NEW MEETING HOUSE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18058, 7 April 1933, Page 4

NEW MEETING HOUSE

WANGANUI SAVAGE CLUE OPENING CEREMONY Dedication of a novel new home for the Wanganui Savage Club hold some interest for Gisborne in that a wharrpum in the marac (meeting place), which has been established by Wanganui Savages, has been dedicated to the Savage Club of this town. Tradition played a. Dig part, in the ceremony. It was conceived by the ariki-clcct of tho Wanganui Savage Club. Dr. 0 J. Adams, who was president of tho New Zealand Rugby Football Union during the year tho British team toured the Dominion, that it, would serve a useful purpose if the old museum hull could lie transformed into a model Maori pa. with meeting house at one end and two rows of whareptinis along each side of the marac (courtyard). Tho architecture of tho building lends itself to the nroposal, and to give the scheme effective stimulus carved figures from a wharepuni on the Wanganui River wero sought. These represented chiefs of days long past, and were chosen from a meeting house in which Mr. Seddon paid a huge sum to the natives for the development of land in the Wanganui River valley. The figures, were erected at the sides and apex of the meeting) house, and as they represented departed chiefs, whose mana had been great, the meeting house became a sacred place to the Maori. Before it could be used, and before any of the wharepunis along the sides could ho entered, some Maori of creat rank had to chant a prayer, calling upon the spirits of his departed ancestors to keep the meeting place free from evil. This formed the major portion of the ceremony. Chief ITori Takarangi, descendant of one of the very earliest tribes, performed the sacred native rites. So important was the occasion in tho eyes of the Maori people that he chose a chant from the distant past. First, in the darkness, and with wailing voice, ho crept round the meeting house, feeling it to be sure that it was safe. Then, in tho full blaze of lights, and with spectacular vim, he dedicated the meeting house to Wanganui and its tribe of Savages.

“Christchurch, where are you?” railed a Maori voice. There was no verbal answer from the City of the Plains, but communications were read from Mr. ■'lex M. Bums, great chief of the Christchurch Savage Club, from Mr. A. E. Loach, and Mr. C. E. Jones, of the Christchurch Kindred Clubs. All wished Wanganui success. With duo ceremony the Christchurch wharepuni was dedicated hv Tohumra Oriwa Haddou. “Bv the consent of th« warriors of the harm and of the nriki, T ask you to take this wharemini unon th : s marae to he yours for all time,” he said.

The key was then entrusted to the Wanganui ITeketari for safe keening unti] such day as Wanganui and Canterbury warriors meet. Meanwhile, over the apex of that particular whare will rest the Christchurch Savage Club’s coat of arms. Other clubs were called in turn and greetings were received from Napier. Gisborne, 'Wellington, Auckland, and Masterton, all commending the Wangn nni savages on their progress and novel home and wishing them success in the future. Tho letter from Savage T. Adams, secretary of the Gisborne Club, stated that the matter of a badge would be submitted to a committee meeting to decide.