TEN THOUSAND

Northern Advocate, 6 February 1934, Page 5

TEN THOUSAND

YESTERDAY’S SPECTATORS. CARS BY THE HUNDRED. . PHOTOGRAPHERS UNPOPULAR. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) WAITANGI, This Day. An official estimate made last night fixes at 10,000 the number of people aa'lio viexved the first official ceremonies at Waitangi yesterday. Over 1200 motor cars of all makes and ages Avere- handled in the three official parking areas, in addition to which several hundred vehicles lined up in other places, including the permanent motoring camp on the Waitangi Estate. The traffic was handled , exclusively by Mr J. Skow, Northern Patrol, and his A.A. officials, and arrangements Avere most satisfactory, notwithstanding the volume. There was considerable difficulty, however, in affording a clear view of all the ceremonies to the thousands of spectators who sAvarmed on the “courtyard” of Waitangi. The Maoris responded much more readily to discipline and direction than did the Pakehas, some of the latter .coming into conflict Avith ' the native police. One man, who refused to obey instructions, avhs forcibly removed Avith a bleeding nose, the penalty of his obstruction. Photographers Avere not popular with officials. Two men Avith cameras perched themselves like roosters on top of the official stand, and after being Avarned that they Avere in danger of being “put in the pot,” they betook themselves to safer quarters. Many forms collapsed under the Aveight of excited sightseers, .but there Avere no injuries. Arrangements made for newspaper correspondents were the Avorst possible, and pressmen had to eraAvl under, the wheels of a motor lorry to rea-ch their croAvded table, and peer oA'er the backs of the audience to gain a glimpse of the performances. A roaring trade was done by refreshment and soft drink and ice cream booths. Taken by and large, it was a happy good-natured crowd which A'iewed yesterday’s tremendous spectacle, the staging of which was enhanced by the presence off Russell of the cruisers Dunedin and Diomede, the continual stream of ferry traffiq betAveen the various bays and Ti Point, and the encircling aeroplanes. . ■ Visit of Southern Cross. Several attempts Avere made by the Southern Cross to land on the Waitangi Estate and although the Avheels touched ground on three occasions, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith considered the space insufficient. HoAvever,. the famous pilot dropped three letters, one of Avhieh was addressed to “Cosmo Graham, Commander of the Diomede. ” Much impressed Avith the atmosphere of the gathering, the famous aviator, on his return to Auckland, secured the use of an Aero Club machine, Avhieh he piloted to Waitangi later in the afternoon. The remoA'al of a fence may make a landing by the Southern Cross on the Waitangi Estate possible today. ] i Camp Entertainments. 3 There Avere many and A*avied aetiA'i- ( ties in the camp last night, including ' impromptu sports e\-ents and a concert. A searchliglit display by the cruisers ! held the natives spellbound for its duration. The arrival of the souvenir edition of the “Northern Advocate” was much appreciated by the inhabitants of both the Maori and Eurojxean camps. , SOUTH ISLAND TWELVE LED BY MR PITAMA.. • CORONATION CHAIR DONORS. (Special to “Northern Advohate.”) WAITANGI, This Day, Twelve South Island Maoris are in camp at Waitangi, the leader of the party being Mr Te Ari Pitama. Mr Pitama is keenly interested in Maori history, and three years ago he organised and carried through most successfully special celebrations marking the centenary of the sacking of Kaiapohia Pa (Kaiapoi) by the warlike Northern chief, Te Rauparaha. *Mr Pitama was a few years ago a regular radio lecturer on studies in Maori life and customs. lineidentally he is one of the best speakers yet heard on the air in Ncav Zealand. It is to the credit of the South Island Maoris that they are the first to recognise Lord and Lady Bledisloc’s gift to New Zealand, ha\ r ing presented a coronation chair. HAKA INSTRUCTOR GREAT SUCCESS ACHIEVED. (Special to “Northern AdvocAte.”i WAITANGI, This Day. \ Henaro' Toowrti, from tho East Coast, attracted a great deal of attention for his performance in the hakas yesterday. Ho was the man, going grey, Avho pranced up and down the lines of \y a Triors, and at whose beck and call they' responded with such zest. Mr TeoAvai is a recognised authority and exponent of haka dancing, and he was brought across from the East Coast to train haka parties here, ITis success as a teacher was proA'cd yesterday*.