HUGE WAR CANOE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22985, 12 March 1938, Page 14

HUGE WAR CANOE

VICE-EEGAL TEANSPOET GREAT MAORI GATHERING CEREMONIAL RECEPTIONS HUI AT NGARUAWAHIA [BY TELEGRAM* —SPECIAIi REPORTER] NGARUAWAHIA, Friday Tho might of the Maori of old—his fierce hakas of welcome; the sweep of the paddles of his lean war canoeswill resound again on the Waikato River on Friday after a lapso of decades when traditional ceremony will mark the opening of the now house for King Koroki at Ngaruawahia. With a golden key set in an ancient piece of greenstone of almost priceless historical value, the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, is to perform the official act. Between 4000 and. £OOO Maoris will assemble at tho Ngaruawahia Pa next week. First to arrive will bo tho Tuvvharetoa people from. Taupo, who are to act as ceremonial hosts, and by Wednesday it is expected that tho main contingents from 13 tribes will have assembled. King Koroki himself will come from Waahi on Sunday and will live in temporary premises until the house is opened on Friday. Climax to the Hui Thursday is intended to bo purely a Maori day and, with tho pa closed entirely to pakehas, native oratory will bo heard as welcomes aro extended and tangis held for those who died since the last assembly of the tribes about a year ago. Final plans will no doubt be made at this stage for the functions of tho following day-when a climax to the hui will bo reached. The Governor-General and Lady Galway will arrive at Ngaruawahia by train at 10 o'clock on Friday morning and, after receiving the Mayor of Ngaruawahia, Mr. R. Eyre, they will proceed to the banks of the Waipa River which joins the swift-flowing Waikato at the township. Here 40 warriors will bo awaiting their arrival in a massive war canoe, 08ft. long, and when the Vice-Regal party has embarked the vessel will leave for the pa. Escorted by a small flotilla of other native craft, the canoe will carry Their Excollencies 'down tho Waipa and into tlie Waikato to a special landing stage at the pa. Receptions at tho Pa JFive big canoes, each containing from 25 to 30 men, and other small craft, will also meet at this point and a welcome will be extended to tho visitors. Subsequently, Viscount Galway will present the C.B.E. to Princess Te Puea Herajigi, and at 12.30 p.m. he will officially open tho king's house. A luncheon is to be tendered the Vice-Rogal party by King Koroki, at which several Ministers, including the Hon. F. Langstone, acting-Minister of Native Affairs, tho Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Education, and the Hon. W. Lee Martin, Minister of Agriculture, together with officials of the Native Land Court, the Countess of Orford, Lady Anne Walpole, and other distinguished guests will be present. Following the departure of Lord and Lady Galway at three o'clock a further reception to pakeha guests will take place in the meeting-house, Mahinarangi. Historic Canoe The canoe, which will bo used to transport the Governor-General, is one of three which are under construction for use at tho New Zealand Centenary in 1940. Many years ago it was employed by raiding parties on the Waikato River but eventually it fell into the hands of Von Tempsky and was smashed and left to rofc at Port Waikato. When Princess To Puea mooted her idea of constructing the centenary vessels, it was raised from the sand and has since been repaired. Along its full length' it has been adorned with finely executed carvings, and massive head and stern pieces have been erected.