THE WAIAPU HUI.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14235, 1 March 1917, Page 9

THE WAIAPU HUI.

XO SHURTAUK OF FOOD. HOW THF. CrATHKRIXU FARED. Continuing his interesting description of the recent Wai-o-inatatiui hut taptain \V. Pitt Miplpied our representative with an. accouut of the successful arrangements for the gathering and how the big concourse fared during the recent exceptionally wet weather. WEATHER AND ORGANISATION. "The weather throughout the. hui was atrocious," declared Captain Pit." Wt started with two tine days, and then it rained continuously until Saturday evening last, and blew a.'., times almost a s;ale. Notwithstanding, these conditions the organisation of the liui was so perfect that although the whole of the cooking had to be done out m the open there was not a miriutje's delay with «vny of the meals, and they were served hot and as well as if it had been fine oil the time. We had hot meals regularly, and up to time. Added to the difficulties the staff had to contend with, the Wai-o-matatini creek was m flood and they had to .stand by with shovels and even horses and scoop to stop the ttood waters washing away the "hangis'.' (Maori ovens), Even then, with phenomenally heavy rain, we got our meals splendidly. In fact, it was one continuous tight' between the meat cooks on one side and the potato, cooks on the other sid« ot the creek, as to who was going t>> get flooded out first. Whilst 'the wet weather pievailed everyone went about I )ai»- looted. i desire to correct a. report that has been published respecting a shortage of food."' Captain Pitt continued. "There was plenty ot' food for everyone, and m fact at one stage the meeting had to supply food to the two hotels at Pt. Awanui as a matter of urgency." THE RESOURCEFUL' 'WIYVIS." '•The Hon. A. T. Ngata and his staff, comprising the "»riwis," as they were termed, deserve the greatest credit' for the manner iv which they carried, out their task, a task made difficult by the exceptional weather. The experience, will be invaluable to them when the time comes for them to go on. active service." Continuing, Captain Pitt said he had had a good deal of experience of military camps, where they were generally equipped with facilities and protection from the weather, but as a general rule everything went wrong, even m these scamps, m bad weather, and one had to put up with almost anything. Here on this occasion, however, the L2OO Maoris at the. hui got their meals hot and without any delay, although th * rain continued phenomenally heavy for over a week. *' Supplies of tinned fruit, condensed milk, and bread were obtained first ot" all from Manutahi (cross roads). Early m the week the Kai-inangi road became impassable. Leaving their vehicles the Maoris engaged on transport of these supplies, rode over the hills bare-back, got their supplies, and were back at the hui again m time to provide thenecessary supplies for the scheduled | meal. When the road to Manutahi be- ! cane- /impassable they* started to draw supplies from Tikitiki. but this source was cut off by the approach to the bridge being carried away by flood. There was still Pt. Awanui to draw on, iin I meanwhile- steps were taken to ari.Mige to do the necesary baking at the i amp m cas? even Pt. Awanui was cut ■ •rt" and could not supply the stuff. Thus, I •>n every occasion the staff was equal to th? situation, and food supplies con-j linned uninterrupted. With the feeding <>! over 1200 natives the supply of bread ! w:i.- a big item. .There was* plenty •of j'ood all through. Furthermore, when ,lMe Kahu arrived .to convey the visitors ■hack to ((isborne the captain stated that m view of the large number" of passengers he could not provide them with food. Thereupon the staff of "wiwiff" was hurried back .to Wai-o-matatini for a supply of "kai" to put on board and cany the visitors back to Gisborne. PAKEHA COMFORTS. "As to the accommodation, it was excellent. First of all there was the large poroiuangi (meeting house). On the side a large whareau was erect- ' ed of canvas, specially imported- from Auckland. This was capable of holding nOO to 500 people. Then there were four other whareaus on the western side' m the style of hutments. The dining room was a big place seating practically 200 at one sitting. Xo less than six sittings were necessary. At the end of the dining 'room a stage had been prodded, with piano, etc., for concerts, and this was freely availed of. A telegraph and telephone bureau had also been (equipped, but it was unfortunately of little service, owing to' the floods niteirupting communication. .The buildiug« throughout were supplied wft-h eleOtric light from Tikitiki. With the car j rying away of a portion of the Waiapu' bridge the electric light was cut off for one night, but it was restored next I morning. Xo less than £360 worth ot canvas was used m connection with the various buildings, and before the fhii had well started it was all sold to the different tribes. In the same way ,the timber used »vas also koUI ; consequently the money laid out m the buildings Mas nil returned by the sale of material. ' The sanitary arrangements were of first- ( class order, there being flushing closets and a septic tank. Hot and ,cold water n r as also laid on to the dining room, and proved a great convenience. It was quite a treat, he remarked^ to see the way m which .the dining room wa.« kept. Directly the meals were over, instead of there being scraps everywhere, everything was immediately Mvept up and carted away to. the piggerie«. In fact one would not -have known meals had been served there. During the wet weather, with ths slush arising from the constant traffic^ disinfectants were used freely to prevent sickness arising. The health generally was good, although a good many contracted colds, but this was attributed to the remarkable change m the weather". Accompanied by the Arawa and Waikato visitors the . Gisbornites left Pt. Awanui by the Kahu on Monday, and the trip baißk i passed off successfully. The visiting natives were entertained by the local people, the Arawa (Ngatipikiao tribe) being entertained at Manutuke.. The Kahu was to leave Pt. Awanui yesterday with the Bay of Plenty l>eople returning, home. Amongst the Waikato visitors was a daughter oF the "King" MahutaV eldest sister.