MAORI ENTERTAINMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17174, 29 November 1917, Page 8

MAORI ENTERTAINMENT

A PATRIOTIC CONCERT. ; Much has been eaid since the war began about the bright-spirited- patriotism shown by the Maori race, which sprang to arms at tho call of the British Empire, and sent its young men to stan<| shoulder to shoulder with the forces of this dominion. Arid a great deal has also been said about the ,, spleiidid fighting qualities of the dusky warriors from New Zealand, whose bayonet charges on the steep and. rugged elopes of Gallipoli wbn for them the highest admiration of their white comrades. The women of the Maori race have also done what they could to help forward the great, cause into which the resources of the Empire have been flung, and. the entertainment given in His Majesty's Theatre last evening,- under the auspices of the Overseas,, Club, was another evidence oT their earnest desire to lend assistance. The concert party consisted of a small group of ladies, girls, and. children from Puketeraki, who were under the charge of Mrs Te Tau, and the proceeds were, to be divided between the Maori Trench Comforts" Fund and the Radium Fund, the occasion being the first upon which an appeal has been made locally on behalf of the Maori soldiers. Th 6 attendance, even admitting that it was affected by counter-attractions, was a poor compliment to the sacrifices made by the Maoris; it was frankly disappointing. However, what the audience lacked in point of "numbers was fully made up for in the'appreciation it showed of the various items submitted, hearty applause following every item, and encores being- demanded in a great number of instances. The raising of the curtain revealed a characteristic Maori scene that was in full accord , with the nature of the concert, but it might be suggested in no spirit of cavilling that the effect would have been greatly enhanced if the performers had adhered a little more rigidly to the traditional costumes of their race.. There was something a little incongruous in the way in which European articles of apparel were commingled with the picturesque native garb. The concert itself; was an enjoyable one in many respects, and was made up almost solely of patriotic items. The poi dances and hakas, which figured largely in the programme, were given by groups of a dozen or 20 ( Maori maidens, and the patriotic element was introduced irito these, not only in the names, but also in ihe flags of the Allies, which were used as a background with admirable effect. Two of tho best of these were "H.M.S. New Zealand's Canoe Poi" ("Come Where Duty Calls") and a " Gallipoli • War Haka" by the concert party, both of these evoking much enthusiasm' fend being loudly applauded. Other items of a nature were a " Parisian Poi," " Maori Love Haka," and "The Allies' Military Poi." The remainder of the programme was made up of vocal items, in which the melodipus voices of the ladies were listened to with ■ great pleasure both in,, concerted numbers and in solos. The items were as follows:— " The Guardian Hymn " (Concert •' Party); song, " The Navy " (Master Mutu Ellison); song, Miss Rena Bradshaw; Maori duet, Misses L. and R. Woods; song, ' Laddie in Khaki"' (Miss Kuini Tβ Tau); song/ " Home, Little Maori Come" (Miss Parata); "Sweet and Low," Concert Party; song", "I Want to Be a Soldier" (Master J. Woods); duet, Miss Puhi Taiaroa and Miss Kinni To Tau; song, "God Send You Back to Me" (Miss L. Woods); song, "Home, Sweet Homo". (Mrs Te Tau). During the interval Master Mutu Ellison sang "Tipperary" in English and Maori, and a collection taken up by the yotmg ladies of tho party, whd invaded the theatre with held appealingly open, realised the satisfactory sum of £6 10s. The accompaniments were shared by Mr G. E. Wilkinson and a number .of the performers, while the stage arrangements were controlled by Mr T. De Spong. A word of praise is also due to Mrs Russell, who woe responsible for much of the preliminary work in connection with the concert, and to Mrs To Tau. The proceeds were also augmented to some extent by the sale of sweets, this duty being undertaken by a number of young ladies. The concert con- 1 clnded, as it began, with the singing of the National -Anthem.