MAORI GOODWILL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4193, 7 June 1939, Page 4

MAORI GOODWILL

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS. Some surprise was expressed, in connection with the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Te Awamutu School, last Saturday, that there was no direct representation or reference to the Maori race, and the fact that many Maori children had received their instruction at the local school. The fact is that it was intended to have a brief address from Mr Raureti Te Huia, as part of the formal proceedings at the Teasdale Street schools, but that gentleman misunderstood the directions, and he repaired to the new Intermediate School in Alexandra Street, only discovering tin mistake when too late. Mr Te Huia has kindly made available the purport of his intended remarks as follow: “On behalf of the Historical Society and the Maori and Pakeha people of Te Awamutu and Kihikihi, I welcome you all. We are all assembled to renew the message of goodwill given by our ancestors, in the days gone by. What was this message of 1839? It was the gift to the school authorities of the area of 500 acres in the Moeawha Block for the education of the Maoris in this district. Come then, renew this goodwill so as to strengthen the hearts and faith of your Maori brothers. Here are your Maori brothers, a handful among the peoples who shelter beneath the mana of King George VI, a people weak in number, but strong in its heartfelt allegiance to the Crown of England. 1 now welcome you, boys and girls, and ask you to carry on this good work of education and study. I hope you will some day be brave and strong to protect our King and Empire, and hold last to our flag for ever and ever and ever. Ka whawhai tonu, ake, ake, ake.”