MAORI GATHERING

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3441, 10 March 1932, Page 5

MAORI GATHERING

VISIT OF RATANA. This week large numbers of Maoris from districts extending over a wide area have been coming into Te Kuiti in anticipation of Ratana’s visit. On Tuesday morning at 2.30 Ratana himself arrived, accompanied by about 200 from the Ratana Pa, and remained in the railway carriages until the morning.

About 7 a.m. the big welcome took place, 400 of the local Maoris taking part in the procession. After the procession arriyed at the pa, the local Maoris, as is the usual Maori custom, thanked the visitors for visiting the Te Kuiti Pa, being very grateful for the honour conferred on it. After the local speakers had finished the visitors took over the platform, thanking all concerned for their hospitality. At the conclusion of the welcome and speeches the visiting party was invited in for breakfast.

During the day a telegram was received from King Te Rata, stating that he would not be able to attend at Te Kuiti owing to ill-health, but he sent a substantial subscription to help in the entertainment. In the evening a church service was taken by the Ratana people, and afterwards the Maniapoto Silver Band played several selections. The committee of the pa wish to thank the band for their attendance, the music being greatly appreciated. While the band was playing kopi kopi dances were performed, while in the big hall of the pa, haka and poi dances entertained the visitors. The whole evening was a very happy one for both hosts and visitors alike.

The gathering at the pa is the biggest for many years past, their being, at a conservative estimate, 1400 Maoris present.

VISITORS DEPART. EXCITING SCENES AT STATION. The native hui, which has been proceeding at the local pa for the past few days, concluded last night, when Ratana and his followers left by the second Wellington express. At 10.30 the farewell songs and hakas terminated and the whole pa was evacuated, young and old accompanying the prophet and his followers to the station, where the visitors made themselves comfortable in the five lighted carriages waiting on the siding to be picked up by the express. The platform was thronged with hundreds of Maoris, extending up the steps and over the bridge above, where the bright coloured dresses of a band of local maidens who ichanted farewell songs formed a picturesque archway to the brightly illuminated passenger-laden' cars beneath.

The railway officials handled the unprecedented occasion with tactful discrimination. As the express showed her headlights the railway plat : form officials, assisted by the Maori special police, kept the throng well clear of the rails. It was. however, some thirty minutes later before the signal “all clear” was given and the last sound of the hundreds of “Haeraeras” died on the midnight air as the express steamed up the grade with twelve passenger cars.

IMPORTANT STATEMENT.

MADE BY RATANA. In an interview just prior to his departure, Ratana conveyed to a press representative his grateful thanks and appreciation to those citizens responsible for the fine music rendered by the Band at the pa on Tuesday night. Although he was disappointed that King Te Rata was not represented at the gathering, Ratana expressed himself well satisfied with the result of the deliberations. “My whole aim and desire is to bring about a federation of the various native tribes of Aoteroa and Waipounamu (New Zealand). Are you willing to become subjects and recognise the king’s mana together with all your followers? “I am willing to hand over the temple and pa at Ratana to King Te Rata, with my thirty-eight thousand followers, and pledge him our loyal support, if he will carry on the traditions of King Tawhiao and the welfare of the native race by supporting the kotahitanga—the federation of the tribes under the Treaty of Waitangi.” Ratana stated in conclusion, that he had left the matter in the hands of Princess Piopio Te Wherewhero —who herself had a thousand followers—and was solely responsible for the recent gathering, to make further representations to Te Rata with a view to a complete federation under Te Rata and the Treatv of Waitangi.