A UNIQUE CEREMONY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16819, 23 August 1922, Page 9

A UNIQUE CEREMONY.

I . i , NEW NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ROOM. NAT IVE CHIEFS AT OPENING (Per Press Association-.) WELLINGTON. August 23 The Native Affairs Committee Room, in the new Parliament Building, was opened this morning with a unique ceremony by Native chiefs from Roto* [ rua. who sang a scrie# of ino natations for the purpose of clearing the room of all evil spirits, rso that in future those ' who entered might know that they could approach the committee with the certainty of obtaining justice. The incantations were sung by Mita Taupopoki, Te Naera and Mihopu Te Maaka. of the Arawa tribe. The Hon J. G. Coates. Native Minister, briefly related the history of the committee, which in the past bad been composed of many famous men, and which carried with it the highest traditions. Under the spell of the special incantation, which permitted women to pas*; into a holy house, Mrs Coates entered the chamber, and subsequently, when the public was admitted at the invitation of Mr J. Young, M.P., chairman 1 of the committee, the Hon Sir James » Carroll, and Sir William Her- i lies, former Native Ministers, delivered | speeches reminiscent of the past history j of the committee. After Air Elsdon Best had explained j the significance of the symbolical carv- ) ings with which the room is lavishly j decorated, the room was declared open for the transaction of public business, j The carvings had been executed by j Kiwi Amohau, of Rotorua.