HISTORICAL HUI.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14878, 4 April 1919, Page 5

HISTORICAL HUI.

ARRIVAL Oi' MAORI VISITORS

'£\V& arradgfcirients foi* tlie forthcoming hui :at th_:,:Park racecourse are •!■ flow nearirig coin^letidri, and the siiccdss pf thei, gathering is assured. Iti f act £. the Gisborne, hui promises to be of historic^ significance,' constituting one of thei largest "'native -gatherings 'held ;.;o*i the ! East Coast for many years. ' 'Consider-.-able interest, • of. course, is added to the meeting *ih consequence of 'the arrival of the Maori soldiers, and as already indicated" steps are \being taken by the Government authorities to secure phonographic and photographic records of Maori songs and customsr Mt, Elsdon Best, of the Dominion musenirii accompanied by Mr, J. C. Anderson, of the . Turnbull library, arid Mr. J; M; MGDonaldj assistant director of the Dominion museum, have already arrived in Connection*- with' the. seeming of the above records;

;Thi_ morning there **er_ about, 200 Maoris in camp, arid it is anticipated that it will! be necessary to provide for between 500 and 600 at the evening' meal to-night. The local patives are now commencing to congregate, whilst the visiting tribes from outside districts are arriving. The' steamer Tangaroa left Napier at 8 o'clock this morning, and is bringing the Southern' Natives, including, the Ngatikahukahu (Hawke's Bay tribe). On landing these to-night the Tangaroa doubles back to pick up the Wairoa and Nuhaka Natives, about 150, who will arrive - here to-morrow. Meanwhile- the Mako is bringing the Ngatiporoa Natives from the Waiapu. The Mako proceeded to Te ArarOa yesterday to pitik up about 30 or 40 Natives, and it is reported that over one hundred boarded the steamer, which arrives from the Coast to-day with a full complement. Others.' 1 again' will arrive from Tokomaru Bay by the Arahura on Sunday. The Bay of , Plenty Natives are travelling overland through Motu, and word was hourly expected from them to-day. ' '-' The arriving visitors will be received with ', the customary welcome accorded to visiting tribes, but in, this respect the present hui differs from previous Native gatherings, in that the main enthusiasm is being kept back for the arrival of the Maori soldiers on Tuesday next, which will naturally eclipse all other details 'on the programme of events.

.The camp, however, presents a picturesque scene. All arrangements are now nearing completion, the additional niarqiiees are being erected, and as these, preparations were to-day well advanced, the' hui was opened for European visitors, who may inspect the general laybut of the extensive hui grounds. . A big influx of Maori visitors' is expected during the week-end/ when it is anticipated there will' be over 1000' Maoris in camp. Tuesday, and Wednesday next will be the big days at ' the camp. The' Maori soldiers, as already announced, will land on Tuesday morning, and after being-accorded-the; civic welcome ori behalf ot the citizens of Gisborne, the Maoris will entrain for the hui grounds at the Park. FoUowing the ancient, custom' of the race, the reception that afternoon will be in the .nature of a tang?, and in view of the many -brave Maori boys who now lie buried on the battlefields of Gallipoli and France, the mourning of the parents for < their warrior sons will naturally be of a most touching nature. On Wed nesday >the vweloome will take place, when the Maori people may be expected to "let themselves go" in their delight, with welcome* war hakas, poi dances: and speeches of welcome. Sir Jameß Carroll, wjio', proceeded to Auckland by. the, Arahura : yesterday,' will land with the Maori soldiers on Tuesday morning, from the ' Mapourika, accompanied by Sir* James Allen, Act-ing-Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. It is also interesting to leam that Major Peacocke is accompanying the Maori soldiers to Gisborne. Majqr - Peacocke was in charge of the E_yat Maori Contingent at Avondale, but contracting typhoid fever he had to be landed, at Albany, and on his return assumed chai*W at Narrow Neck, and .continued as Cajnp Commandant there in charge of the successive " Maori contingents. He is therefore looked upon as the "father f&f the boys," and it is by the special request of the parents to the Defence authorities that he is coming to Gisborne to be - present at the "welcome home."

In reply to an inquiry by the Borough Council as to when the Maori soldiers were likely to arrive, the Defence Department telegraphed to-day : "Mapourika due to arrive at 11 a. m. on Tuesdays (Lionel; McDonald has telegraphed! to the Mayor as follows :—- --"Have .instriicted local-group commander and Lieut., AnseH;to confer with you and Celebrations Committee re all matters affecting the arrival » and departure of Maori troops; at Gisborne." The programme for the hui (was discussed and arranged \by the hui execuitive last night, and "the Hon. A. T^ Ngata intimated to-day that the mWj soldiers' wjll arrive at the camp on. Tuesday afternoon as stated above,* and, the official welcome will' be extended to them on Wednesday morning. Bishop Sedgwiok, local, def wice ofiaciails, and othera who have 'been assisting iwill be •invited to be 'present ''to meet the Acting 'Premier; Sir James Allen, and'ta have luncheon; with *ihe soldiers. Af tei* luncheon the soldiers v^ill be entrained for "town to-be present at the unveiling of the Wi Pere memorial, Which is to take place on Wednesday, afternoon; Sir ; James Allen ha& been invited to perform this function prior to hk retunt to Napier by the Mapourika on Wednesday evening;"' . . '. T-hfe hui will be (»nt__ued for tlie balance-of the week, and Tor this various functions have been, arranged.