IN THE BIG CAMP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21717, 5 February 1934, Page 11

IN THE BIG CAMP

ALL IN BEST CLOTHES NATIVE QUOTAS COMPLETE SHOPS AND AMUSEMENTS PAKEHA INFLUX BEGINS [BY TELEGRAP5 —SPECIAL REPORTER] WAITANGI, Sunday The great Maori encampment at Ti Point and its surroundings sprang into new life yesterday with the arrival, not only of the first really large delegation of southern tribes, but also of hundreds, even thousands, of European visitors and others. One of the first signs was the hoisting of tribal flags in all parts of the camp. Most of these are British ensigns bearing the names of ancient canoes and departed chiefs. One that appeared later in the day over the Taupo section of the encampment is emblazoned with a picture of a war canoe filled with warriors. Another, belonging to the Ngapuhis, is a tricolour pennant of red, white and blue. Men, women and children had nearly all put on their best clothes the day before to welcome Sir Apirana Ngata and the Ngati-Porou. The latter and the other new arrivals from the south were equally well turned out, and fur coats and fashionable dresses were worn by numbers of the womenfolk. Waitresses in Uniform Even the waitresses in the large dining marquee were clad in neat uniforms. As a matter of fact, the only people in working clothes were the cooks, who were kept busy all day preparing food for the increasing multitude. As the meal schedule had been upset by the late arrival of the southerners, the tables were occupied continuously for hours from the latter part of the afternoon onward.

One thing most noticeable to all who had watched the growth of the camp was the mushroom crop of canvas shops for the sale of refreshments* foodstuffs, and particularly drapery. These sprang up as if by magic during the morning, not only in the camp, but along the road leading to it. The next bay in the direction of Paihia was lined with them, and by the evening a merry-go-round, games of skill and all the ingredients of a fair were to be found there. A travelling circus erected its tents near by in readiness to entertain the public on Monday. This morning broke fine and clear, with hot and brilliant sunshine, making the welcome to the Wanganui and Taranaki people a happy affair foe the thousands who crowded on to the marae to witness it. Ag on the previous day, the Maori police had a hard job to keep their own people and the admixture of Europeans back to the imaginary lines they had drawn as marking the limits of the arena. Chaff and Banter

Arguments were endless, particularly with elderly Maori men and women who had seated themselves inside the lines and intended to stay there if it was at all possible. Everybody took it in good part and there were endless exchanges of chaff and wavings of the policemen's sticks. Altogether it was a good deal in the nature of an entertainment to while away the time before the curtain rose on the ceremony proper.

The newcomers of the previous day lost no time in settling down in the tents allotted to them at the southeastern corner of the camp, near the beach. This morning, after the welcome, the Taupo warriors and the girls from Ngaruawahia, still in their dancing dresses, formed groups and posed for numbers of camera/?, while some of the older folk organised hakas on the spur of the moment, ending with shouts of laughter, as joyful as children at play. A little later sounds of chanting from the large cifcular tent showed that a Roman Catholic mission priest was holding mass there. Two candles upon the temporary altar made bright points of light in the dimness within as passers-by peeped through the low open doorway. Bathing, Gossip and Sleep The sparkling sea tempted a fair number of peoplo to bathe, either from the beach or in the river, making more in the water than have been since the camp opened. Others of all ages strolled about on the marae and gossiped, made nkw friends and Renewed old acquaintances. An equal number rested under their sleeping marquees. There was a large muster at an Anglican service held by Canon Keretene. This afternoon -the camp was invaded by thousands of further visitors, who arrived in cars from all parts, some to camp in the ground across the river, others only for the day. This morning's arrivals nad included hundreds by launch from Opua, whither the Railways Department ran an excursion train carrying 700 passengers. Those who were early on the scene witnessed the welcome to the Taranaki, Wanganui and remaining southern Maori delegations.

In the afternoon the Anglican church service, conducted on the marae by Archbishop Averill and Bishop Bennett, attracted a large number of reverent listeners, who enjoyed the singing of familiar hymns in Maori. > This was followed by a joint Rarotongan and Maori entertainment, which drew every Maori and pakeha within reach.

By late this afternoon practically all the Maori contingent had arrived for the celebrations, the last notable party being the from the Horowhenua district.