CHIEFTAIN AND PATRIOT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16114, 1 May 1923, Page 7

CHIEFTAIN AND PATRIOT.

THE WARRIOR TK HEUHEU

A MEMORABLE CEREMONY

ivet Piess dsaociatiou.i

ROTOR UA, last (light

At Tokaanu for somo days past natives from almost every part oi the j North Island have been congregating in connection with the unveiling of a; monument to the late Hon. Te Heuheu Tokino. The scene by the sparkling waters of Lake Taupo was most picturesque. The lake lay placid and shimmering in the sun. In the distance towered the Tauhara mountain, from the top of which Heuheu's ancestors laid claim to the lake. Around the monument were the children of the seven catloes of the great migration assembled to do honor to one of the leaders of the Maori race. This morning a typical native welcome was ey tended to His Excellency the Governoi. A stalwart party of fifty strong gave a spirited haka aiid then preceded His Excellency aild his party to the centre of the marae. Addressing His Excellency, Hoani son of the late Hoiu Te Heuheu, said: "Greetings, Your Excellency the Governor. The Heuheu family and all the NgatituwharOtoa greet yoii. Wo tharik Your Excellency for the honor ydu have done us in coming here to-day. It is a true mark of respect for our dead. Welcome to our village by the shore of the great lake. See with the eye of the spirit the perilous journeys of our ancestors from far distant Hawaiki, and you will know then why it is we love this land won for us by our forefathers. I call upon my people, the children of the warrior chiefs of old, to greet the great man of pakehas in the Maori way. Show r him that the spirit of the race is not dead."

Then once again the haku party gave a dance and song in wolcome to His Excellency. The Governor said he appreciated the houor in inviting him to be present. He thought it fitting that His Majesty's representative should perform the ceremony, because of the loyalty of Heuheu and his people to the Empire. They were present to honor a great chieftain and patriot, a wise legislator and councillor of the Maori people, and a man of great public spirit. On his way he (His Excellency) had seen evidence of that spirit in the beautiful Tongariro National Park given by the Hon. Te Heuheu and completed by his son. That in itself was a great lasting monument to his memory. His Excellency had heard also of his people's gift of forty thousand acres for the needs of Maori returned soldiers. Heuheu's last words were in support of the Government. Well did his people carry out that behest, as shown by the part played'by the Maori battalion. The tribe distinguished itself in the war. "Let us hope," said His Excellency, "that the Ngatituwharetoa will equally distinguish itself in the days of peace. The gathering to-day was an accompanying ceremony and illustrates not only the comradeship of the Maori and pakeha, but also the unity as between different races of the Empire. Let that unity prevail and the British would live for ever. Let there bo one Cause, one King, one Flag. Kia mau te Aroha. Kia Ora. To the glory of God and in memory of To Heuheu I unveil this monument.'' His Excellency stood at the salute while a hymn was sung by the Maori choir.

The monument bears the inscription: "Hero lies Te Heuheu. To Heuheu lives," followed by the ancient Maori proverb, "Tongariro, the mountain, Taupo, the lake, Tuwharetoa, the tribe, Te Heuheu, the man."

The Rev. Father. Callaghan said the greatest gift to man was that of being a peacemaker. Heuheu had that gift, and did not regard it as a prerogative of the church to preach peiico and goodwill, but himself exercised the gift to the utmost of his ability. • ~. , The unveiling of the''flag followed, a nominated member from each of the seven canoes of the Great Migration performing the ceremony. The flag of Heuheu was then hoisted.