ROTORUA ARRANGEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18583, 18 December 1934, Page 5

ROTORUA ARRANGEMENTS

CIVIC RECEPTION MAORIS’ PREPARATIONS Arrangements have been made for a civic reception to be accorded tlie Duke of Gloucester at Rotorua at 12.15 p.m. on Saturday. A military guard of honor will be provided by the Ist Battalion, the Hauraki Regiment, while the Rotorua Municipal Band will be in attendance. His Royal Highness will inspect tho guard on his arrival at the town square and afterward members of the Rotorua Borough Council and district local bodies and their wives will be presented. A civic address of welcome will then be read. The address will be placed in a specially-prepared Maori casket 20in. long, 6in. wide and 10in. high, carved with 10 figures representing native traditional ideals. Two figures, one at each end, standing out in bold relief, portray two young warriors setting out for adventure, but always bearing in mind that in the casket lie the traditional principles of all Maori customs. The faces on the side of the casket represent defiance to anyone who should endeavor to break the tie of loyalty between the King of Britain and the Maori people. The lid of the casket is also magnificently carved with symbolic figures. In order to cope with the large number of visitors to Rotorua during tho Royal visit, the Tourist Department will increase the strength of the present permanent staff of guides at Whaknrewarewa to 46 by the issue of 12 temporary licenses^ Preparations for the gathering of Maori people have been speedily advanced at Whakarewarewa and Obinemutu. In both pas painting and general repair work has been carried out. At Whakarewarewa accommodation for 500 to 600^ people has been provided, while the Ohinemutu pa, where a large numbpr of marquees and tents has been erected, presents the appearance of a military camp. 'The Maori headquarters staff, including Sir Apirana Ngata, Mr. H. R. H. Balneavis, secretary to the Minister of Native Affairs, Mr. Tai Mitchell and others, is already established at Ohine- . rmitu