THE AMERICAN FLEET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13727, 18 April 1908, Page 6

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

CO-OPERATION OF MAORIS. PROPOSED WAR CANOE DISPLAY. OUR 'ILLUSTRIOUS GUESTS." A section of the Ngatiwhatua tribe, living at- Orakei (Auckland), have decided, in view of the approaching visit of the American fleet, to ask the Government, to return to Auckland the Tahaeretikitiki (war canoe), so that it may be got in readiness as an object of attraction. It was stated in the press some time ago that the Tahaeretikitiki, which was sent down to the International Exhibition, is at present lying in the open at Christehurch, exposed to all sorts of weather. This particular war canoe has had a more. or less historic career. It- was built in 1885 by the Ngatiwhatua people in the Kaipara, district, at Pakeatua, and was subsequently taken to Waikato to convey the members of the Government across the river to a Maori meeting at- Hnntly. Itwas a considerable attraction when exhibited at Christenurch during the Exhibition, and the Maoris think it will be one also to our American visitors. it the Government accede to the request to return it, the section of the Ngatiwhatua tribe here will have an enclosure prepared for it, and will undertake to look alter it-. Mr. John St. Clair has received the following letter from Mr. K. T. Te Ahu, of Waahi (Himtly), deputy secretary to the Hon. Mahuta, M.L.C., in reference to the proposed gathering of Maoris at Auckland on the occasion of the visit of the American fleet — -i I have seen in the newspapers the views of King Mahuta on the reception of the American fleet, which is to visit this, our island. The whole of Waikato support Mahuta's proposals that we should form a large gathering of the tribes at Auckland, as original people of the land, to welcome the illustrious guests. Secondly, Mr. C. C. D acre's ideas for small canoes and hurdle- race canoes we warmly support. The hurdle races would be a grand idea. 1 would send three canoes ; their names are Purutiakete, Kaurikamu, and Kaitoa, so that Mr. C. C. Dacre can depend on my three canoes at. least, and it they want more, 1 can arrange to send four or five others. I also think it would be a good idea to have Tahaeretikitiki sent back by the Government from Christchnrch, and repaired, so that a genuine war canoe, fully manned, should go out to the Rangitoto Channel and challenge the fleet in true old Maori fashion, and then lead them into port, after the manner of our ancestors. Let friend Dacre :nd others know of this letter.'' THE MAORIS (AND THE FLEET. TO THE EDITOK.

Sir.—l do not agree, with Mr. Upton in the reason he puts forward for not having a great Maori demonstration on the occasion of the visit of the American fleet, but I think such a demonstration undesirable for other reasons. I saw the great Maori demonstration at Rot or a when H.R.H. the Duke of Cornwall visited New Zealand, and though. I felt that it would not have been right not to have given , the Maori people •an opportunity of declaring.their loyalty to the Crown, yet I could not help regretting it in many ways. 1. On the score of health. It was in rough, cold, winter weather that the Maoris gathered from far and near to tho great camp on the Rotorua racecourse. I went a good deal among them, and I was pained to see what a large proportion of them was suffering from colds, etc. 2. On the ground of morals. Ido not think it good for the Maori people that they should be on "exhibition;" and specially that the barbaric side of the Maori, which is, of course, the picturesque' side, should apparently be what alone is appreciated by pakcha strangers. There i* to be a congress in Wellington next July to demonstrate the moral, educational, and industrial progress that is being made by the Maori people, and, in my judgment, this ought to awaken more interest in tho pakeha than it is likely to do, simply because it is aiming at the welibeing of the Maori, and not merely gratifying strangers by a picturesque exhibition of barbaric dances. The American fleet will be here in winter. No cue who loves tho Maori people will desire to see them exposed to the health risks run at Rotorua in, 1902, or to see them degraded by being put on exhibition. I have ail my life desired to see the two great English-speaking nations drawn more and more closely together. Since my recent visit to that great country, the desire has become still more strong I gladly hail the opportunity afforded by the visit of the American fleet of/showing that the ties of a common origin, a common language, a xnnmon literature, and a common religion, are,, though light as air, yet strong as iron bands. I believe in tire not distent future that the tie of a common .safety will be added to the others.

What we should demonstrate to the Americans ii, not that -wo have a picturesque and noble aboriginal race dwelling in peace and loyalty in our midst, but the unity of sentiment and interest, which unites our visitors And ourselves in close relationship. George MaoMtjrray.