THE MAORI FETE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12551, 3 January 1903, Page 2

THE MAORI FETE.

THE GATHERINGS AT PUKETEEAKI. Thursday and Friday were set apart for a display at Pukoteraki of Maori customs and amusements under tho nuspioes of the Araiteuru Native. Council. Natives had . congregated from Colao Bay, Stewart Island, the Taieri, Moeraki, Tomuka, Kaiapoi, and other places further north, including some parts of the North Island, and the public of the surrounding district, ■as well as several train loads from Dunedin, patronising tho fete in large numbers the affair must be conceded to have been a signal success. Tho funds derived from .the fete are to be devoted to the purposes of the Araiteuru Council, whoso district ombraces the wholo of Otago and Southland (including Stewart Island) and whose object it is to improve the sanitary and,social condition of the Maori people under thoir jurisdiction. Tho work has been undertaken in a very systematic manner by tho council, tho chairman of which is Tiemi Hipi, of Waikouaiti, and it may be safely 'predicted that tho result of their labours will be of great advantage to the Maori people in this part of the colony. Arrangements for tho fote j had been exceedingly well managed by an energetic committee,. the secretary of which j was Mr W. T. Parata, Everything was in readiness for the fote by the time the first train arrived from Dunedin on Thursday morning, arid the people at once plunged: into a stream of excitement that carried { ('hem along without a pauso up to tho time of tho departure of. tho return train to town. J Thero was really, no end ol entertainment | for anyone who wished to make the best of a day that was not 98 dry as it might have been. The poi dances and hakas, with their curious gesticulations and terrifying howls, were novel and exciting; the roasting of the bullock and sheep in Maori ovens, i under tho care of a man brought down ' specially from Tomuka for the work, was watched by hundreds; tho opening of tho ovens afforded an interesting spectaclo for as many as could find space to look into : the reserve occupied by the cook; the tent in which ferns, rare plants, and Maori articles of workmanship were displayed was thronged at all hours; and numerous par- : ties, numbering from two to a dozen or t more, roamed over the ground on which ! the fete was held, its pretty native bush i being much admired, w'hilo tho shelter j granted by tho trees was very welcome in . the showers of rain. Other portions of the j day's programme also holped to fill in the time, ono of the most appreciated being the excellent playing of the Kaikorai Band, conducted by Mr Laidlaw. Many visitors wended thoir way to the lovoly beach or to ■ the rivor before entering tho ground. The j spot chosen for the sport was a beautiful' hollow, forming a natural amphitheatre, j above tho railway station. With the band at one end, the Maori porformers with their quaint dresses in the centre, the circle of spectators at the ring, and the crowd in tho background on the hill a scene- was presented that was at once picturesque and nnique, and many wore the snapshots that were taken of it, j Tho day's proceedings commenced with the hoisting of tho Araiteuru flag by Mr T., Parata, M.H.E. for the Southern Maori district, who was suitably dressed in a chief's mat and flourished a greenstone, mere, When the rollod-up flag had been pulled up half-way a party, consisting of j -Messrs J. Parata. W. Palmer, J. Taiaroa, ' and Paki Kupa, fired a volley, and on> the ; Hag being hoisted to the top it was un- ; furled and named "Araitouru" by Mr Parata, after which the Kaikorai Band played " God savo the King." A haka, led by, Poko Weka, of Mocrnki, was thon danced j in honour of the hoisting of the flag, and j Mr Parata gave an address, speaking in I Maori, his remarks being interpreted by j Wi Repa, a member of the Horo-uta Maori | Council (North Island), as follows:— j " Attend nil ye peoplo of tho South ] Island. The purpose of this meeting is to raise funds to. support the. Maori Council' known by tho name of Araitouru, and this i flag is the emblem of Araiteuru. The Go- ' rernment havo been pleased to accede to i the request of tho Maoris of both islands to bo allowed practically to govern themselves as far as municipal affairs are concerned; in other words, fo attend to all matters concerning the social interest, the sanitary interest, and every other interest ; of tho whole Maori people, and I am very | grateful to the white people—the pakehsj— i who have been so willing to attend this; ceremony to-day and give assistance. In i short, the main purpose of this gathering | is to give an idea of what tho Maoris are j trying to do to emulate the example set them by the pakehns to impiovo every con- j dition under which they are now living, so , that thoy may bo as prosperous as tho' .pakehns are.—(Applause.) Ever since the | Government acceded to tho request made by tho Maori people • the Maoris through-' out tho longth and breadth of the two j islands havo taken tho matter up with groat > energy and' with groat self-denial, and in ! tho end they hope to be much better off and as happy as the pakchas are.—(Applause.) I will not detain you any longer by speaking to you, but once more wish to express my gratitude to you all for coming out this day to give us your assistance and support.—(Applause.) I will now address mysolf to the Maori?, and bid them welcome. They havo enme from all parts of the jurisdiction of the Araiteuru Council, which extends from the Wnitaki River in tho north to Stewart Island in the south', and I am much obliged to them for coining hero to give their help. This day their eanoo, Araiteuru, has boon held up before their neighbours, the pakohas. Araiteuru, you will remember, was ono of the traditional canoes that left the old land Hawaiki. and carried the ancestors of. the Maoris from those islands to our New Zealand home. Tho majority of th» canoes did not come so far south as this island; they stayed in the North Island. Only two canoes came south, Takitimu being the first and Araiteuru the second. Takitimu may now be seen in the consolidated form ' of a great mountain near Colao Bay. Araitouru has also assumed a petrified and im-! mortaliscd form, and may bo seen at Shag Point. Among the groat warriors who came , out in Araiteurii were Pukihiivi-tnhi, tho ' name of tho hill on which the M'Kenzic's . cairn now Btands, and Piiko-tapu and other warriors known only to their descendants. ' Once more I wish to express my gratitude to those Maoris within tho Ijorders of Araiteuru who have come here to celebrate the . initial anniversary of their canoe Araiteuru. This act which wo celebrate to-day will go down to posterity— to our children,—who will look back with pride on our action and will remember whence they came. Much do I wish to express this feeling of gratitude, becauso 'I have been duly appointed by the Government as a member of the > Advisory Council, which appointmont has been unanimously endorsed by the Maoris of Araiteuru. Tliat is the end of my speech both to the Maoris and to the pakehas. Boforo I sit down I once more bid yon all welcome and say. for all live happily for ever and' ever and ever."—(Applause.)

Another haku was danoed, and the crowd made their way further along the ground, where, in the spacious hollow, a nowhiri, or dance of welcome, in honour of- the visitors was given by a large party, Four other flags were unfurled with less ceremony— namely, the To Waip'ounamu, or South Mind flag, which is in the oharge of the Natives at Henlc-y, and which was unfurled by Ihaia Potiki (Molyneux); the flag of the Hllirapa tribe, whoso headquarters ye I at Puketeraki,' and whose floe was-unfuiSid ! by M. Koherc (lecturer, Native Theological College, Gisbornc); and the flag of the i Maririhau tribe, whose headquarters are at j Temuka, ami whoso flag was- unfurled by I Eaitai Tarawhata (Temuka). A short'adjournment was then made for lunch, and tho refreshment tent was rushed, but proved-equal to tho demands mado upon it. It was intimated after a time that sandwiches were, "off," but thore was still a largo supply of and plenty to drink. The opening of the Maori ovens, which are formed of a great, number-of previouslyheated stones, covered with earth, wa3 an interesting'item,-'and; bags of meat and potatoes were speedily and dispensed to an eager crowd*. The general verdict was that the meat, so cooked, though tainted somowliat with smoke, was quite j palatable as a : picnic dish, and .the cook, Keitai Tarawhata,] of'Temuka, earned many praises for the outcome of his laborious work.' . ' :~;v.' Throughout.the.afternoon poi dances and hakas wore given in'tho/hollow, and a large ! crowd watched the performances witli evi- ' dent enjoyment, tho applauso being frequent I and hearty. Girls took part in tho poi | dances. Thero; wore about' 60 of the, dusky I maidens. Eect'om having come from Cofac Bay .(Ruin Kupa, loader), .Moeraki (Cissy Tipa, leader), and Otakaui and Puketeraki (Pani Rehu, leader). Two parlies, mostly men, performed in the hakns, including representatives from all the pahs in tho Araito'ura-district, as well as visitors from the north.. The leadens were M. Kohero, Te Ranga, Hiroa, Hoani To Wahia, Ware Rehu, Ka.Ka Tipa, and Poko Woka. Canoe songs were taken part in by men and women from tho Moeraki amd Puketeraki palls. Hoani Matin acting as leader. The naming of a child.in Maori fashion excited great mirth. Th'c part of- the tohunga- was taken by Nehb Pnpakafcura, the Native missionary employed by the Southern Maori Mission, who was .assisted by two others. The child kept remarkably quiet, notwithstanding the yells of the tbhungas and the somewhat rough treatment it received at their hands, and the. spectators marvelled at its siibmissivoness until one of the performers, tearing it from the mother's arms, ■throw it into tho crowd, when it turned out to be only a bundle of_slwwls. One of tho tohungas foil emd sprained his ankle, and Dr Marshall Macdoniild, of Duncdin, who was on tho ground, was called in to bind the injured- part. . ■ A tent, in which were sold ferns, rare native plants from Colac Bay and Stewart Island, Maori baskets, and' other articles of workmanship by ithe Native,?, was in charge of Mrs T; Parata, inn. (Puketeraki), and Mis 3 Gourley (Purakanui). The refreshment tent was'managed by Mi's Scolt, Mrs •Tiemi Hipi,: Miss J.ioyd. and Miss Parata, and the cordial and fruit stalls by Mrs J. Parata and Miss Muir. The interest and fun occasioned by tho various performances was unabated up to halfpast 4; at which hour the band played the Notional Anthem, and a general movo was made for the train. Yesterday, when tho weather was fine, there was another large attendance at the fete, though the number'was not eo great as on tho previous day. The hnkas and poi dances and the roasting of a bullock and a number of sheep we're features of much interest to mrny, and tho tent with baskets and ferns was patronised to such an extent that the stock was 'quite cleared out. The ftoikorai Band was again in attendance. A new dance'that was givrin was the perupcru, or war-dance. Tlvo two parties engaged were drawn up on tho. hill. One pnrtv came on tho groun'd armed, arid were challenged by their opponents, from whoso ranks a man advanced holding a light.spear. He went through a- number of gesticulations of defiance, ending by throwing the spear at the enemy, who at once chased the challenger back. Tho pefuperu followed. As on .tho opening day, the arrangements for the fete wore first.das. Tho secretary (Mr W. T. Parata) kept things moving all the time, and our reporter is indebted to him for information courteously supplied. The Araitourii fla'sr, as previously explained, ' was' designed by Mr A. Hamilton, of the Otngo University, It is divided longitudinally into an upper whito and a lower black part. The whito part of the field bears upon it a, war canoe, with its crow of warriors complete, the "Kai-hautu " standing erect to lend tho canon chant;and to give tho -warriors the time by tho waving of his weapon. Upon the.white field there is also a greenstone mere, emhlnmatid of the cargo whicli Araiteurn carried. On the black part of tho field is the word "Araiteurn,"'worked in white letters. The colours of the flsg nre red.'blnck, and white, which-are the trim Maori colours—red representing the-chief", owins to their custom of painting thaniselrßa with red ochre, and blsck representing..tho'common peoplo. The raibvnv arrangements for the fete wore admirable, and plonty of accommoda-tion—not-always the best, certninly—was provided. -For two days Puketeraki could boast of a stntionmaster and an assistant, who worked the line without mishap of any kind.