THE NATIVE CONTINGENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10919, 28 September 1897, Page 3

THE NATIVE CONTINGENT.

A GREAT MAORI GATHERING AT I'AVAWAI.

CFHOJt Our Own Correspondent.) Wkixisgtox, September 10.

It was a merry tr&iiiful of ple.isurfi-seekers that started from Wellington yesteid)y forenoou. The Maori contingent were setting out to the WAirarftpa, where they were to be welcomed baak from their trip Honw. Oa the station aud in the carriages all was confusion, laughter, au4 chatter, o.nd one would have imagined that a Sunday cehool minus its teachers was setting out for a day's outing, for, &l't«r all, the Maori is very like a child iv his transparent emotions and his delight in fun. The carriages were a turmoil of movement and uoiss and merriment until some minutes after the train steamed out of the station. Qn bosi-d were the Hon. Mr C»rroll and Mrs Seddon, with a party of friends. As the babiea and wauines and the stalwart members of the contingent settled down, one had iui opportunity of admiring tbe magnificent physique of the Maoris, who seem in th 3 pink of condition—indeed one of thsin told us that it was " werry difficult fastenia' his uniform cow." On the road the men hera and toere dtssrisd po:ae friends or kindred, and wild Maori greeting* and frantic hand-wavinga ensued, responded to hy the others, who wistfully watched the (rain out of sight, as if they longed to join them in tee festivities at Pspawai. The handsome msaal worn so proudly by each man was admired, and the fact that it was handed to each by the Prince of Wales himself considerably ' enhanced its valua. The n»me of the owner w.as engraved upon the edge. By-aud-bye C iptain Browc (Tnuuirangi), who is a great enthusiast over bis corps, e»me along and expatiated oh the good behaviour of the men. Indeed, from all quarters the same thing was heard—that the New Zaaknd contingent, Maoris and Europeans,'were patterns of good conduct at Home. There was much chafliug about tbe attention they received from the susceptible British fennle.' Oue hugs Adonia, a great broad-chested, fine-featured fellow, declared all the girls were in love with him. His narna was Knku, anglicised George Love—which was apprtprintE. Another handsome man said, with quite a Uase air, "Girls, plenty girU ; too many round the barracks, clay aud night— couldn't get out for them. Tannirangi had sis boatloads wheu ho went off, al! crying. There was itf our carriage one very energetic female who seemed extremely witty in Maori, aud caused her auditors to roll off their seats with laughter. She gesticulated wildly all the time. Opposite her sat the big lady-killer, who, we were surprised to learn, was on ] y ig — the younge3t member o£ the corp3 except tha little, bugler. Oaa man dwelt on the splendid, horses they were given, and said they knew their drill aB well as their riders. Another told ih there was no meat like New Zealand meat at Home, and that a chop was good in London. There was no fair breeze in the gceat City, he said, and we all thought of the kerosene tins that were flying about Wellington at the time he was spsaking, and sighed for London. A big man was painted out to us as a champion haka dancer. He gave a performance after a private dinner in London, and electrified his audience. The contingent Eeveral times astonished the Home people by their dancing, once parforming on the banks of ths Thames to a great crowd. Among other pUces they visited Lord Oaalow's lovely seat, and were delighted with hit) Maori house, bn% i Hnia, tbe little sou, was away to the seaside for his health. At one stopping place one Maori gathered larjre bunches of wattle and periwinkle, and "allantly presented them to some ladies. After refreshments at Kaitoke,. the.fun grew faster, and a Maori with a battle of iime jiiiea went round askiug everyone to join him, A wahine, glass in hand, made a sorS ot stump speech which must have been screamingly funny, while the solemn browu baby on her l jp gazed at her wonderingly. Among the outsiders were an Australian and an Am.-rican who fully appreciated the novelty of tbeir situation. . One suspicious wahine, while her hmbsnd was m another carriage, collected facts about his behavour at Home. Some of the troopers told her groat stories, while another reassured her, and said, "He alway.i good boy. Girl come up to talk ;he cay, 'Go away girl.'" In the many tunnels the noise was trenisndoua, and as we neawd Grey town, the little bugler—the pet, of Locdon—we were told, playod up, and the sweet rich voices of ths Maoris were lifted up in difcties as "Daisy bell, and "The soldiers of our Q-ieen.'' Lake Wairarapa. its further banks raist-ahrouded, was passed and all began to collect their prooertie3, the soldiers donning tbeir sausagelike" coats, and the-women shouldering their piccaninnies and-bundles. ■ At Greytown, after the band had played and a liiitle spsecti by the mayor, the contingent started off aud Ike rest followed. The procession was somewhat like a funeral for none of the vehicles could hurry, bus it was very ch=e'fal and comprised the whole population of I the town. Ab the gate"of the pa the men were ! met by the Maoris with a haka of welcome, led by Tamahau Mahupnka, the chief who was the leader, too, in the hospitality, and who gave the contingent £100 as pecket money for Home. The contortions aud howls and strange cefitures and costumes contrasted wonderfully i with the precise drill o? the Maori troopers I which they were pub through by their officers after ttie haka. Thsn they all went into the ! largo room, where they talked and laughed i and interchanged reminiscences for a little i while. Outside, the photographers were having ! a rather wearying time, for, like the hedgehog I Alice in " Wonderland " ussd as a croquet ball, no sooner was the camera directed on a picturesque group than it divided into units and walked away. Some very charming girls, with long, dark hair and fine bit 3of colour iv the way of silk handkerchiefs and piuafores, were persuaded to staud. They were worthy of bsiug pointed. In and out ran the littte. Maori children, wanting to fe3 and know all but never touching anything—in fact, one man's camera was left outside among the Maoris for some time unjjiurded and found to be just the same as ho had left it. For honesty, courtesy, and hospitality the Maori is superior ab times to his white brother, snd the whole duy and night one could not notice a rude or rough act or the slightest sign of inteaiperance. At last lunch was announced, and we filed into another long room laid with narrow tables set out with provisions aud decorated loyally with red, white, and blue. At the table across the head ot the room Mrs Seddon aud her party, with Colons! Pitt, Captain Robin, and the other diotitiguishod guests, were p!aead. Opposite to Mrs Sed'Jon, ia a larga arm chair, the top of bis grizzled head just showing above it, sat Captain Brown Tsnuirangi, whose veneration for the Queen is intense. He held an interview with her. She had teara in her eyes, he said, as he stood by her carriage, and ho did not know -what to do or say, but it would bs hard for the Maori, with his native dignity and self-composure, to do amiss. Backwards and forwards flitted the neat-handed Maori girls, busysnpplying the wants of their guests. Behind them the women carved, helped and poured oui the tea, while Tamahui aod some other lesser lights walked up and down seeing that «vmybi)dy was served. Then came speeches. Tanuiraugi made a valiant attempt at English, bub after some frantic struggles and appeals to Mr Carroll and Captain Robin related into flusnt r.ad expressive Maori. He ended by saying that he hoped that the Maoris would not disband —"buckle off the sword"— but form a corps of their own. Captain Robin, the praise of whoss skill and tact was in everyone's mouth, rose to say tbat he Cima from the far south, aud wished to join in the thanks for the welcome. If at times his orders had to be peremptory, the men were to forget them and remember only that at times it was necessary to ba strict. He would like to see the 220 d June coinmeaiorated each year ia some way —if only by friendly telegrams. A picturesque old Maori, interpreted by Mr Carroll, made a most flowery speech, ending up by wishing all, including Mrs Scddon and her " old mnn," life for ever ami ever. Then Tamahau led the chant of affection, which ended in an energetic linkn, nob only from the pretty Maori girls who waited, bat from the contingent and their friends One old woman with a baby waved it about in her excitement until no one would h.ive been surprised to see it head first in atnong the dishes. It was time now for the guests who were leaving by the special to go, and tiso coatingeut msuch'jd off to the station, where farewells were snid, and the comrades in arms who had been together for nearly six months disbanded. Altogether the a<L»ir was a great success, and the pleasaufcesfc sido of human nature was shown by all as white man said I good-byo to the black with a hearty hand-grip.

No one could doubt that if ever the necessity arose the Maori and colonial would be found fighting side by side for the Queen and their country. Once again we drove down the long white road, but this time the moonlight wan poetising the tree stamps and the grassy flats. Ahead of us, lika a great woolshed, was the mesfcisg-house light streaming from; every window. The large room, which if, perhsps, 150 ft long, was fairly full, many standing oa the forms to get a batter view of the dancers. In one corner there were gathered a confused heap of Maori wabines and children, with one quite civilised perambulator. The contingent were evidently the centre of attraction, snd did their duty nobly. They were quite particular, however, about obtaining introductions, and had a repose of maaner and easy grace that was really very well bred. Oue fine fellow danced the alberts with his comrade's mother, a Maori of the old type, with blaok o)f locks and a bedgown attire, bat she might have been an empress as far as his gallant attentions went. The piano which, with a cornet, formed the music was jn the middle of the room, and from this point of vantage a mau shouted directions. to the dancers, now in Hoglish then in Maori. Some of the Maori girh were extremely pretty, ana many bedecked royally with handsome mats. Oue girl danced vigorously with two mats—one of gaily tinted feathers round her neck, while another wa3 tied round her waist.' One very fius mat, which was much admired, was mada of kiwi feathers, woven od a wool foundation, and formed a lovely wrap for the litble chubby brown baby it was folded round. Babies and children we're on all sides dancing and creeping about, allso well behaved. One family group had come from Waoganui to welcome the contingent. Tha father had one baby on his back in a huge sha-wl, while the mother carried . the other. They seemed so proud of the children and quite contented, saying to one girl whenshe told them she was not married, " Not married ! No good, perhaps! Too old!" Supper came oa early. The menu included roast beef, hefc potatoes, and plum pudding, and there seemed any amount of provisions, and many ready waiters. Opposite to me sat a Maori swell, an owner of racehorses, who keeps his landeau, and yet served as a private in the ranks of the contingent. After supper and more dancing, the little bugler gave us " Paradise alley, and the refrain was taken up willingly by all the others. It was a straage scene when afterwards he sang the latest coster song with accent and gestures d la London music hall. His burly comrades stood behind him, and round the room, rank behind rank, clustered the sea of faces, white and brown, of the motley audience listening reverentially. Onß of the contingent to whom I talked was most interesting in his reminiscences, and was the ous who said he would like to have stayed at Home. "But," he said, " I go to Pans Exhibition by the Mediterranean." I left them all enjoying themselves, which they would go on doiDg till daylight did appear, for many of them were dacciog in their own sleeping This message was handed in at Greytown last night, but though the office was opan, and the New Zealand Times got a message through, the officer in charge refused to wire to ths QDaga Daily Times. ' ,