WELCOME TO BIG CHIEF.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1921, Page 4

WELCOME TO BIG CHIEF.

GOVERNOR WITH THE SAVAGES,

LORD JELLICOE’S HAPPY SPEECH

VALUE OF GOOD FEELING.

The seventh korero held by the New Plymouth Savage Club, and the final for the season, took place on Saturday night, when the club entertained the Governor-General, Viscount Jellicoe. There was a large attendance of mem* hers, and a very pleasant evening was spent. The committee had made splendid preparations for the function, and also had artistically decorated the hall. In installing Chief Rangitira C. H, Weston, Tuturu R. W. D. Robertson said it fell to his lot to preside, and they knew he would officiate as well as he did over their first korero. Although only a young hapu, having been in ex* istence about six months, they already had had a great honor conferred upon them, His Excellency the great Chief Savage having kindly consented to share the korero. The savages therefore bade the chief rangitira to give him not only as the chief savage of the Wellington tribe, but also as the representtative of the great big chief His Majesty the King, and as representative of the Navy. The rangitira was also, instructed to welcome the visitors, including the members of the sister service, the army, who assisted the big chief in his onerous official duties, and also at such functions as balls. MIGHT OF THE NAVY.

After being presented with his insignia of office, the chief rangitira addressed his brother savages, remarking that they were assembled on a unique occasion, recalling to mind stories of their revered ancestors. It was some seven centuries ago when six canoes left Tahiti for these islands, the complement consisting of 500 men, women and children. Now, he understood, from the historian of the hapu, that the b.g chief’s battle fleet was equivalent ta ten million souls, men, women and children. The rangitira said he had placed these figures in the hands of the tribal money changer, and after labors extending over a week he had replied that the equivalent of .this battle fleet was 20,000 canoes, and assuming that these figures were correct, and that each canoe was 70 feet in length, they would reach from Moturoa t© Tahiti. The big chief could step on board one canoe at Tahiti and walk in comfort to Moturoa. They would, therefore, grasp an idea of the enormous power wielded by their guest. Their own hapu fleet, he was sorry to say, was in a deplorable condition. owing to the muddling of the previous Minister oV arine, half the canoe paddles being missing, and the stock of waipiro depleted. Their great chief strictly observed the customs of the hapus of New Zealand, and perhaps it was because he had travelled much and met many men. At anyrate, when he stepped aboard his canoe to leave their beach for the last time he would carry with him the respect and affection of all the hapus, and it was a respect which would be preserved for all time. As a token of the tribe’s affection, and as a test of the big chief’s forbearance, said the rangitira, he intended to ask brother savage* to sing their song of welcome. THE SAVAGES’ WELCOME. The assembled savages thereupon gave a spirited rendering of their song. It reads as follows: Savages! Savages! gather around, / See whom we have with us now. Captains and Colonels we’ve had here galore, But never a “fair dinkum” Sea-Lord before. Now it’s up to you, See what y</u ran do, Make him welcome—he is a savage too. Now boys —big noise—all round the Pah. Kia-oral Py Kerry!! Ka-pai!!. The evening was then given over to a musical and elocutionary programme, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. Te tangi was held in the middle of the programme, and was followed by a short toast list, opening with the loyal toast of “The King.” The toast of His Excellency was proposed by Mr. W. H. Robertshaw, who said that their guest’s fame was one which would be preserved along with those of the great men of the past, such as Drake, Grenville and Nelson. The toast was received with enthusiasm and the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. His Excellency replied in an appropriate and felicitous speech. He said he had come to the New Plymouth hapu with a message of greeting from the Wellington savages. Continuing, ha • said: “It is a very great pleasure for a rangitira from Wellington to receive such a welcome as the New Plymouth savages have given me to-night. I am grateful to the chief rangitira for the kindly words of welcome which he expressed. We have heard in Wellington and in other parts of the world—a savage club has just been formed in London —of the great loyalty and fighting spirit of the tribes of this land. I came over to thia country from my own; I have toured a great part of the Dominion, and I have met many tribes, but I think the company of the New Plymouth tribe is as good as I have met.” In acknowledging the hospitality of the ftzrftbe, His Excellency -wished them every success, and he felt sure, from the wonderful start’made and the fine musical and other talent displayed, that in another year’s time tHb haU would not accommodate the members. He hoped to find, on his next visit, that, whilst- the quality of the talent (which he did not think could be improved on) was being kept up, the number of members would be greatly increased. “You can’t have too much of a good thing,” he said. “Savages create good feeling, not only amongst the members of the tribe, but also amongst the whole community, and good feeling makes cheerful faces. Cheerfulness will be wanted, too—-perhaps not so much in Taranaki, but probably in other parts of New Zealand.” The toast of the visitors was proposed by Dr. Home, and was responded to by Mr. J. E. Wilson, who has recently returned from Samoa, and by Captain A R. Curtis, His Excellency’s private secretary. Those who contributed to the gramme were Savages C. B. Webster, A L. Moore, A. B. MacDonald, B. Hartmann, W. G. Holder, L. Etheringtoo, •Blennerhassett, Morgan, A. Brittendon (Christchurch), A. O. Sturrock and the Melody Four (Savages F. Hooker, W. B. Okey, A. L. North and A. B. MacDonald). An orchestra, under the of Savage R. N. Renaud, gave a number of selections.