THE NATIVE CONTINGENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2272, 16 September 1897, Page 12

THE NATIVE CONTINGENT.

A GREAT MAORI GATHERING AT PAPAWAI. (From Cub Own Correspondent.)

Weliington, September 10.

It was a merry trainful of pleasure-seekers that started from Wellington yesterday forenoon. The Maori contingent were setbing_out to the Wairarepa, where they were to be welcomed back from their trip Horns. Oq the stalion and in the carrisges all was confusion, laughter, and chatter, and one would have imagined that a Sunday relic ol minus its teachers was setting out for a day's outiopr, for, after nil, tho Maori is very like a child in his trsnppareut emotions acd his delight in fun. The carrisges wore a turmoil of movement and noise and merriment until some minutes after the train steamed out of the station. On board were the .-Hon. Mr Carroll and Mrs Seddon, with a parly of frieuds. As the babies and wahines and the stalwart members of. tho contingent settled down, ono hud an opportunity of admiring tbo magnificent physiqnt* of the Maoris, who seem .in the pink of condition — indeed one of them told us that ifc was " werry difficult fastenin' his uniform now." On the road the men here and there dr scried tome friends or kindred, and wild Maori greeting! and frantic hand-waviiiga ensued, responded to by the others, who wistfully watched the train out of sight, as if they longed to join them in the festivities at Papawai. The handsome medal worn so proudly'by each man was admired, aud the fact that it was handed to each by the Prince of Wales himself considerably enhanced its value. The nsme of the owner was engraved upon the edge. By-aud-bye Captain Brown (Tanuirangi), who is a great enthusiast over his corps, camo along and expatiated on the goodbehaviour of the men. Indeed, from all quarters tbe same thing was heard — that the New Zealand contingent, Maoris and ' Europeans, were patterns of good conduct at Home. There was much .chaffing about the attention they received the susceptible British female, One huge Adouia, a great broad-chested, fine-featured fellow, declared all tbe girls were in love with him. His name was Kuku, anglicised George Love — which was appropriate. Another handsome man said, with quite a blase air, " Girls, plenty girla ; too many round the barracka, day and night — couldn't get out for the,m. Tanuirangi had gix boatloads when he went off, all crying." There was ia our carriage one very energetic female who seemed extremely wifcfcy in. Maori, and 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 only 19 — the youngest member of the corps except the little bugler. One man dwelt on the splendid horses they were given, and oaid they knew their drill as well as their riders. Another told us there was no meat like Now Zealand meat at Home, and that a chop was good in London. There was no fair bref ze in tho great City, he said, and we all thought of the kerosene tins that were flying about

Wellington at the time ho wa? speaking, and sighed for London. A big mau waa pointed oab to us as a champion haka dancer. He gave a performance after a private dinner in London, and electrified his audience. The contingent several times astonished tbe Home people by their dancing', once performing on the banks of the Thames to a great crowd. Among other places they visited Lord Ooslow's lovely' seafc.v and were delighted with his Maori house, but Huia, tbe little son, was away to tb.e seas-dc for his health. At one stopping place one Maori gathered large bunches of wattle and periwinkle, and grllanlly presented them to some ladies. After refreshments a!; Kaltoke, the fun grew faster, and a Maori with a bottle of lime juice went round asking everyone to join him. A wahioo, glass iv hand, made a sorb of stump speech which must have been ecreftmingly funny, while the solemn browa baby on her l«p gazed at her wqnderingly. Among the cuosiders were an Australian aud an American who fully appreciated the novelty of their situation. One suspicious wahine, while her husband was iv another carriage, collected facts about his bc> fcavour at Hems. Some of the troapers told her great storks, while another reastured her, and said, "Ho always good boy. Girl come up to talk ;he say, •Go away girl.' " In the many tunnels the noise was tremendous, and as we neared Greytown, the little bugler — tho pet of London — wo were told, played up, and tbe sweefc rich voices of the Maoris wtre lifted up in ditties a<t "Daisy bell," and " The soldiers of our Queen." Lake Wairarapa« its further baoks mit.t-shrouded, was passed and all began to collect; their properties, the soldiers donning their sausagelike coafcp, and the women shouldering their piccaninnies and bundles.

At Greytown, after the band had played and a lifetle speech by the mayor, the contingent started off aud the refit followed. The precession was somewhat like a funeral for none of the vnhicles could hurry, bub it was verycheerful and comprised the whole population of the town. At tha gate of tbe pa the meu were meb by the Maoris with a feaka of welcome, led by Tamahau Mahupuku, the chief who was the leader, too, in the hospitality, and who gave the contingent £100 as pocket money for Home. The contortions and howls and strange gestures and costumes* contrasted wonderfully with the precise drill of the Maori troopera which they were put through by their r ulcers after the haka. Then they all weal; in'o the largo room, where they talked and laughed and interchanged reminiscences for a little while. Outside, the photographers were having a rather wearying time, for, like the hedgehog Alice iv " Wonderland " used as a croquet ball, no sooner was the camera directed on a picturesque group than ifc divided into units and walked away. Some very charming girls, with long, dark hair and fine bits of colour in the way of silk handkerchiefs and pinafores, were persuaded to stand. They were worthy of being painted. In and oufc ran the little Maori children, wanting to ccc and kaow ali bub never touching anything — in fact, one man's camera was left oubside among the Maoris for some time unguarded and found to be jusi the same as be had left it. Fur honesty, courtesy, and hospitality the Maori is superior at times to his white brother, and the whole day and night one could not notice a rude or rough act or the slightest sign of intemperance. At last lunch was announced, aud we Gled into another long room laid with narrow tables «eb out with provisions and decorated loyally with red,, white, and blue. At the table across the head of the room Mrs Saddon and her party, with Colonel Pitt, Captain Robin, and the other

difetit'gaisbed guasts, were placed. Opposite to' Mis Sed-jon, in a large arm chair, the top of bis gcizzled head just showing above ib, sab Ciipbain Brown Tanuirangi, whose veneration for the Queen is intense. He held an interview wibh her. She bad teaxa in her eyes, he said, as hf) Ftood by her carriage, and he did not Jsnow whtvt to do or say, bub it would bo hard for the Maori, with his native dignity and self-aoraposure, to do ara'FS. Backwards and forwards fl'tfced the nea-t-handod Maori girla, bu?ysupplying tbe wauls of (.heir guests. Behind them the women carved, helped and poured out the tea, white Tamahui aad some other lesser lights walked up and down seeing that everybody was served. Then citae spetcties. Tanuirangi m&de a valianb attempt ab English, bub after some frantic struggles arid appea's to Mr Carroll' aud Capt*in Robin relapsed into fluenb and expressive Maori. He ended by saying that he hoped that the Maoris would not disband — "buckle off tho sword" — but form a corps of their own. Capiain Robin, the praise of whose skill aad tacb was iv everyone's mouth, roso to Bay that he cmo from the far south, aud wished to join in tho thaoka for tho welcome If Jtfc times his orders had to be perempbory, tho roeu were to forget them and remaruber oniy that ab times ib was n^cossary bo be stric-;. Ho would like to see the 22nd June commemorated each year iv some way — if only by friendly telegrams. A picturesque old Maori, interpreted by Mr Car c oil, made a mosfc flowery speech, ending up by wishing all, including Mrs Seddon aud her "old man," life for ever and over. Tbeo Tamabau led the chant of offcolion, which ended in an energetic Inks, nab only from tho preffty Maori girls who waited, bat from the contingent; and their friends. One old \vt nun wibh a baby waved ifc sbjat in her excitement unfcil no one would have been surprised to see ifc head first iv among tbe dishes.

Ib was time now for the guests who wore leaving 'by .the special to go, and tho coutingeat marched off to tbe btatioo, wh*ro farewells were said, and the comrades iv arms who had been togesher for nearly six months disbanded. Altogether tbe !ift's.ir was a great success, and the pleasautesb side of human nature was shown by all as white man said jrood-byo to the black with a nearby hand-grip. No one could doubt; t-hat if ever the necessity arosa the Maori and colonial would be found fighting side by side for the Queen and their country. Once again we drove down the loug white road, but; this time the moonlight was poetising the tree ttuinps aud tbe grassy fUts. Ahead of us, like a great woolshed, was th<3 meoting-house light streaming from every window. The large room, which if, perhaps, 150fb long, waß fairly fnl!, many standing oa the forms to geb' a better view of the dancers. In one corner there were gathered a confused heap of Maori wabiues and children, with one quite civilised perambulator. Tho contingent were evidently the centre of attraction, and did their duty nobly. They were quite particular, however, about obtaining introductions, and bad a repose of manner and ea»y grace that; was really very well bred. Oue fiae fellow danced the alberfcs wibh his comrade's mother, a Maori of the old type, with black elf locks and a bedgown attire, but she might hwe been an empress as far as his gallant attentions w*ut. The piano which, with a cornet, formed the music was ia the middle of the room, and fr»m thi3 point of vantage a man shouted directions to the dancers, now in Eoglish then in Maori. Some of the Maori girls were exfcremoly pretty, and many bedecked royally with handsomo mats. One girl danced vigorously with two mate — one of gaily tinted feathers round her neck, while

another was tied round.' her waist. One very * fin^Jniat, which was much admired, was made ■- of kiwi fe&bhors, woven on a- wool foundation, and formed a lovely wrap 'for the little chubby brown baby ifc was folded" round. Babies and children were oa all sides dancing and creeping about, alleo'weirbehaved. One family group bad come from Wanganui to welcome the contingent;. Tho father had one baby on his back in a huge shawl, while the mother carried the other. ' They seemed so proud .of the children and quifco contented, saying to one girl when shn told them she was nob married, "Not; married ! No good, perhaps ! Too old ! " Supper came oa early. * The menu included roasfc beef, hob potatoes, and plum pudding, and there seemed any, amount of provisions, and m*ny ready waiters.' Opposite to me sab a Maori swell, an owner of racehorses, who keeps his laednau, and yeb seved as a privafca in the ranks of the oubingenfc. After supper and more dancing, the iibbie buglar gsive us •• Paradise alley," a-nd the refrain was taken up willingly- by all the others. Ib was a strange scene when afterwards he s&Dg the latest coster gong with accent and gc-tuivs » Ia London music h*ll. His burly comrades stood behind him, and rouad the room, r«nk bohiad rank, clustered fcho eea of face?, white and brown, of tho motley audience listening reverentially. One of fchs contingent to whom I talked was motfc interesting in his reminiscences, and was the one who said he would like to have stayed afc Homo. "But," he said, ".I go to.Paria . Exhibit ion by tha Medifcerracejwa*?'* I left them all enj->ying themselvts, which they would go on doing till dayligUb did appear, for many of ., thorn were v ,in their own sleeping room. .

This message was h/ioded ia »fc Greytown lasfc nighb. but though tho office waft open, and the New Zealand Times get a mejsage through, the officer in charge refuted to wire to ths'Otag'o Daily Times.