies, saw to it that the programme was well varied to suit all tastes

LUU KVUa GUESTS AT SUPPER. Supper was served in the nearby dining hall, with its picturesque interior and long tables upon which all manner of appetising dishes were arranged, with a great variety of other edibles in woven flax baskets. Down the icentre of each table were tall ferns “potted” in flax baskets and on the walls fern fronds added a soft green touch to the ochre background. Branches of kowhai, the Institute flower, adorned the centre post of the building. The guests were conducted to their places with due ceremony and at each place was a woven flax pare or head-band which was worn during the remainder of the festivities. Mr and Mrs Panenui presided, and associated with them at the official table ■were Mr and Mrs Campbell and Mrs Kaye and Mr and Mrs M. R. Jones. Prid*-. of place before the host and hostess was taken by the Institute birthday cake made in two tiers and iced by Mrs W. Adams. On the top was the representation faithfully executed in. icing sugar of a Maori riveting house complete with carved corner posts and a. single tiny candle. Supper was continued m several sittings until well after midnight and in the meantime dancing and other entertainments were proceeding merrily in the main hall. A marimba solo was played by Mr Stanley Hintz and a novelty tap dance and a vocal duet were given Iby Miss Jean McAsey and Mr and Mrs 11. S. Allwright respectively. The pakeha haka team, consisting of Mr and Mrs Jones, Mr and Mrs Allwright and Mr and Mrs W- A. Spragg, gave its version of how a Maori haka should be performed and received rounds of applause for their effort. An accompaniment was played by Mrs Antoni Bonetti.

At an opportune moment the birthday cake was removed from the dining hall to the dance hall, where the candle was lit by Mrs Adams simultaneous with the electric lights being extinguished momentarily.. The candle was blown out by Mrs Governor and the cake ceremoniously cut by Mrs Pnnenui, each guest receiving a portion. Posies were presented to Mrs Panenui, Mrs Governor, the Mayoress. Mrs Adams and to Miss I>. Corrigan, founder of the Institute.

ACTIVITIES REVIEWED

In presenting a brief report of the activities of the Institute since its inJ ception on October 3 last year, Mrs Governor said that eleven members were enrolled on opening day. Since then the membership had increased to 21. Four committee meetings, two flag 500 socials, four euchre parties and one concert were held to obtain funds. All proved both social and j financial successes. Demonstrations Were given by Mrs Stevens (raffia j- tray), Mrs R. Campbell (taniko head [ { band), Mrs, Lovell (floral work), Mrs j Adams (baske't, leather work and rugy making), Mrs Toka (piupiu mat), Miss j Blake (quilting), Mrs Fowler (piner needle basket), Miss Corrigan (talk on j her travels) and Sister Small (lecture . ,on. slfin disease and demonstration of bayndpgmg). During the year several 1 competitions were held, these including three best, plain scones, articles ’ made from a sugar bag and from ma- ) terial npt costing more than one sh.il- ■ ling from one skein of 3-ply wool and, i from one. yard of cretonne, kit made ; from flax, bouquet suitable for sick ; room, sock darning, potato competition, and .eggless cake. Two delegates attended' the half-yearly council meeting at Inglewood and a delegate attended the Dominion Federation Con- , ference. The general meetings were held and. .all provided very happy times together. Greetings were conveyed to the In- ] stitute from the town of Hawera by < Mr Campbell, who said that, in com- ] mon with. Mrs Campbell, he" fully ap- 1 predated the opportunity afforded of attending what had proved to he a j most successful and in many respects memorable function. A happy note had ( been struck by the intermingling of 1 the two races and their evidence of * co-operation one with the other. He £ congratulated Mrs Governor on her excellent report and said it had been c most interesting to note the extent of g Miss Corrigan’s efforts to ensure the continued: progress of the Institute of which she had been the founder. “I would remind the Maori people that in t the course of learning more of their h pakeha brethren that they do not for. h get. their own arts and crafts and na- a tive games,” said Mr Campbell amidst tl applause. Nothing would please him more than on some future occasion to u see an exhibition of these arts and crafts revived through the Taipomhenui Maori Women’s Institute. Con- f 1 gratulations were extended to the Institute on its first birthday and the

wish expressed that it might continue to prosper.

Congratulations also were extended by Mrs Kaye (on behalf of the Federation/, Miss Corrigan (as founder), Mrs W. R,. Shaw (representing the Tun-township Institute), Mrs A. Tidswell (Tawhiti Institute), Mrs Rakena (Okaiawa. Maori Women’s Institute), Mrs 0. Bloor (Te Bloti Institute), Mrs J. Minhinniclc (Ketemarae Maori Women’s Institute), Mrs W. W. Nicholas (Women’s. Division of the Farmers' Union), Mrs W. 11. James (Turuturu Institute) Mrs S„ Larcom (Whareroa Institute), Mrs A. Morse (Normanby Institute), Mrs Tomblison (O’hawe Ijistitute) and Mrs Eaton (Hawke’s Bay). Mrs Panenui briefly responded and on the call of Mr Campbell the company rose and sang “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows” in English and in Maori.

A competition for a piu pin was won by Miss D. Swadling.