PROPHECY COMES TRUE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 March 1938, Page 6

PROPHECY COMES TRUE.

MAORI KING’S PREDICTION HAMILTON, March 18. With the opening of King Koroki's new home to-day, Maori royalty will again take up residence in Ngaruawahia, thus fulfilling the prophecy made seventy years ago, when General Cameron drove the Maori King movement from Ngaruawahia, Tawhiao, then King, stated that this day would come when Ngaruawahia would again become the point once more for the Maori King movement. To-day is the first time that the seat of royalty has been established at Ngaruawhia since those days, and tne added enthusiasm shown by the Maoris for the King movement was cxemphfied in the new home. With the exception of bricking and electric light equipment, the whole work in the construction of the home was undertaken by Maori labour, without payment’ of any kind, while all the materials were donated by various tribes throughout New Zealand, or purchased by the Waikatos. Much of the credit for the completion of the home goes to Princess Te Puea, Who organised many touring concert parties to secure the purchase of the required materials. The new house is designed to incorporate the best features of Maori and pakeha architecture, and while some rooms are typically Maori, the house ,is tastefully furnished in European style. The carvings are the best examples of the Maori art in the world, and many are priceless and irreplaceable. The exterior of the house is 72 feet long by 52 feet wide, and a feature, from the artistic viewpoint, is a pentagonal tower which rises from the far -nor. Its five sides are ten feet high, while its domed roof adds another eight feet. Windows adorn each side, and in each a Maori face is picked out in leadlighting, while every square inch of tin- -st is elaborately carved to give an imposing effect. Each tribe has a different characteristic when it comes to carving, and these are blended to reflect the unity of the tribes. A feature of the main hall is a great flax mat, covering the entire floor. The mat, which took nearly a year to weave alone, being done by girls at the Ngaruawahia Pa.