MAORI TENNIS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1294, 19 April 1911, Page 6

MAORI TENNIS.

AN INTERESTING GATHERING

MM THE CONCLUDING CERE. MONIES.

The annual Maori Tennis Champion tournament for tho Maru Maru Cup and other trophies concluded yoßt'i'.lay. The Mara Maru Cup was instituted by the Parewanui rangaUrn of that name three yea's ago iu order to briug together yonug people of birth and imflueue among their people in sochl interoorse and for the promotion of movements of valne to the race but m.tably of the farming movemont. it is played for by teams representative of districts. Wauganui won in the first year, Hawke's Bay in the second, and this time Wangauui again, Hawke's Bay not beiug as strong among the lady players as last year. Yesterday moruing there was a oousohtion matoh in whioh Tomliu and Wi te Tau tied, and at 11 a,m. a considerable gathering assembled in the Palmerston Clubs pavilion for the presentation of prizes. In i absence of the donor of the our. :E. D, Hoben presided. The c. Mony was opened by the Hawkb'd Bay" team led by Miss Tukero and Mr Tomoaua (one time captain of Te Ante College [and a well known footballer) bringing in the oup iu procession the while they sang a melodious desoriptive chant prior to bantling it over ti the Chairman. TENNIS: A MEANS TO AN END

The latter then referred to the Job" jecti of Mr Mam Maru in presenting the handsome trophy and the value which such gatherings might be to t!.o nee. The Maori of old had always looked to his rangttira for leadership and the young members of the loading Maori families had a great responsibility to their people, which they should fulfill. Outdoor sports, Mr Hoben sail, were one of the good thing* whioh the pakeha had brought with him and whioh were iu ketping with the spirit of the Maori race, but there were other things which the pakeha had brought whioh had wrought evil to the Maori people. To conntaraot some of these evils it should be the mission of the young lead rs to take their people back to the laud. The Maori, until late years, had been a good farmer, and it was as farmers, the most stable and independent of all oallii gs, that the preservation of the race lay, while they had, many of them, a better start than the European sinoe they had, or could get, land to farm. He was speaking to au assemblage mainly of Ta Ants graduates with whose school he had had bo many happy associations, and they had before them the example of what one ex-Te Ante boy had accomplished iu the wonderful farm settlement? of the Ngitiporon organised by the Hon., Mr Ngafca. What had been done there they might do on their own lands elsewhere. He referred to the prowess shown by such men as Tomoana and James Rapaea on the fuotball Meld, and bid them do as well on the land,and spoke feeliugly of the death since they had last met of two of their competitors, Miss Wiki Marumaru and Mrs James Rapaea (Uiueripa), tlio whole assemblage risiug and standing bareheaded in silence for some momenta. Mr James had presented, iu memory of hia wife, the Hiuentpa Onp, to be given ti the champion lady in the game she was fond of and wliioh had now been won by Miss A. MoDonald, of Wanganui. Mr Rangi Marumaru spoke on behalf of his father, endorsing all the chairman had said. Mr Emia, as seoretary, read the list of winners, etc., Marumaru Oup, Wanganui, Men's Championship, Tomoana; Championship Doubles, Eoko and Tomoana; Conjoined Doubles, Takere and Mies McDonald; Ladies' Ohampionßhip, Miss McDonald; Ladies' Doubles Championship, Misses MoDonald and Tahaina, The Marumaru Cup and Hinerapa Oup were then handed to the winners by Mrs Hoben. ■AUiMUtttailittiifii^itaMflUi

silver cnsquet to Mrs Hoben, and a gold and diamond pin to M<- Hoben. He spoke at length upon the kindness Which Mrs Hoben had shown them on this visit, and the link whioh Mr Hoben was in so many happy recollections frr the Maori people of Hawke's Bay, but partiouhrly of Te Ante College, both in New Zealand and Australia. Next year's tournament wonlrl take place at Hastings, and be hoped all tiiose present, iroludingMraud Mrs Hoben, would attend. Cheers aud the "kamate" haka were given with great for the recipient* of the giftf.