THE MAORI WELCOME

Southland Times, Issue 18809, 30 April 1920, Page 6

THE MAORI WELCOME

Historic Spectacle at Rotorua

ROYAL PARTY ENTHRALLED

Modifications of Northern

Itinerary

liue weather prevailed at Rotorua yesterday, when the great Maori pageant in honour of the Prince of Wales was carried out entire success. Subsequently the Prince reviewed Maori soldiers and presented deccadoiu, and late in the evening returned to Auckland by train, (Special to the Times).

VAST ASSEMBLY OF NATIVES. REVIVAL OF ANCIENT DANCES. THE INITIAL WELCOME. ROTORUA, April 29. From the far gum lands of the North, from the east coast and the west, from the rolling Wairarapa plains and the steam breathing land of the thermal region, 8000 Maoris came to welcome the son of the King. The storm abated and the dawn came with streams of sunlight, and a sharp invigorating breeze. The great Maori camp stirred at the first sign of light, and the dusky people arrayed themselves in the magnificent mats and head-dresses of their people. Despite the inconvenience and anxiety of the railway trouble, Rotorua’s temporarily trebled population formed a human stream towards the racecourse, where the natives were assembled. The course became a great circle of expectant people, and in the central ground the thousands of Maoris arranged themselves into linos in readiness to welcome the Prince. The magnificent men with their bare backs waited with the sunlight lying in bright splashes on their shoulders. The w shines, spreading back behind them, waved their green wands and held their pei halls ready for a word of command. From the far end of the course there came a tlrunder of voices, and then from the dense throng between, the Royal car emerged with bis Royal Highness and Admiral Sir Lionel Habey, the centre of the greatest welcome that has yet been accorded the party in New Zealand. The plain looked like a picture from some barbarian age. The giant chiefs shouted and their followers cheered. The tufted spears rose above a sea of black heads, and there was a stirring primitive note in the wail of the wahines and the deeper voiced welcome of their men.

memory of that dancing sea of Maoris will live long with the Prince and those who were associated with him when the dances were concluded. His Royal Highness descended to the ground to receive the array of gifts which were presented by the tribes. For a moment the cheering and shouting ceased as aged warriors and younger Maoris were presented, but the departure was the sign for renewed outburst, in which that grand band of Maoris sang and waved their last farewell to the “pale face” Prince who had tamed a while on their camping ground. REVIEW OF MAORI SOLDIERS. PRESENTATION OF MEDALS. This afternoon a review of the Natives who served in the Maori War, and a presentation of decorations to Corporal M. Otene, Sergeant Pom ana, and Privates Tapu and H. lilau, all of whom were awarded the Military Medal for service during the recent war. The function took place on the racecourse, where thousands of Maoris cheered the Prince and the heroes he was decorating. Lined up behind the native veterans were a number of nurses and the boys of the Te Ante School, whose fine bearing was commented upon by the visitors. With the weather still remaining fine the children were lined up before the Grand Hotel where His Royal later inspected them. This item closed the official functions tor Rotorua, and the Royal party spent the remainder of its sojourn in the town privately. The Prince walked to Whakarewarewa and back before dinner, proving himself a smart man on foot. RETURN TO AUCKLAND. Arrangements have been made for the Pnnce and his party to leave for Auckland by train at a late hour to-night. The future movements of his Royal Highness will be fixed on arrival in Auckland, whence the Renown will carry the party to Wellington. THE NORTH ISLAND TOUR. CONSIDERABLE MODIFICATIONS. MANY TOWNS TO BE CUT OUT. (Pex United Press Association. 1

The Prince slowly proceeded towards the grandstand after being challenged by the Artiwa and Matatua tribes, who performed the ceremony of “taki.” From the mass of Maoris in front of the stand the girls of the Hnkarere stepped forward and sang the National Anthem in Maori. Sir James Carrol acted as master of the ground, and tinder his guidance the various tribes moved forward to dance or perform for the Prince's pleasure. Sir William Herries, accompanied by 64 chiefs and chieftainesses, then presented the address of welcome which has already been published throughout the Dominion. With this ceremony the Prince received a magnificent kiwi feather mat.

WELLINGTON, April 29. The statement that the inland tour of the Prince of Wales in the North Island has been definitely abandoned is not quite correct. It is understood that the Ihince bunself is most anxious to fall in with any arrangements that can be made, and that ho is prepared to shorten the time allowed to him for rest and country sport in order to keep faith with the people of the country. It is quite certain that his visits to some towns on the Main Trunk Line will have to be cut out altogether, even if the trains are resumed at once. It may even be necessary to cut out visits to some of the Taranaki towns. Much depends on the progress of the strike negotiations. In any case it is probable that the Prince will visit all seaports in the Renown if there are no trains in which to travel. This must mean a considerable revision of the programme mapped out for him. GISBORNE’S HOPE. POSSIBLE VISIT OF THE RENOWN. GISBORNE. April 29. In view of the alteration in the Prince’s itinerary in consequence of the strike and the probability of his coming down the East Coast in the Renown, the hope is expressed that he will be able to visit historic Poverty Bay. Representations have already been made to the Mayor of Gisborne that the Renown should call here, PROGRAMMES TO BE CURTAILED. PRESSURE TOO SEVERE. (Special to the Tunes). CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. A North Maud paper is responsible for the statement that the New Zealanders, with the best intentions in the world, are milking too great a call on the good nature and endurance of the Prince of Wales. An experienced nurse who was in Auckland during the Prince’s stay in the northern capital informed a reporter that it was obvious to the spectators at the succession of gatherings in the northern city that his Royal Highness was feeling the strain of the excitement and the exciting nature of the multifarious functions which are being thrust upon him in an excess of zeal. “He is younger than our young men of his age,” said, the nurse referred to, “and if they go on like that be will not be able to stand it and they will break him down.” Luckily commonsense has intervened to prevent this catastrophe. Telegrams have been sent by the Governor-General to the mayors in the various cities and towns that their programmes will have to be curtailed.

THE FRINGE'S SPEECH. His Royal Highness, wearing military uniform, rose from his seat and addressed the Maori people through the interpretation of Dr Pomare as follows; — Chiefs and people of Aotcaroa —Your welcome fills me with gladness :md with pride; gladness that following the path of my father, the King, I am come to see you in your own beautiful land whose loveliness no other land excells; pride that you should greet me thus with loyal and contented hearts in the ancient Maori form. The inikluy war has shaken the world since my father came to this place, but the Maori people have held true to the oath which they swore to him upon the day when ho stood here. Your warriors went forth to fight and conquer in many distant lands. I saw and spoke with them on the hard fields of battle. They fought and endured most gallantly, as Maori warriors ever do, and many gave up life or health for the sake of us who remain. Their bravery and their sacnnce were seen by the King, who bade me praise the Maori people for their faithfulnss and valour even unto death.

His Royal Highness then referred to his His Royal Highness then referred to the early association of New Zealand with the rule' of Queen Victoria, concluding by saying ; “For my part I will ever keep before me the pattern’ of Victorial the great Queen whose heart was with the Maori people from the day on which they swore allegiance to her ride. I have handed to your Minister, Sir William Herries, some medals which I brought from King George, and which will be distributed to you later. Guard those medals as a remembrance of this visit, and hand them down to your sons.

“Chiefs and people, I greet you from my heart, and so farewell.” Wearing his kiwi feather mat., the Prince sat in state Ur watch the performance of his Maori subjects. First the stalwart Arawas advanced, half naked, and with their war paint daubed on their excited faces, they engaged in a war dance and then a liaka, after which their women gave the beautiful poi dance, which is reminiscent of the voyage of the Arawa canoes. The giant braves of the Matahu tribe then added their mighty baka to the imp: jaive programme. The cold, biting air of the morning was forgotten, the traditions of the Maori race were stirred to new flame, and the assembled natives caught an echo of the dead glory of their ancestors. A great spirit seemed to possess them, and the onlookers were thrilled to an expressive silence by the majesty of the performance. 'The giant seny naked bodies leapt in the air, and there was a great wave of shouting and wailing. From right and left there was the rustle of reupo matting and the simultaneous beating of strong hands on bare chests. The passive native of our acquaintance was no more, and the assembled thousands sent up continual cheers and welcomes to their Roval visitor.

VISIT TO INVERCARGILL. THE GUARD OF HONOUR. RETURNED SOLDIERS PROPOSED. TOO MANY DIFFICULTIES. A letter from a correspondent appeared in yti .. /*s issue of the Southland Times proposing that the guard of honour for the Prince of Wales should be composed of returned soldiers. This opinion is held by a number of people, especially since the brave show made by returned men on Anzac Day. However, the difficulties in the way of materialising the proposal appear insurmountable. A member of the executive of the RSA. had the matter referred to him yesterday. The Association, he said, would have been very pleased to provide the guard if it had seen its way clear to do so. But the difficulties were too many and too great. To provide a guard, 100 men of all ranks would have to be gathered together and properly trained, for, although it might be thought that ex-soldiers were already trained, it had to be remembered that many of them had forgotten what they had learnt. Then, there would be difficulties in the way of supplying equipment, such as rifles and bayonets, and it would be hard to secure proper uniforms. The members of the Association thought that it would be useless to do anything unless they could be assured of doing it well, and this was impossible. “We are sorry that we cannot do anything,” he concluded, “but anyone going properly into the proposal must see it as we do—-that it is impossible of accomplishment.”

Following the Matatnas the Ngapuhis and the poi dancers from the Ngatiraukawas passed before the onlookers, revealing still new dances which they have retained against the influx of modem ideas. The East Coast tribes, who had journeyed far over the road that Ilongi once trod, thrilled the air with a magnificent haka. The Prince excitedly watched every new phase and change of gesture. The .sun continued to stream down on the brown performers, and the Rotorua lake added a gleaming silver background to the scene. The Ngatikahungumus and the Te Haihauanru natives from the West Coast then appeared and completed the tribal displays, which were followed by a great massed Nageri, in which thousands of natives joined in the famous “Ka mate, ka mate.” any of those who saw the ceremonies of twenty years ago declared that to-day’s function was not like what it used to be. The wearing of European shoes and stockings, the use of violins certainly break the sincerity of the dances. One feather decked Maori woman brandished a white-backed hand-mirror instead of a mere, throwing kisses towards the Royal stand. She aroused no small amount of laughter.

Although the effect of civilisation was apparent in the modified form of the donees, they were still a magnificent symbol of the Maoris of the past, and the

TOWARDS LOCAL EXPENSES. HARBOUR BOARD VOTES. At a special meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board 3 «*.itrday it was decided to vote £l5O towards the expenses of entertaining the Pnnce of Wales in Invercargill. It was also decided, in connection with an application for the loan erf rope, to vote £lO for providing dags and rape.