SPLENDID HERITAGE

Northern Advocate, 6 February 1934, Page 4

SPLENDID HERITAGE

PRESENTATION OF WAITANGI NATIONAL POSSESSION. HIGHEST APPRECIATION-. (Special to "Northern Advocate.**) WAITANGI, This Day. In the course of his tribute of thanks yesterday to Lord and Lady Bledisloe, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said the people of New Zealand greatly appreciated the gift which their- Excellencies had made to the nation. The Maoris had expressed their thanks in their own way, and now, on behalf of the Whits people, he would speak to thank Their Excellencies for their gift to New Zealand and establishing Waitangi as an evergreen memorial of the signr ing of the Treaty. Coming from the Old Land, where historic memorials were much thought of, Their Excellencies had seen the value Waitangi would be to New Zealand. North Auckland’s Behalf. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said he i was present more as a local member than as a member of the Government, . so, on behalf of people living in North Auckland, he wished to thank Their Excellencies most sincerely for their wonderful gift to New Zealand. It was fitting that, as had been done that day, there should be recognition , of the very fine act bn the part of Their Excellencies. “We thank you, Your Excellencies, Lord and Lady Bledisloe for your gift,” said Mr. Coates. “As the years roll by I am sure that not. only the local people, but the, people of New Zealand in general, will realise of what value such a gift is , to a young and growing nation. We . feel very proud that. we have had this opportunity of expressing to you, on this marae, our heartfelt thanks. Thank you very much Your Excellencies.” (Lord Blcdisloe’s speech in reply has already been published).

SMOOTH RUNNING

NATIVE CEREMONIALS. SIR A. T.' NGATA PLEASED. f (Special to ‘‘Northern Advocate."! WAITANGI, This Day. Gratification with the outcome of the ceremonial demonstration at Waitangi yesterday was expressed by Sir A. T. Ngata, in an interview last night. “Once the Ngapuhi haka teams advanced oh to the marae and opened the haka which is peculiar to them, I knew the proceedings for the day would run smoothly, and once the re- • ception to the Parliamentary partyhad been concluded, I had no doubts about the second part of the programme,” said the Minister. '‘Considering the short time /the Ngapuhi have regained knowledge' of - the haka, they performed remarkably" well, and remembering" that many of the teams in the ceremony were performing together for the first time, the result can be regarded with satisfaction.”

PAKEHA POLITICS

i A MAORI BURLESQUE. SOME BARBED SHAFTS.' (Special to “Northern Advocate.'*) WAITANGI, This Day. The Maori race had its loud laugh over Pakeha polities at Waitangi last evening’, when, in the final haka of the day, performed by the Ngatiporou, under Sir A. T. Ngata, European administration was delightfully bur- • losquod. The theme of the representation, which was executed with perfect timing .and gesture, was that, with a multiplicity of boards in some way administering Native lands, the real 1 owners had become • beneficiaries of ' huge mortgages, and, while settlers starved at work, officials were paid large salaries and had their own motor * . I ears. In short, most of the land having been taken from the natives, they were allowed to “.go to blazes,” although a literal interpretation of the movement would require stronger terms. A haka yet to be presented bears broadly on strictures the Controller and Auditor-General passed on the administration of Native land development, but it is not yet certain whether it will bo staged publicly. THIEVES OPERATING CASH AND GARMENTS GONE. (Special to “Northern Advocate.,**), WAITANGI, This Day. Several instances of thieving, at Waitangi yesterday were reported to the camp authorities. One visitor reported the loss of easli and notes amounting to £8 12/6, and two others had garments removed from motor cars.