LANDING OF HOBSON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22059, 15 March 1935, Page 12

LANDING OF HOBSON

ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY GATHERING AT ORAKEI ENTERTAINMENT BY MAORIS The 94th anniversary of the landing at Orakei of Captain William Hobson, R.N., the first Governor of New Zealand, was commemorated in an appropriate manner at the Maori village there yesterday afternoon. It was at Orakei, then known as Okahu Bay, and now skirted by the waterfront road, that Ngatiwhatua chiefs and people welcomed him.

The ceremony yesterday was attended by about 300 Europeans and Maoris. The guests included the deputy-mayor, Mr. A. J. Entrican, and Messrs. S. Takle and J. Sayegh, representing the citizens of Auckland; the Rev. A. B. Chappell, president of the Auckland Historical Society; a party of 15 officers from H.M.A.S. Canberra and H.M.S. Sussex; Mr. F. O. V. Acheson, Judge of the Native Land Court; and Mr. Spenceley Walker. The proceedings opened with a short service, which was conducted by, the Rev. W. W. Averill, vicar of All Saints' Church, Ponsonby, and the Rev. W. N. Parfapa, Church of England Maori missioner in Auckland. In his address Mr. A*verill apologised for the unavoidable absence of Archbishop Averill, and conveyed his greetings to the gathering. The speaker referred to the part played by Captain Hobson in the negotiation of the Treaty of Waitangi. , • The address was followed by a speech of welcome by one of the Maori chiefs, the words of which were interpreted into English by Mr. Lou Parore.

Mr. Entrican spoko of the interest the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, and the City Council had in the movement for preserving the name of Hobson. At the present time Auckland had Mount Hobson and Hobson Street, but these were not adequate as memorials to the founder of * the city. Within the next few years it was hoped to have a more adequate memorial to Hobson, and also to establish a model Maori village at Orakei.

"It was your people who welcomed Hobson here 94 years ago, and to-day you have a number of pjikeha friends joining you to commemorate that occasion," said Mr. Acheson, in addressing the Maoris of the village. Native entertainment in the form of hakas, poi dances and waiatas, was given, and there was also a demonstration of native cooking. The special guests were entertained at afternoon tea, the opportunity being taken to discuss the model village project and the arrangements for future celebrations of Captain Hobson's visit to Orakei.