NEW PLYMOUTH EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5474, 31 December 1904, Page 7

NEW PLYMOUTH EXHIBITION.

WOOD-CHOPPING CONTESTS. PRESS ASSOCIATION. NEW PLYMOUTH. December 30. Tho carnival continued to-day, and showed that interest continues unabated in various parts of the. Exhibition and miscellaneous entertainments. Today tho chief attraction was a chopping contest, in which Australian and New Zealand champions took part. Tho attendance was largo, and thoi contests exciting in several cases. Tho principal events resulted as follows; — Handicap Chop (18-inch standing block).—D. Pretty 1, G. A. Goold 2, L. Borg 3. Blanc, a world’s champion, won his heat, but in the final struck a bad log, and did not finish. Time, 2mm KJsoc. Goold entered a protest against Pretty, on the ground that ho changed logs with Blanc. The matter will bo dealt with at the first meeting of tho New Zealand Axemen’s Association. First-class Handicap Chop (18-inch block).—Blanc 1. B. It. Terry 2, Borg 8. Time, Imin 47sec. Maiden Double-Handed Sawing Handicap (18-inch logs).—Berkahn and Beck 1, Blanc and Dcegan 2, Phillips and White 3. Time, 18 4-ssoc. Double-handed Sawing Handicap (2ft logs).—Buckingham and Terry (Sin) 1, O. F. and A. Yolzko (3in) 2, Pretty Brothers (Sin) 3. Time, 30sec. Underhand Handicap Chop (18-inch logs).—W. Bock 1, B. Pretty 2, D. Johnston 3. Time, 3min 35sec. The weather continue© favourable and the town is still full of visitors. Throe thousand attended the contests to-day, and tho total to tho Exhibition was nearly as high as yesterday. MAORI ENTERTAINMENT. (From a Correspondent.) Between two and three thousand people assembled on Thursday afternoon to witness the amusements provided by The Maoris. The Rev F. A. Bennett (Maori missionary) explained each item before it was produced, adding consideriibly to'tho interest of those who had no knowledge of tho Maori language or ■customs. It was explained that the items were intended to portray incidents in the life and customs of tho Maoris of the past. The first item was a war cry (“Whakaaraara waewae”) or lifting of the feet. Tho Maoris wore divided into two parties. One of tho parties sent a warrior, carrying a challenge spear to the opposing side, while both sides were couched on the ground. The spear was accepted, and then both parties sprang to their feet and rushed , towards each other, and at once a grand ’ haka was danced, tho time kept being perfect. The next was a “Poi.” About ■ torty Maori women and girls (very neatly dressed in white, with a blue sash, and a ‘‘pulpin'’ hanging gracefully from tho waist) took part in this game. This is one of tho most graceful and attractive of Maori amusements. Tho “Poi,” as played by the natives on this occasion, was very fine. The Taranaki natives are thorough exponents of tho game. Seeing how wonderfully precise they were in the time kept, it w-as not ■ surprising to hear that the women had been practising almost daily for seven months. During the pois the men were formed up behind the women, and at proper intervals punctuated the various evolutions With songs and choruses. Next was a haka. Mr Bennett gave in interesting explanation of this particular haka. It originated at tho time ivhen tho Ngatiawas were anxious to jell Mount Egmont (Taranaki, as it is .called by the natives) and the Ponakai Hills to the Government, through Sir Donald McLean, iu 1851. Immediately ; the news reached the Taranakis, a council of war was held, and as a result • 8000 Maori warriors were formed up and marched over tho Ponakai hills, and on to Mount Egmont. This undertaking •was by way of protest. The Taranakis : did not acknowledge tho right of the ,'Ngatdawaa to sell the mountain. The war party farmed a pa on a site not far from the mountain-house on the Eltham side of the mountain. This ancient pa was called Karaka-a-tonga. Hero they lived for some time, with the two-foW object in view, of establishing their claims to tho mountain, - by lighting a fire and living on the mountain, and also of having a fight with the Ngatiawas if they came forward. At Karaka-a-tonga eighty of the best warriors were picked from the three thousand to scale the summit of Mount Egmont. Just before the eighty loft, this famous war-cry was -performed. The translation of the war-cry is as follows “What, oh, what, is the name 'of that mountain? Is it, indeed, Taranaki ? Oh, oome closer to me. Draw nearer to me. Come to my breast that I might embrace thee. Oh, be faithful, be faithful.” Mr Bonnett explained that the idea conveyed by the words “be faithful” was to the effect that tho Maoris had • personified the mountain as their lover, and looked upon the negotiations for its , purchase by the Government os an effort to allpro their love from them. In the latter part of the haka the Maori was asking tneir love not to move if the pakdha tried to win her affection- ’ Then this two thousand wont on to Panitahi, acting as an escort to the eighty. At Panitahi the eighty left the majority, and after procuring a totara-polo, they marched up the mountain, and there, drove their totara-pole into the summit. This done, they danced the haka again on tho snow, and ’ then left to join the majority at nightfall. They were welcomed at Panitahi by another great war haka (which was given later in tho afternoon). A Maori Waiata (song) followed. This had been composed by the late Te Kahili, who had taken a deep interest in the carnival and exhibition. It expressed gratitude on behalf of the Maoris to tho New Plymouth Committee for inviting them to assist, and the honour conferred upon them, and the kindness already meted out to them, and ended with an assurance that the Maoris would do all they possibly could to assist the committee in making the carnival and exhibition tho success which it deserved. Another poi,' a chorus, and a conclude ing haka brought one of the best Maori entertainments it has been ray privilege to see to a close. Three cheers were given for the Maoris hy the great crowd of pakehas on tho grounds, and . those wore followed by throe_ ringing cheers in response hy the Maoris.

"NEW ZEALAND MAIL" ISSUE. The "New Zealand Mail” next week will be largely devoted te the carnival and exhibition of arts and industries at New Plymouth. Besides a retrospective sketch of the town and province, a full and adequate report of the carnival and exhibition will appear together with an extended and particular reference to the infinite variety of the exhibits. The illustrations in the “Mail" having special reference to New Plymouth and its exhibition will occupy some twelve pages irrespective of letterpress, and the issue of the' "New Zealand Mail" o? Wcdnes-

day, January 4th will, in all respects, be a splendid representation of the largest and most successful undertaking the enterprising citizens of New Plymouth have yet organised. The proprietors of the "Mail” have spared neither pains nor expense in this production, and while the carnival and exhibition in which the people of Taranaki are bo much interested is presented in a manner consistent with its proportions. still there are several pages of illustrations devoted to other less notable events. Foremost among these are tho axemen’s championship carnival at Eltham, and the Maori gathering at Otaki in honour of the Hon . Huia Onslow. There are twenty-four pages of illustrations in all, so that altogether the "New Zealand Mail" next week will ho one of the largest publications of its kind that has yet been issued. An extra number of this issue is being printed in anticipation of the demand. But in order to avoid disappointment agents and others desirous of securing greater supplies should make early application to the publisher.