MAORI 80LDIERS' FUND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 25 October 1917, Page 6

MAORI 80LDIERS' FUND

ENTERTAINMENT AT SCHOOL OF MUSIC. The attendance at the entertainment given at the School of Music last evening hy a party of Motueka Maoris was only fairly "well attended, and the performers were greatly disappointed in the number present, especially as the object for which the entertainment was arranged was such a worthy one, viz., to help the Maori soldiers-. In a stirring speech Mr Paaka, of Motueka (Mr Warren 'Stephen acting as interpreter} •aid Germany was still strong, and ve must provide more men and more money and still fight on. Germany was taking a little bit more of 'Russia", "and we were not going to have it." {Applause). Had we listened to !Lord -Roberts and others this war would never have come. The Maoris wanted to help the IMabri soldiers at the front, •nd they knew of no other way of doing this than by entertainments. ; "*W* must assist them," declared Paaka; "they are there bleeding and dying for ns, and what is a shilling to us when they are doing that?" (Applau6e.)"Our ambition and our desire is to gain the day." The speaker went on to say that it was not very encouraging to see euch a small audience; but they were glad of even the smallest support. At Richmond the" party had also been disappointed, but at Upper Mouter* and Motueka they had done very well. The programme, was then commenced, iand the entertainment proved to be one of the finest ever given by Maoris here. !"At times the audience became almost as excited as the Maoris performing the haka, tumultuous applause following fame of the war dances. Many of the items were encored. The star number ■was a poi haka by men and women, the men imitating rowing a war canoe. In this the Maoris worked themselves up to a great pitch of excitement. The infection spread to natives in the audience, and a well-known Croixelles -Maori scrambled on :to the platform and took a share in the procedemgs, till -taken by the arm by the manager and •removed. All the "dances were excellently done. They included one indicating the Maori reception of a distinguished visitor, another being a haka Jmmediatelv preceding a a jnost realistic haka, with the natives m their war costumes. There were also single and double poi dances, those taking part in these being Mesdames Wipiiti (2>, Mrs. Stephens, Ben Morgan, I Jand Nga Moana Ropata (a returned soldier' who went through the Gallipoli camDaism) j' a. quartette., (with chores) by Mesdames- Wipiiti (2). Ben; - Morgan, and, Tom Wipiiti; children s song bv Hannah Bennett, and Betsy. -and Ella Wipiiti*; -tango waltz by Ha.n • nah Bennett and Be£sy : Wionti; parody, on- "Tipperaryi': Mrs Stephen.. Amo- ; ' kura • Cnchton - sang VGod Send Him Back tb;.Mr."V This young lady, is r the possessor of a Vich contralto voice and gives promipe of developing into a very Bu6cessful singer.. Her contribution to ; . last night's programme was most em - joyabte. The • Maori dancps were , ae compared by Puni Wipiiti on the vio '. lin- for othep items the piano was used, the -accompanist in these being Aino Tkura Crichton and Miss. Moller. Beiy •MorganV comic songs were loudly ap plauded and encored. A recitation ."When Are You' Go'ng. Away? ' by a-returned pakeha soldier, was well received. - Reference should be made to / the tableaux at the opening of the pro. .gramme. This, was. a Maori erene, with the performers in ' native costume, a sonq of welcome being given. - .During the interval a Union Jack woven bv Mrs Morgan from lace bark .- was exhibited amongst the audience. .'. and baskets and poi balls were disposed ? o f. ''Following the singing of _the Tip--tperary parody" a" number of coins were.