FROM DAWN TO DARK

Northern Advocate, 5 February 1934, Page 7

FROM DAWN TO DARK

LIFE AT WAITANGI ALARUMS AND DIVERSIONS. MURRY HEARTED POPULACE. The first, thing one hears in the clear morning air of Waitangi is the announcer in his look-out megaphoning orders and calling for people who - are wanted. He reminds one of the f Eastern muezzin in the minaret call- • ing the faithful to prayer. , Almost the last sound heard at ‘ night, apart from the swish of the ■ j waves on the beach, is the stamp of ■ feet, the “Hu! Ha!” and other cries ‘ of men engaged in some haka. And no time seems to have elapsed since the final haka was danced and the megaphone gets into action. Throughout the whole day—and seemingly the night also—the camp crier is busy with his megaphone, and throughout the day a haka or poi dance is almost certain to bo in progress somewhere in the camp. Hakas —Now and Then. The Waitangi celebrations have given a fillip to Maori national dancing. Such an incentive was much needed, for native dancing, especially of hakas, is fast becoming a lost art. The incentive which inspired a war party is now a thing of the past, and can never be experienced again. No modern team of dancers can be swept away with the zest and abandon which marked a dance in olden days, A real haka was not a sight for a lady to sec. The warriors were at least partially clothed in the opening stages, but they soon became intoxicated with the frenzy inspired by the dance and could not then be held responsible for the finale, which was terrifying, , The young Maori of today is not greatly interested in native dances, either for men or women. A youth peering into a marquee where some ladies were practising a poi dance, said: “Huh! I’m sick of all this singing. ” Probably he revels instead in American jazz, and his long suit is a Wild West picture. 1 Old people who saw half a thou- '• sand six-foot warriors dancing a haka, 1 shaking the ground as they leaped into * the air and stamped on it in unison, making the welkin ring with their shouts,. would think a modern haka a * more drawing room affair, as it really is, by comparison. ( A Happy Throng. The Maoris in camp can be said to 1 bo thoroughly enjoying themselves, ( and a better behaved concourse of [ people it would be difficult to imagine. ' There seems to have been an entire * absence of any disagreement among themselves. They are a happy, carefree lot, and entertainment aplenty is provided tor them. There is speechmaking ad lib, and the huge audience which fills the dining font of an ovening when speakers hold the floor is an 1 inspiration. Simultaneously in other { tents there will bo dances and proba- j Idy a Maori- concert. j Church Service. x Last evening a church service was ] held in the dining tent, fully a thou- , sand people being present. A sermon \ was preached by Mr Re will Kohero, of the East Coast, and it was an impressive service, < In the large dance hall, the Arawas, 1 who arrived on Saturday, wore ro- i hearsing dancing, and later gave a i concert, beginning at about .10 o’clock, c There were concerted items by 150 1 voices, beautiful poi dances and hakas, 1 all of which were much appreciated f by flic audience. t The Light Fantastic Toe. < After the playing of “God Save the 1 King” at II o’clock, the piano took ( up (he ruuning, and young folk tripped the light fantastic for an hour ( and more. i In the dining tent, after the church service, a public, meeting was held, 1 and continued till after the midiiHit 1 hour. ” - Story of the Dance. 3 The marae has been the rendezvous 1 of many colourful crowds. As each 1 party of visitors arrives there is a great assemblage, all in camp rolling ! up to the welcome, and the Maoris - seem never to tire of the dancing dis- j plays. Every movement in a dance has its significance, but it is question- j able if the majority of the- spectators are as much concerned about the inner meaning of the dances as are they ‘ critical of the way each action is carried out by the dancer. A Long Wait.

The people had a long wait on .Sat-urday-three hours—from the time the “fall in” was called until the reception to 700 visitors actually began, but the time never lacked in interest. There was entertainment of various kinds during the whole of the time. Even Nature provided a diversion when n rainstorm swept in from the sea and caused the crowd to disperse. Only the tons held their ground, and danced defiance lo the god of rain, evidently to some purpose, for it seems that that downpour is to be the last of the unseasonable weather experienced at Waitangi.

j All Over Again. | AVhen' the crowd reassembled again I the Maori police had to begin all over ! again their work of arranging the people on either -side of the route down which the visitors would come. Crowds are always crowds, and people will not keep back, whether they be Maori or Pakeha. Even when the front rows were seated on the ground there was “peaceful penetration” of the avenue. To help while away the time, the reception parties sang and danced. Individual items were given, and some were of a diverting nature. A girl among the Ngati-Porous, with a good voice and a face full of expression, was a very popular performer, being encored over and over again. Tlic toas, armed with spears, taiahas and tomahawks, rehearsed their turns with vigour, and, when one man steplied from the ranks, one who had probably been a sergeant in the Great War, the spectators saw mat-clad warriors “shouldering arms” and “sloping arms” with spear, taiaha and tomahawk. Six’ Apirana. Sir Apirana Ngata, stripped to the waist and carrying a mere, entered into the spirit of every dance, and led his Ngati-Porous with the greatest elane. Sir Apirana Ngata was a popular figure, and what he said to the visitors in his speeches incidental to the reception ceremonies, evidently mot with approval. His remarks met with much applause, and such comments wore heard among the Maoris as: “That the way—speak straight to them.” Although the day’s performance on the marae had occupied some five • hours, all had to turn out again as i dusk was falling to welcome the Earo- I tonga,ns. On this occasion, some very ' charming poi dances were provided by < the Arawa ladies. I