MAORI FEAST AT ORAKEI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5491, 23 June 1879, Page 6

MAORI FEAST AT ORAKEI.

«■ ; On June 9 the Hon, the JNative Minister I and Kewi attended at a dinner given by : Paul, at his settlement of Orakei. Kewi has been entertained in. town in various ways, and Te Wheoro feasted bim and his friends a few evenings ago at the Royal 1 Mail Hotel, when the choicest viands were '. put on the table. Paul, however, thought • it best to make his feast a Maori one, and to have it at his own settlement. Shortly after ; midday the Native Miuister, Kewi, Mr. L Lewis, and some of the leading chiifa now 1 in town, left for Orakei by boat. They were received by the usual Maori welcome. It was ' found that the settlement was busy with I preparations, numerous hangis, or native , oveus, being under way, and the Parliament House being swept and garnished for the feast. After some delay, the ovens were opened just when the potatoes, kumaras, and fish had been done to a turn, and then • the table was laid. Paul did not adhere 1 entirely to ancient Maori custom; indeed, ; he made no affectation of trying, but he pro- : vided the choicest food according to present Maori notions. A table was provided, at which 1 all the guests were seated, and this was an innovation. The hall was scrupulously clean (perhaps it will be said that this also was an ■ innovation), the table was covered with a 1 cloth, and the food was placed in small flax 1 baskets. There were several kinds of shell--1 fish, including kutai, kohola, and huangi; of tisb, tamure (suapper), takeke (guardtisb), ! arara (tcuv&lli) ; ot vegetables, kumara ' (aweet potato), laro ; besides pork, pigeons, • and ducks. The taro and kitmara, grown at J Orakei, were, in great abundance. We may E remark, however, that the only drink pro- » vided was water. Grace was said by the Rev. Wi Pomare. Rewi wae quite at home, and seemed to enjoy the liberty of dispensing with a knife and fork. Knives and forks were provided, but those who chose could, , without breach of etiquette, use their fingers. At the conclusion ot dinner, those present, , comprehendiug Hitire to Pairata, of Taupo, and several chiefs of importance from l distant parts of the island, besides all the ' principal men of Ngatiwhatua, adjourned to , the enclosure in front of Paul's house. Paul (addressing Rewi) said : Welcome, , my elder brother; welcome to the place . which has been the bow of your canoe from 1 the days of our ancestors downwards ; come > to the place which was traversed l>y your . ancestors and your friends. You now re- [ turn, and still observe in the E&me place the cultivations of those who have gone to the other world We look to you to guide affurs 1 properly at the present crisis. 1 Kewi, after thauking Paul for his welcome, and referring to ancient timed, said : The ; reason why 1 have come is to see if a means can be obtained to guide things rightly. In the old days I made common cause with 1 your elder brother (Potatau, the King). 1 Now I have come to seek a new revelation. ! Te Hira welcomed Rewi to Tamaki, and said that when he had seen them he would return to his child Tawhiao. He also welcomed ' Mr. Sheeban as the Minister of both races ■ living on this Island. ' Rev. Wi Pomare welcomed Rewi, and referred to the last words of Potatau, " The 1 Gospel, law, and love." \ Paeaone Ngawake, after the customary J salutation to Rewi and Hitire, said: The name of this house to which you have come is \ "The Law." [The speaker then recited an ancient Maori chant.] Rewi commenced his reply in tho same I way, and added : Behold me, your child, who has caused such mischief and trouble . in the Island. lam the prodigal son, [ and you have killed for me the fatted calf. . When Sir George Grey comes, I will see if he will fall upon my neck, as did the father 1 in the Sei-iptures. (Song.) lam a man iust . emerged from the forest. Do not cell upon ; me to do too much. 1 Tβ Hemara made a short speech, in which he said : Although your child, Tawhiao, may be pouri (grieved) because of your coming ! here, never mind. 1 Rewi : Although Sir George Grey, Mr. Sheehau, aud myself have been negotiating for a long time, much yet remains to be done. Mr. Sueehan replied, and, after welcome ing Rewi to his people, the Ngatiwhatua, asked. Rewi, in a jocular style, if he would be the Maori Minister. He called them all to vote for Rewi to occupy the office, and this was responded to by a shout of " Aβ !" Rewi said : I do not object. After some further speeches, Mr. Sheehaj." thanked Paul tor the rare aud suitable food he had placed before his guests. Tβ Hemara came forward and laid a valuable greenstone mere at Rewi's feet as a present. The visitors then returned to town.