HISTORIC CEREMONY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 3 August 1933, Page 6

HISTORIC CEREMONY

UNVEILING OF TURI MEMORIAL GATHERING AT PATEA (By Telegraph—Press Association) PATEA, This Day. Some 2000 people at Patea yesterday witnessed the unveiling of the Turi memorial in brilliant sunshine. A long procession wended its way from th£ domain. The Maori portion was most picturesque. The men were garbed in handsome ilax and feather cloaks and mats, and many girls were wearing garments made of karaka leaves. Poi dances and liakas were given by representatives of numerous tribes descended from Turi, and the people of the Aotea canoe, concluding with a magnificent taiaha display. At the ceremony before the great memorial, brief speeches in Maori were given by leading Maori chiefs and by the chairman of the Native Trust Board, which was largely responsible for erecting the memorial. The unveiling ceremony was performed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. J. A. Young, who told in eloquent words the story of Tun’s immigration from the island of Raiatea, in the Pacific to Patea. A message was sent by the acting Prime Minister, Mr Coates, congratulating the gathering on the spirit of co-operation between the two races which enabled the Maori and pakelia to unite in such an historic ceremony.