ARAWA VILLAGE CONDEMNED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7847, 8 July 1911, Page 17

ARAWA VILLAGE CONDEMNED

rx CAMP AT THE VTHITE CITY. FEOM OCE LADY COEEESPOXDENT, LONDON. May 26. Consternation reigned supremo in the Arawa village at the Festival of Empire, now proceeding in the Crystal Palace grounds, last week, when it was made known to tho Maoris the sad tidings that the village, not being fireproof, must be pulled down. Maggie Papakura entreated tho authorities—inspectors, iiro brigade experts, etc.— to allow the condemned straw roofs to bo taken off and replaced with others less dangerous; but all to no avail. It must bo pulled down, and that at once, and none of tho tribe patiently waiting since early in May—must be allowed on any account to reside there! Tho kindly Council of the Festival did all in its power to make amends for tho harsh decision, and offered to at once begin rebuilding the village on the football grounds. This, however, would have meant living in tho atmosphere and noiso of 80-tock’s circus, which Is next to the spot offered, and Maggie felt bound to refuse. It would take a month to rebuild, she was told. Here Mi La Taupopoki—tho white-haired old fellow held in such esteem by all the tribo—interposed, with such a flow of eloquence and wrath that Hara afterwards void the writer that he nearlj' went mad! Tho most potent of all reasons to a Maori, and tho one calculated to make them, obdurato in refusal to return to the Amwa village, even should it be rebuilt on tho sauio spot, was brought fiercely forth by the sturdy chief. THE VILLAGE TAPE. Ho appealed to their superstition. The village, having been opened—viz., consecrated—was tapu to all good Maoris. No more needed to bo said—none would have returned under any circumstances. “X could not toll what to do In my great distress,'' Maggie told me yesterday, "and I thought of returning to New Zealand and taking all the tribe witii me. but that seemed such a pity that I tried to think of sumo other plan. Then offers came in for us to tnuvsicr our wholo tamp and entertainments, and so wo are hero now as port of the AVJuto Oily Coronation Exhibition."

The present living’ quarters of the Maoris are splendid, and aro situated -where the Irish village -was last year—o. long, picturesque row of well-built, white cottages with rod roofs standing in a plot of ground well loncod in, and quite private. The general public is not to bo admitted to this part of tho village, as a second and smaller addition is being constructed for exhibition, about fifty yards distant, and hard by an excellent theatre provided for the native entertainments, winch started yesterday afternoon, and will continue everyday except Sundays. Tho contract with Maggie’s syndicate, having been broken by the k estival of Empire people, no longer holds good, and, to tho great disappointment, undoubtedly, of all New Zealanders in this country, and many English spectators as well, the plans lor the Treaty of Waitangi scene in the Pageant mast probably now bo altered. In that case tbe Pageant Master has no alternative but to engage a party of London supers, and paint them up to Ipok liko Maoris —this -with tho genuine articles actually in this country! A lino, happy-looking lot wore the Muons when 1 called on them in their new quarters at the White City yesterday morning. < A CAMP PICTURE.

In the dazzling sunlight tho men worked at the construction ox gates to the exhibition pah getting the long carved posts into place, runimig up wads of slender tree trunks that loosed not at all bad imitations of JNew Zeaiand materials, whistling, singing and laughing over their work, wiihin the vibago quite a New Zealand scene met my eyes.

A bonny fire was burning as cheerily as ill the uaekbiocks, wutn three black ooiiers, hoiaing various good things for li o’clock dinner, housing to tne crossbar. .Maggies young hali-tust-er, wulstiingsoftly, was sotting the tame—the tab-eolotii pio lean, being of green tent* canvas—with real old New Zealand blue ana white enamel mugs, and with blade-handled knives and forks tnat brought bush picnics to the mind.

itouud about tho flro lay, or loungou, most of the Maori women of the camp, reading, smoking cigarettes, or talking in tiioir own musical lasinon. One—Hera—had been wasning her hair, and tossed it over her lac© and back again down her back in the suuJignt to ary it. I remarked on ncr piei/uinoss and youthfuine-s to liara, Maggie’s cousin, by whose s.de 1 also eat, in tue smoke of the tire, waiting for Maggie to show' mo round. Tho camp work, cooking, etc.. Is in .tho hands of contingents, who relieve each otner at intervals. * At twelve tho men returned to dinner, and it was amusing to see the company of men and women and children eating stew and drinking tea—a combination most unusual in this country. Indoors the new quarters are exceedingly comfortable, the bearooms being light and airy, with fireplaces and piemy of space. Tho bathrooms are little short of luxurious, and fitteu with tiiowor batns of tne latest design that moot with much approval alter the cramped quarters, of boardinghouses that tlw Maoris have occupied so far. On Monday Moggie gives an At Home to her friends, in the Maori theatre.