News in Brief

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20233, 17 February 1934, Page 8

News in Brief

Largest in New Zealand. The Auckland (Chamber of Commerce remains the largest chamber in New Zealand. The present membership is 605, compared with 220 when the present building was erected in Swanson Street thirty years ago. Memberships of chambers in other centres are:—Wellington, 403; Christchurch, 440; and Dunedin, 420. , :: Threw Rotten Eggs. The throwing of rotten eggs into the Carterton public baths led to the appearance of two youths in the Juvenile Court at Carterton. Both boys pleaded guilty, and were placed under the supervision of the Child Welfare Officer for a period of six months. When questioned by the Magistrate as to their reason for perpetrating such an act, one said he did not know, while the other explained that it was “just mischief.” Maori Street Names. The meanings of Maori street names are probably not as well known as they should be. Overseas visitors to New Zealand frequently ask the meaning of Maori names, and more often than not their curiosity goes unsatisfied. Recently the One Tree Hill Borough Council selected Marei and Maroa as new names for streets within their territory, a quite appropriate choice. Marei means “ beloved,” and is the native name for “ girdle.” Marei and Maroa were two beautiful sisters, daughters of the chief of Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill). Te Kawa, son of Maniapoto, when visiting Maungakiekie, fell in love with Marei and married her. Later he also married Maroa. Te Kawa, who had a son by Marei, was later murdered by his brothers-in-law. When the son had grown to manhood, he went to Mokau and was killed by the local natives. Young Maori Scholar. A happy reunion was celebrated in true Maori fashion at Kaiwhaiki, Wanganui River, last Sunday, when Mr Kelly Wiwi, who is studying for the Catholic priesthood, paid a brief visit to his parents. Wiwi, who is a fine type of young Maori manhood; was educated at St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, and entered St. Mary’s, the Marist Fathers’ seminary, at Greenmeadows, Hawke’s Bay, last year. He has the distinction of being the only Maori candidate for the priesthood, and his friends, both Maori and pakeha, wish him success in the furtherance of his studies. When ordained, he will have the honour of being the first Maori priest in the history of the Catholic Church in New Zealand. Mr Wiwi left for “ Highden,” the Marist Fathers’novitiate at Palmerston North, last week.