THE MAORI CARNIVAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2520, 2 July 1902, Page 65

THE MAORI CARNIVAL.

SPLENDID DISPLAY OF NATIVE.

WORK.

MAORI WAR DANCES

Notwithstanding the rain on Tuesday afternoon the greatest success attended the opening of the Maori Carnival in the Choral Hall. The dampness outside in no "way cooled the ardour of the youngsters who were to take part in the dances, and the public, recognising the worthy object of the undertaking and the fact that the entertainment programme is one that is seldom seen in Dunedin, patronised the carnival in fairly large numbers. The object the promoters have in view is fully sot out in the speech delivered by Bishop Nevill in declaring the sale open. The interior of the hall is quite typical of Maori life and customs. The procenium represents a whare with an elaborately painted front, the scene at the back beingf that of a fortified village ; while the stalls, I which are decorated with toi-toi and raupo, ! sfand for whare-punis, painted in true I Maori fashion. This painting, which is ~oy Mr W. Milward, represents carving, and, viewed from a distance, is pretty *nd I realistic. Added to all this is the j presence of a, number of Maoris — men, women, and children — wearing Maori garments and headdresses ; and, to crown tho effectiveness of ths scene, there are the Maori dances, performed on the stage by the children in proper Native costume. Yesterday afternoon the public thoroughly enjoyed the dances, the haka, or war dance, whioh was vigorously performed by about a dozen boys, being the item that was most appreciated. The powhiri, or dance of welcome, with which the programme was opened, was given by a number of girls. | The Rev. Mr Fraer, of Waikouaiti, to whose ' efforts the carnival is largely due, prefaced each dance with a few remarks explanatory of its nature and ob.itMJt, and. with the faet3 he related in their minds, the public 1 wore enabled to some extent to grasp the j significance of various actions of the dancers.

The stalls are well stocked with articles of Native handiwork, which have come from Puketeraki, Moeraki, Tcmuka, Colac Bay, and Masterton. There are baskets, whitau mats, fancy bags of the usual colour, others of fancy die, paraerae (sandals), rosettes of scraped flax, rourou (»mall baskets), and 'houi baskets, as well ay an abundanr-e of other goods, some useful and some ornamental. They are artioles of a class that we cannot get a hold of readily at all times, and as they are of the best workmanship it is not likely they will remain on hand very long. There is a large supply, however, which the sellers hope to dispose of before tho sale closes in a few days. On another stall is a very large variety of ferns — a collection that i 3 sure to be snapped up pretty quickly. Many of the wares have Been tastefully arranged in neat flax baskets, in which they may continue to be grown by nurchasers. Native mats and specimens of carving adorn the walls. The ladies in charge of the work stall are Mrs T. Parata, jun., and the Misses Pai-ata, while the fern stall is managed by Mrs Wilson, Mrs Jones, and Miss Llojxl. . The carnival was officially opened phortly after half-past 2 by Bishop Nevill, who said he knew very well that the people of Dunedin and Otago generally took an interest in the representatives of the ancient race of tins country. On the occasion of the last visit of the Puketeraia Natives to Dunedin St. Paul's Schoolroom was crowded e\ery evening, and he had no doubt that would be tho case with this carnival. He thought it was right and proper that we should take an. interest in the native race, ;:nd he sincerely hoped that on every occasion the interest would be emphasised. He regretted exceedingly that the opportunity of expressing their loyalty by joining the Coronation procession n.s they desired had not I>een allowed, for he was quite sure that their illustrations of their past history and the present position of tke race would have been the very centre of interest in that procession. However, he heped that the carnival would be well patronised, and that the purchasers at the suills would be numerous. The object of

the undertaking, his Lordship explained, wes, in the first place, to provide funds for the enlargement of tha Natives' church at Puketeraki ; and there was also tho purpose of drawing the attention of the people of Dunedin and neighbourhood to the existence of the Native race not only at Puketeraki. but in other localities, bo that a li\ ing interest might be emphasised in their welfare. His Lorelsliip then went on In refer to the early work of the Anglican

Church amongst the Native? in Oiago. contending that tho Chur.-h he represented was really the first to bring tho Gospel to tho Maoris of Ota'kou Heads, and concluded an interesting speech by declaring tho carni val open In the evening the programme of songs and dances and tableaux as given m the afternoon was, with some slight variations, repeated But for tho dreadfully bad weather which prevailed, the hall would eloubtltm haw been crowded. Ao ie «a.i, there was a very good attendance, and tho»e who had \oiitured out teemed quite satisfied with the entertainment pro\ kled t!:em. An

stein given in the evening: that w.i- not wea in the afternoon w:is the potaka. Tins pamp proved not unlike time wirrh white people know as " whipping tops." Maka gave a capital illu=tratior, of the game, whipping the tops — .»r pegs, rather, for they re«pinblpd stout tent-pegs more than tops — iouii.l tho btdge with great dexterity, finally making them leap o\er sticks he laid down to represent mnnie hurdle*. The other items were all well rcceued, but the pretty po:-. tho h.ikas by t'.o boy?. Mr Parata'a ancient song (which wound up with a Mcorous baka and the sinking of a hymn iii ancicit stylo h\ Hoimi Mitten and company v. pro selected m tho most enjoyable it r mi-.. Tiio p<-i f(,ri. :ai.ce concluded with tlie National Aiithem in Maori. The Rev. Curzon-Siggcrs was to have given a short aeldres- on " The Mann and His Spiritual

Nee-d.-,," but. did not d<> to. The- wet wea thoi oiulei.tlv i ordered it ncce ary for him

in T > i -. jur* ut stilt" ff health, to remain ;it homo. The carnival ii worth a iinif on it? racriU a). art fioni the fact that it is held fur :ho . imlable {impose of benefiting cur local M.ions

The Tiiaori Carji.val v.as biouglit to an end on Frid'i\ iiif;ht. ai.d, a« *:i, the case throughout 't<; cou:=e, th" Cl.o-al Hall was lull to overfir win}, and nuTb'rs had to be turned away. The \siiou-> lev- on '.he 1.-ojramme were per- ' rrv.ee' in r. n inn.', woithy of the traditions

o- the smv:^ '. Ms. on, uvd pl'vrays evoked warm

app!au=e The T?3v C. A. Fraer, on behalf | of tlia ilaorie, at the beginning of the perfor-

manes, expressed his thanks to the public for their appreciation of the efforts that had been made' to produce the carnival. One of the objects, perhaps the primary one in the eyes of some, had been attained; they had raised funds enough to go a long way towards executing work in the Maori section of their parish, work that would, he thought, help forward the spiritual condition of the Maoris of Waikouaiti. However, he had a fond hope that the presence of the Maoris in Dunedin, in the unique manner which they had witnessed, would arouse a deeper interest, on the "part of the audiences which had attended the carnival, in the Maoris of New Zealand generally. It was saiel by some that they were a dying race. Perhaps it was tiue. It was sad to contemplate what appeared to be such an inevitable issue. But it behoved us to stay that issue at all costs, at least so to compensate the dire effect of our civilisation by withholding no effort on our part to make the last traditions of this noble rnce nol unworthy of their past history. This could only bo done by a true missionary spirit, which embraced consideration for the religious, moral, and social condition of the race. He df sired to express his thanks- to all those who in their several waya had contributed to the success of the carnival. Particularly did he de3ire to thank Tina Karauria, who had come all the way" from the North Island to teach the girls pome o£ tho more modern figures of the poi ; Mr A. Hamilton, who was an invaluable friend in Dunedin to the Maori race ; Mi John Whit?, who had so kindly lent his collection -of kakahus and taiahas to be worn end used by the Maoris; Mr W. Milwood, to whose gratuitous labour they owed their unique proscenium, stage scenery, and descriptive stalls.

The proceeds of the carnival have been very satisfactory, and though the excense attached to it has bsea. heavy, there will be a large 3um available for ths object in aid of which the carniva-1 was hold.