MAORI HOSPITALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19459, 15 October 1926, Page 11

MAORI HOSPITALITY.

! NAVAL OFFICERS' TRIBUTE. GIFT FROM AMERICAN FLEET[by telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT.] ROTORUA. Thursday. Officers of the American Fleet who visitor Rotorua in. August last year were so charmed with the welcome and hospitality of the Maoris that on their return to the United States they thought out a gift to send the people of the Whakarewarewa and Ohinemutu villages. That gift, which takes the form of beautiful bron?e tablets was presented by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon, R. F. Bel-. lard, to the chiefs of the two villages this evening. There was a large gathering of natives and the ceremony of receiving the tablets aroused much interest among the visitors to the district. The Wahiao meeting-house at Whakarewarewa, where the function took place, was crowded. Mita Taupopoki and T'e Amohau received the tablets on bf.half of the villages. The ceremony, which included many of the old customs of the Maori, lasted well into the evening. In handing over the tablets the Minister said"Chiefs and members, of the Arawata tribe of the and Ohinemutu villages, the duty I have been requested to perform to-night is a very pleasant ons to me. You will remember the visit of Admiral S. S. Robison and the officers and men jof the battle fleet of the United States Navy in August of last year. "So impressed were the den of th© fleet with the magnificent reception and hospitality extended to tliejn by the Whaka and Ohinemutu Maoris that when they returned home to America they decided on sending some gift to yon to commemorate the.visit and as a thanksgiving for the hospitality you showed them! So it is my " duty "to-night to present to the Whsjkarewarewa and Ohinemutu chiefs two bronze tablets with the names of the two villages suitably inscribed. The gifts are a wonderful testimony to the high opinion which the American Fleet holds of the Maoris of Rotorua. "One great feature which the men of the American Fleet recognise in the Maori people of Rotorua is their great loyalty to His Majesty the King. No country can kope for prosperity and contentment unless ail the peoples associated with is >re umtsd' in their loyalty. Visitors from .all uati'iiu; vis:.o- New Zealand, and of course, the world-famous Rotorua, and the Maori people aro attractions, but what would the attractions amount "to if the Maori and the pakeha were not. One in their desire fop t.is general well being of the Dominion ot the Empire ? . _ "As Minister of Internal Affairs I a responsible for the Government for receptions extend.;! to R ri l or ? ieh s z A already acquainted. It o? grand P r ' vll ®S e f urther members of tho EoSi'fam'ly- ! c^cl extend to the D uke an(l -O" 011088 Yorsi * hut the presentation I am making _ knight is from the officers of the America« Fleet who met you. , _. "I grieve to say that Captain Hau« brouck, whom you met, has since di«d. and I aw sure tho warmest regards will go from the Maori people of Rotorua to his relatives. Chiefs of the Whakarewarewa and Ohinemutu people, I now hand over, on behalf of the Government and the donors, these two beautiful tablets which I am. sure will be appi eciated you aIL-'