CEREMONIES AND CELEBRATIONS AT INVERCARGILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2520, 2 July 1902, Page 63

CEREMONIES AND CELEBRATIONS AT INVERCARGILL.

(From Our Own Corbespon-dext ) INVERCARGILL, Juno 26.

Notwithstanding the announcement of the cancelling of the Coronation festivities, visitors ponred into town this morning, and before midday the streets were thronged. At i o'clock the school children, numbering about 2500, wore entertained in the Zealandia Hall. Thereafter there was a general exodus from town to the park to witness the drawing of tho Maori oven. Since Tuesday about 70 Maori*— man. and women and a,

number of children — have been camped in the machinery enclosure, where they had built a substantial pah, and also erected several commodious tents. The preparations for the roasting ceremony entailed a good deal of work in plaiting dishes and baskets of flax in which to present the eatables to the crowd, and the roasting began so early as 4 o'clock this morning. The Maoris, who belonged to the tribes Huirapa Mcc and Kaite Ruohikipiki, came from Colac, Wakapotu, Ruapuke, Stewart Island, and BlufF, and were under the active control of the brothers G. H. Maire (from Lktle River) and D. T. Maire (frosn Colac). When the time approached for the opening of the uma all were assembled on a raised piatf orm in the middle of the park ; and a mosi pioturesque group they were, from the bronzed leader in his gaudy crown and mt to the black-eyed picaninny gazing with wondering eyes over the wahjne's shoulder, grizzled men and lithe striplings, podgy wahines, and graceful girls with glistening teeth and flashing eyes. All seemed to revel in what must bo to most of them, as to the most of Europeans present, a unique festival. Punctually to the moment the bullock oven was opened, and the quarters lifted on flax msts to the barrow. Then, preceded by the warriors, young men, and maidens, chanting the puka, the food was ceremoniously* conveyed to the tables, where a small army of carvers under Mr Richard Clark speedily converted it into appetising cuts, which were handed round by the Maori girls 'on flax plates, and baskets. Meanwhile the 'other ovens had been opened, and the sheep (a dozen) and potatoes were found to be beautifully cooked. The Maori bread also, which had been cooked in the umus, and looked, smelled, and tasted very much like suety dumpling, was pa-ssed round, and pronounced " Kapai ! " The feast over, the children danced the graceful poi dance and the adults the haka, and soon afterwards the crowd melted away. Before leaving, the Mayor, the general secretary (Mr Allen), and Mr Clark (the convener of the Maori Ceremonies Committee) expressed to tho chief and other Maoris the thanks of the committee for the interesting functions which had been so successfully carried through, and the Maoris, after making suitable expressions, presented the Mayor with a war spear, his lady with a queen's crown and a beautiful hand bag, and Mr Clark with the chief's gorgeous crown. This evening there was a monster religious meeting in the Zealandia Hall, over 2000 people being present. The Battalion Band and the combined choirs of tho town led the singing, and most impressive addresses were delivered by the Rev. Messrs Prior and J. Gibson Smith. Thereafter Mrs Harrison Lee testified to the greater part of these present at the religious meeting. Hpr address, which was most incisive and convincing, evidently secured the sympathy of her audience, for she was frequently and heartily applauded.