A MAORI WELCOME

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17045, 2 September 1929, Page 12

A MAORI WELCOME

HOCKEY VISITORS TE KA.RAKA THRONGED Wlii'ii the good people of Te Karaka acceded lo the request of the Poverty Bay Hockey Association to cater for a few hundred visiting lady hockey player,-; .and tlu-ir Gisborne guests oil a Sunday aflenmon outing, they could not have had any idea of the huge task before them. lr was anticipated that (he-official party would comprise about 401), an l l this proved to he about ail accurate estimate, but in addition to this number large crowds attended from Gisborne and the districts surrounding To Karaka, with the result that there were approximately 1500 people e.ither inside or outside the Waikohu Hall yesterday afternoon. The transport arrangements were ably carried out by the Gisborne Hockey Association officials under the direction of Mr. A. Cassin, organiser for the tournament, and Mr. A. S. Parker, president of the association, and when the 200 or more .players assembled at the-Coronation Hotel corner they were allotted seats in the stream of cars which took up both sides of Gladstone road and Lowe street. It is to the credit of the organisation that, no delay was experienced in having ne whole of the official party disp.Bviji d in good time, and officials vak well of the local motorists in offering their cars for the occasion; more cars than needed were offered. TE KARAKA ARRANGEMENTS The main idea in staging the visit to Te Karaka was to provide, a characteristic Maori welcome, and in the event- of wel weather it was decided to hold the function in tin- spacious Waikohu Hall, which proved totally inadequate to hold the great gathering. Unfortunately, such a large crowd was i not anticipated, am! by the time the first of the official party arrived the hall was almost filled with interested' spectators from Gisborne and the surrounding districts. The result was that some of the people who had generously come forward with offers of cars for the tmu-sport of the players were unable to gain admission. The scene inside the hall was a remarkable one. People packed in wherever they could get in the body of the hall, the gallery held ns many as possible, while on one occasion there were no less than 300 people on the stage. It is estimated that no less Gian 1000 people congregated in the building, and tiiat from 400 to 500 heard what they could of the proceedings from outside. The Te Karaka people rose well to ihe occasion, and despite the large number they had to cater for, all who came forward were invited to partake of the afternoon tea provided, although this was designed originally for the official party only. ADDRESSES OP WELCOME Under the supervision of Captain W. T. Pitt, chairman of the Maori committee, tin 1 function at the hall proceeded with a fine swing. The visiting hockey players were accorded; ’a hearty welcome by Mr'. J. MOore, who spoke on behalf of the home' team, and also on behalf of the residents of Te Karaka, expressing the pleasure they had in entertaining the teams from the most' prominent hockey districts in New Zealand. Mr. Moore 'mentioned' that eight members of the Ti- Karaka "lull had won their way into one or other of the Poverty Bay teams, and ih- i this was a tribute to their keenness for practice, as well as to their natural skill and aptitude for the game. .Mr. M. Doyle endorsed the welcome, on behalf of the nenple of Te Karaka and of the whole county of Waikohu, in which the sporting spirit of tin; community was unequalled. Their real hostess that day, Mr. Doyle mentioned, was Miss Lena Ruru, a Maori chieftainess and a well-known hockey player who had given her attention for weeks to the preparations for this entertainment.

For the Maori residents of the county, Mr. Ilenare Ruru gave a glowing welcome to the visitors as representatives of the Champion hockey districts of the Dominion. It was hoped that this event would bo remembered as outstanding in the history of the township, since it was not likely to be repeated in the near future, much as the people of Te Karaka and VYaikolm County would desire to see their visitors all return again soon. CHARACTERISTIC ENTERTAINMENT. The traditional Maori welcoming liaka was then performed, and led to insistent encores, the haka having to (te twice repeated. Later a band of To Karaka Maori and pakelui ladies rendered a beautiful canoe song, led by Miss Lena Ruru, and this too was encored enthusiastically. An action song by Waihirere natives', based upon the game of hockey, scored another success, and the singers were also called on to repeat their performance. The chairman announced that- as the proceedings were Ibeing conducted by the Maoris in conjunct ion with the palcelm residents of Te Karaka, and in view of the fact that mueli of the entertainment had been provided by the natives, the visitors should be called on for the customary replies, through their respective team managers. The suggestion met with approval from the gathering, and the visiting managers and ’officials did their best under the circumstances, many interesting speeches being heard. The' outstanding speech was made by Miss Kitto, wlio represented the New ’Zealand Ladies’ Hockey Association and who made reference to the fact that the president of the body is Mr. If. I). Bennett. a Maori gentleman whose enthusiasm had always been of great value to the game. Miss Kitto congratulated iho Te Karaka residents upon the excellence of the entertainment offered, and mi tlm evidences of excellent organisation given to the visitors during tlfe dnv. Other speakers were Miss Dawson (Auckland), Messrs. Surgenor (Southland), H. Throp (Canterbury), W. Scott (Wellington). -T. Cavanagh (Bosh), W, Gow (South Canterbury), J. ft. Wilson (Hawke’s Bay), 0. Hamilton (Eastern). Miss Bingham (Ruahimh, Messrs. G. Morice (Wairarapa), Watt (Rotorua), .ami T. Smale> (Poverty 'Bav). The last-mentioned speaker paid a, warm tribute to the organisers, stating that when the Poverty Bav Hockey Assoriation’s officials mentioned the matter first to Mrs. Gvevean and officials of the Te Karaka Hockev Club. Vlj«s Lena Ruru had agreed to enlist the assistance of the Maoris in arranging the function. Another characteristic, native item fol’owed these speeches when Miss- Anna Hato nod the Arnw.a poi dancers rendered “Waiata Poi.” and as an encore de-'Nrm-od the Maori action song “Putiputi Pai.” Gisborne’s appreciation of the visits of Mm hockev players from all parts of, the country was voiced by Mr. D. W. Colo-

man, Mayor of Gisborne, who was among those present,. He declared his conviction that Te Karaka had more than upheld the district’s reputation foi' hospitable treatment of its visitors, and that Mm function would remain long in their memories. While the last of the visitors were served with afternoon tea, the hockey players made a tour of the township, and later returned to Gisborne with ’ the happiest recollections of their day in the country.