RETURNED MAORIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17111, 17 March 1919, Page 4

RETURNED MAORIS.

CARNIVAL OF WELCOME. 1 V ■ - — :-mm •.-■•'.?STV;. ORAKEI GATHERING. -, - ■'■ '•:' A carnival and picni* organised by\lj '< Orakei Maoris as a welcome to members: - of their tribe who have returned from the ". war was held at the Orakei pa on Saturday. A large number of visitors from ■ ■ Auckland attended. \ •?''•'.■■ /■• The carnival commenced at 10 a.m., and 1 by means of hakas, races and various com- ) petitions was continued until -late in the afternoon. There were several aide-shows, not the least interesting being tho hangi, : or native cooking apparatus, in which' corn ."'' cobs and kumaras were cooked.' Tflesejsj were distributed later in neatly-woven '. baskets. The powhiri, or Welcome, took place at 3 p.m. Chief Otini Paul made a speech of welcome to those present, and more especially to the returned soldiers. Captain E. R. Vercoe, RS.O., D.C.M., ■•■'•s! of. the Arawa tribe, replied oe ; behalf, of - > the men. He referred to their'good fort -' -• in the field, and asked the indulgence of *- the pnblio in the .treatraent?ot;'ietoea% i men, _ '. •..•...■•: -'■.- i'-p>: The.gathering concluded with s an exhi- . bition of poi dancing by four of the' girls from the pa. \- .- . ... •-/. ! :'ijLVv^>' : -:-J.--';'-:-'-'.. , ' i v ■ ' ' ■ , - !•■:<; ■:'■•> .