PAVING THE WAY

Northern Advocate, 5 February 1934, Page 3

PAVING THE WAY

WAITANGI PREPARATIONS

UNPRECEDENTED SCALE

EVERY PROVISION MADE

History and modern progress march side by side at Waitaqgl today, when the 94th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi is being celebrated. Never before have preparations for any Maori event of national importance been so* organised. The Northern tribes -have taken upon themselves the welcome duty of entertaining and providing for the visitors who have come from all parts of New Zealand. •Their Excellencies’ Gift. The gift of the Waitangi property, as a national heritage by their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Bledisloe, made a profound impression upon the native mind, and, with the unfolding of the policy of the ’Waitangi National Trust Board, that feeling gained in intensity. Naturally, the first reaction came from North Auckland communities, k who, and after several mootings had Mk been held in May, .1032, decided to 4Bsupplement their Excellencies’ gift by erecting a carved runanga, or meeting house, on the'Waitangi property, near the famous Busby residence. The (actual name of this, edifice will be “Wharc runanga,” or -“house of deliberation,” corresponding to tho “House of Parliament.” In the future this may be used for meetings of the ■Waitangi National Trust Board and for important native conferences. The carved house will probably also be used in part as a museum for tho preservation of native art and craft. Northern Maoris’ Offer. To assist in tlfc- financing of tho runanga project; those Northern Maoris who are dairying under the Native Land Development Scheme agreed to meet a levy of 5/ a season for eight years—a n self-imposed charge which is calculated to yield at least £I2OO. To this sum has to be added a‘contribution of £BOO promised by the Arawa Trust Board. The fullest degree of co-operation from .the associated tribes has also been forthcoming in recognition of the thoughtfulness of their Excellencies, Lord and tho Lady Blodisloe. The Ngatihine, the sub-tribe of Mr Tau Henare, M.P. for Northern Maoris, provided totara and kauri in the log, estimated to produce 79)999 feet; and tho cutting, pit-sawing and delivery of the tii%her at the residence of Mr Henare at Motatau was, constituted a big task. Although the timber given is valued at over £2IOO, the only assistance this work has received has been £IOO from the first season’s levy, and a. grant of £IOO from the Maori unemployment allocation. The Northern tribes, also undertook to supply 5000 fencing posts for the Waitangi property. “Foundation Stone Laying.” At the meeting of the Waitangi Trust Board held last March, the Maori representatives on tho board ex- , pressed a desire to celebrate the 04th anniversary of the" signing of the Treaty by some- ceremony corresponding with that of laying the foundation stone of an important building, so that the Maori tribes of New Zealand might show their appreciation of tho Blodisloe gift. From that date preparation's commenced, and In the intervening months the event has been in the forefront of all other considerations. Although low

produce prices have made it more difficult for many natives to arrange to attend the hui, the organisers can boast a gathering of between 4,000 and 5,000 Maoris at Waitangi. Government ’s Contribution. A sum of £2,000 was voted in the .Supplementary Estimates towards transport expenditure. This grant, which was in the nature of a Government subsidy of ,50 per pent of the return railway faros of the tribes to the rail terminal at Opua, was reduced by a contribution of £450 from the Unemployment Fund and donations from the Maori tribes and Trust Board, estimated at between £ISOO and £IOOO. The Government also recognised some responsibility in the promotion of the gathering, and Parliament at the end of last session provided £5700 for the preparation of the Maori camp, which is pitched at Ti Point, opposite the historic site of the signing of the Treaty, and .adjacent to the, existing Treaty Hall. The Public Works Department took this part of the arrangements in hand, and the work was done under the supervision .of Mr R H. P. Ronayne, district engineer. Accommodation. The accommodation mostly comprises marquees, one large one being provided for each tribe, with smaller ones to house the overflow. The native style of temporary building for such occasions is represented by two wharaus—long structures with raupo sides and tarpaulin tops —each SO ft long and 40ft wide. One extra large marquee, 71ft in diameter, is utilised for native meetings, and there provision has also been made for holding the nationalvdahees in the evenings. Public Health. An aspect which is being watched very closely is the health of the assembled natives. A fully equipped first aid camp has been provided under the personal directidn of Dr. D. Cook, and a health' squad has been organised under Mr Harding Leaf, native health officer, who also has charge of the camp police. A combined post office and pressroom is provided, and telegraphic and telephonic services are available. The camp is lit by electricity supplied from a portable generating plant,, so that the temporary township is just as gay at night as during the day. For a water supply, reliance is being placed in a spring without entailing the heavy cost of running a pipe line to the Waitangi Falls. The desire has 'boon to make everything as clean and spick and span as possible at a, minimum cost, and 75 per cent of the material used will be salvageable. The timber is of good quality, and lias not been cut unnecessarily, and will be used later on for dwellings to lie constructed under the small farm scheme. Coppers for boiling water and cooking, ami kauri washtubs will also be useful later on. Road. Access. The Public Works Department, also shaped the policy of work to Improve access to (he treaty site by regrading and metalling the Waimnte-Paihia lir.ad, and the building of a bridge to give access to - the estate. This road continues from Pushy’s Residence to Mount Blodisloe, a distance of another ■two miles. It follows the ridge. From

Mount Bledisloe itself, which has an elevation of approximately 400 feet, a magnificent panorama, of the Bay of Islands is obtained. At the top of Mount Bledisloe, an indicator, or direction chart, similar to that at the’ summit of Mt. Eden, is provided. This shows various points of historical inkrest in the district for a radius of at least 25 miles. The road, which may ultimately be r- direct connection with Kerikeri, will not bo in use until after the gathering, as the passage of cars would interfere with the cooking arrangements by raising dust. The Commissariat. The Maoris are contributing all the food needed, and allocations have been made among the Northern tribes. Mr ITonarc was engaged for some time organising the resources of the Northern Maoris. Large supplies of firewood were contributed, and 3000 large bundles of raupo used to cover the floors of temporary accommodation places.