MAORI CEREMONY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18850, 1 May 1923, Page 8

MAORI CEREMONY.

UNVEILING A MONUMENT. TE lIEUHEU HONOURED. SPEECH BY GOVERNOR-GENERAL. (Per United Press Association.) TOKAANU, April 30. For some ddys past Natives from almost every part of the North Island have been congregating at Tokaanu, Lake T'aupo, in connection with the unveiling of a monument to the Hon. Tc Henheu Tukino. The scene was by the sparkling waters of Tanpo. This most picturesque We lay placid and shimmering in the sun. In the distance towered Tauhara mountain, from the top of which To Heuheu’s ancestors laid claim to the lake around the monument, where the children ‘of the seven canoes of great migration assembled to do honour to one of the leaders of the Maori race. One Native said: “One could almost imagine the spirit of Te Henheu the Great, looking down upon the scene thinking d a great honour that the Admiral of the Grand Fleet of Great Britain should pay tribute to the descendants of the commanders and navigators of the fleet which left the far distant Havvaiki so many centuries ago.” Elaborate arrangements had been made, and the huge task of housing and feeding over ICOO people was carried out without a hitch. Yesterday was spent chiefly m addrosses of welcome between the local and visiting tiibes, and in reference to the ‘Western Maori election. This morning a typical Native welcome was extended to his Excellency the Gov-ernor-General (Viscount Jelliooe). A stalwart party of 50 strong gave a spirited haka, and then preceded his Excellency and party to the centre of the marae. , Addressing 1 his Excellency, Hoani Kouheu, son of the late To Henheu, said: “Greetings, O Governor. The Henheu family and all the Ngati Tuwharetoa greet you. Wo thank your Excellency _ for the honour you have done us in coming hero to-day. It is a true mark of respect to our dead. Welcome to our village by the shore of the great lake. See with the eye of the spirit the perilous journeys of our ancestors from the far distant Hawaiki, and you will know then why it is wo love this land, won for us by our forefathers. I call upon my people, the children of the warrior chiefs of old. to greet the great man of the pakeKas in the Maori way, to show them that the spirit of the race is not dead.” , , Then f nco again the haka party Ravp a dance and song of welcome to his Excellency-. . , • The Governor-General appreciated the honour done him in inviting him to bo present. He thought it fitting that his Majesty’s representative should perform the ceremony because of the loyalty of Te Hcuheu and his people to the Empire. They wore present to honour a great chieftain, a patriot, a wise legislator and counsellor of the Maori people, and a man of great public spirit. On his way he (his Excellency) hud seen evidence of that spirit in the beautiful Tongariro National Park, given by Te Heuheu’s father and completed by himself. That in itself was a grand aiid lasting monument to his memory. His Excellency had heard also of his people’s gift of 40,000 acres for the needs of Maori returned solders. Te Heuheu’s last words v/ero: “Support the Government well.” His people carried out that behest, as shown by the part played by the Maori battalion. The tribe had distinguished itself in war. Let us hope, said his Excellency, that Ngati Tuwharetoa will equally distinguish itself in the days of peace. Ho urged them to work their lands and support their local industries. A great future was awaiting the district in which, the tribe would share. He appealed for oven greater unity between the two races. The monument and the flagpole about to bo unveiled represented the nail and vino respectively. With regard to; these two symbols--the first European’and the second Maori —of the unity of strength the gathering to-day, and the accompanying ceremony illustrated not only the comradeship of the Maori and the patella, but also the unity as between the different races of the Empire. “Let that unity prevail, and the British Empire would live for ever. Let there bo one cause, one King, one flag. Kiarnau te aroha; kiu ora.” To the- glory of God, and in memory of Te Heuheu, I unveil this monument.”

His Excellency stood at the salute while a hymn was sung by a Maori choir._ Tno monument bears tho inscription: “Here lies Te Heuhcu. To Hcuheu lives,” followed by the ancient Maori proverb, “Tongariro the mountain, Taupo the lake', Tuwbaretoa tho tribe, Te Hcuheu the man.’’

The stone was consecrated by the Rev. F. It. Callaghan, who said the greatest gift to man was that of being a peacemaker. To lieuhoH had that gift. • He did not ro gard it as the prerogative of the Church to prr.ach geaee and goodwill, but hiniseif exercised the. gift to the utmost of his ability. The unveiling of the flag was followed by a nominated member from each of the seven canoes of the Great Migration per forming the ceremony. The flag of To Tieuheu was then hoisted.

Earlior in the day his Excellency inspected the factory of the Tuwharetoa Dairy Company, and opportunity was taken by the natives to place before him, the Hon. J. G. Coates, and Sir Maui Pomaro their views on a number of important matters affecting the tribe and the district generally. Mr Coates, who was present in his capacity as Native Minister, regretted that his friend and predecessor, the friend also of the Maori people, the, late Sir William Herries, was no longer with them. As Haoni had an illustrious chief to follow, so had To Heuheu, and it was his desire to continue the good work of his predecessor. Replying to a request made for the removal of the proclamation over various blocks in the district, he said the Government could not remove them all. The Treaty of Wai tangi gave the Crow-n a pre-emptive right However, so far as it was possible the Government would meet the request in cases where it was satisfied that the handling of native land, other than by Crown_ purchase. was in the interests of the Native owners In at least two cases affecting the people of the district the proclamation would be lifted immediately, as it was realised that the Natives’ interests would be best served. Regarding Luke Taupo, he advised the people to heed the advice of Sir Maui Pomare to allow Waikaremon-na to be disposed of as a tost case. The Natives would then know where they stood with regard to Taupe. In regard to the proposal to consolidate the interest of the Toupharatoa people bo would arrange for an officer of the Native Department to investigate with a view to consolidating the various interests of the Natives into individuallyowned blocks. Objection had been made by Mr Hapson, who that afternoon had represented (lie Natives’ oases concerning the Tongaviro Timber Company, providing that the proposed Kakahi-Tokaanu railway lo bo laid down by the company in consideration of a low royalty payable to the Natives for timber rights, must be something more than a light railway suitable lor carrying timber only. The Natives would have to use that line when constructed, and the Government desired to see a really useful lino laid down. The Government would not share in any possible profit arising out of that undertaking. Thev could rest assured that no variation would be made in the existing Ovder-in-Counal without consulting the Native owners. There was a future for the district and the Government was doing, and would continue to do, its best in the interests of the Natives of the district generally.

Porno pertinent remarks regarding- the apathy of the public toward certain forms of humanitarian work in Auckland are contained in the annual report of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. “Forgetfulness of the society’s needs rather than lack of willingness to contribute, is perhaps the - cause of the scant support generally accorded by the public,” states the chairman. “The well-to-do mother, whose children are carefully guarded and surrounded with every comfort, docs not always remember that a sense of thankfulness should make her thoughtful for the needs of many poor children who sorely need protection. The man in the street, when told of a case of cruelty to a horse, exclaims, ‘Excellent thing to have an inspector in the .city,’ but his sense of satisfaction docs not prompt him - to send half a crown in stamps to the office to mark the depth of his appreciation. In view of the fact that there is increasing need for mi assistant inspector for preventing cruelty to ( animals, the society makes an appeal to the general' public to accord a more liberal measure of financial support.” A Press Association telegram from Christchurch says that on the fourth count Mr E. J. Howard, M.P. (Labour), was elected to the City Council. Fourteen members of the editorial staff of the Italian Socialist paper Avanti have been arrested on a chsrgo of participating with Signor Serratti, the chief editor, in a conspiracy against the State.