THE MAORI IN HIS HOME

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1931, Page 9

THE MAORI IN HIS HOME

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF CONCERT.

ENTERTAINMENT IN OPERA HOUSE

The Maori in his home, working', singin" and playing, was most picturesquely’portrayed in a -concert givefi by the Maoris of Taranaki in the New Plymouth Opera House last night hi aid of the Earthquake Relief Fund. The door takings amounted to £49 and apart from the hire of the theatre there were few other expenses, the Maoris travelling from all parts of Taranaki io take part at their own cost. Before the entertainment began the Mayor (Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths) introduced the Rev. K. Hadfield and the Rev, E. O. Haddon. On behalf of the. citizens of New Plymouth he extended a cordial welcome to the Maoris, lhe people of New Zealand, he said, remembered how the Maoris had faithfully worked under the Treaty of Waitangi and how they had fought in the late.' war, and now again they oflereij tlicir services fbr the need of the people in Hawke’s Bay. Mr. Hadfield explained that the progranmie would be mainly a portrayal of the life and customs of the Maori. European ethnologists had traced the Maori origin right back to the days of contact with the Egyptians before the Maoris came from the Pacific to people the land of Abtearoa. The theme of the entertainment, said Mr. Haddon, was the beginnings of sorrow and then the progress'to happiness again. The first song was a lament of the Maori people for the loss of the people in Hawke’s Bay. It began: Farewell, O ye people; Pass on into the great Beyond,' Our hearts are full of sorrow,

Farewell, farewell, farewell. The curtain rose on Maori men and maidens grouped on the stage. A tohunga iii the foreground was tatooing a woman, one further bapk was carving a slat of Wood. Two .boys were playing a Maori game and a warrior was showing his comrades the game of the cat’s cradle, r Still ’sitting the Maoris sang the sad, slow lament fbr the people of Hawke’s Bay. The.' music changed to a lighter melody, brown arms and bodies swayed. to the rhytlpn, and fingers twirled. Thcii- the boards shook as the braves stamped and gestured - in a haka, eyes rolling and meres flashing. The Maori, welcome to visitors to a taiigi arid ‘ the greeting of the chiefs were shown in the next scone. A warrior sang his love-song mid was answered’ by a maiden. There was a simple, charming courtship. The rhythm of song and movement was perfectly shown in the song of the canoe. The shoulders of the men rose and fell, the women swayed, the pels twisted in expert fingers and the voices of the chiefs rang out urging the men on.

The,pois fluttered marvellously in the dance of the Maori women. Whirling close to the swaying bodies they played at the shoulders arid the hips and crossed at the waist. There was life 'find gaiety in "the. last chorus. '/ •

Besides the combined work, there were solos, choruses to the' quivering ping of the gtiitaf and Polynesian dancing with lithe sinuous movement!-. There was only one criticism to offer and that was at the. inclusion, in the programme of several American songs. Fortunately -they were few. The songs of the Maoris themselves' were far better.