RANGIOTU.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 238, 5 September 1933, Page 5

RANGIOTU.

(From Our Own Corresoondent.) RANGIOTU,_ Sept. 4. The appearance of the Maori Methodist choir and entertainers at the local hall last Saturday evening was highly appreciated by a keen and interested audience, when a comprehensive programme of Nativo music was presented. The choral numbers throughout the evening were excellently rendered and were interspersed by popular Maori waiatas and incantations, vocal and instrumental items, games, snappy hakas and graceful poi dances by the wahines to the accompaniment of a wellbalanced string orchestra. The opening item was entitled “Tena Koc.” a dance of welcome led by Mr W. Tohi Kuri, of Taranaki. The programme proper opened with a number by the choir, the Lord’s Prayer in English, followed _by Psalm 95 beautifully rendered in Maori, “Tena, Kia Waiata Tatou Kia Ihowa,” and Psalm 121 in English, “I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes.” Mr Tono Tikao briefly rendered in story form the famous legend of Maui’s fish * and the adventurous voyage of ICupo, the great Maori _ navigator, across the mighty ocean of Iviwa to these shores, the version being appropriately followed by the canoe poi or waka poi gracefully performed by the wahines. Their performance of this fascinating poi, accompanied by perfect rhythm and grace, represented the migration of the ancient Maori from their ancestral home in Hawaiki to the land of the Long White Cloud, Aotea-roa. The song, “E Pari Ra,” rendered by the choir, saw the Maori in a mixed vein of pleasure and sorrow at the departure of their troops during the Great War. A pleasing scene, “The Maoris at Home, showing how the ancient Maori whiled away the evening hours with their favourite fireside game “Titi Torea,” accompanied by their quaint and melodious waiatas (songs), was followed with keen interest. Following an instrumental trio by Miss Hikuroa and Messrs Tohi Kuri and kangi Ngapaki,. a variety of double stringed and long stringed poi dances were performed by the ladies’ section of the choir. The other items were: Solo, Mr T. Tikao; duet, Misses Hikuroa and Kaitaia: yodelling ’ songs, Mr Tohi Kuri the Tiki haka bv the troupe: songs, “Pokarokarcana,” “Po Ata Rau,” Rongo-Pai and Hoki Hoki- poi dances by the maidens and several choral items by the choir. A haka and dance of defiance, followed by a quintette, concluded a most enjoyable entertainment.