ORPHANDOM

Waipa Post, Volume 44, Issue 3181, 24 May 1932, Page 5

ORPHANDOM

TE AWAMUTU CLUB. OPENING OF TENTH SESSION. The Te Awamutu Orphans' Club opened its tenth session last Saturday evening, with an attendance of well over 100 members, including a large accession of new members. Bro. J. Oliphant, this year's president, occupied the chair, and with him on the dais were the club's patron (Bro. W. JBroadfoot, M.P.) and last year's president (Bro. A. J. Sinclair). Proceedings opened with a welcome to new members, totalling nearly thirty, and as they filed into the room older members accorded them the customary hearty greeting, and this was followed by the Ode of Welcome. The orchestra, a dozen instrumentalists under the conduetorship of Bro. E. J. Moeller, opened the concert programme with the overture, " Black Diamond," rendered with a verve that was inspiring and indicative of even better things to come. An encore was also supplied. Later, the chairman, referring to the coming session, mentioned that the membership is now 162—a record for the club —and he outlined the branches of activity planned for the present season. A telegraphed message of goodwill was received from the Te Aroha Club, on which institution the local organisation was patterned in 1923; and an invitation to attend the Devonport Club's social night on June 4th (Great Northern Steeplechase day) was received. Bro. Allan Terry was in good voice with his solos, "Harvester's Night Song," and "Rose in the Bud," and Bro. Geo. Morriss presented a couple of humorous recitations, " Did You Ever? " and " The Liars.' Then followed community singing, in which three old favourites were rendered vociferously and (by some) tunefully. Bros. J. Maguire and E. Moeller got a splendid reception for a vioiin duet, artistically rendered, and Bros. Sinclair and Broadfoot presented a number of storiettes that were much enjoyed. The Orphans' choir, 16 voices (under the baton of Bro. J. T. North) were accorded hearty reception for their numbers, "Farewell, My Own True Love," and " Ding Dong Bell." Then the supper was served, and needless to say, done ample justice to. The orchestra opened the second half of what was proving to be a well-balanced programme with the overture " Tancredi," and a vociferous encore was acceded to, a spirited march being played. The chairman next devoted a few minutes to a very entertaining and racy description of Te Waharoa, whom he termed "that fine old Maori gentleman," who lived from 1775 until 1839 in the Waikato not many miles from Te Awamutu. Bro. Oliphant mentioned that between 100 and 150 years ago the two most populous settlements in the southern Waikato were at Kihikihi and Peria (a few miles from Matamata). Kihikihi had a population of from 1500 to 2000 inhabitants, and was second to none in importance. Te Waharoa was a member of the Ngatihaua tribe* occupying land between Tamahere and Matamata, including the hills between Cambridge and Matamata. He was a son of Taiporohu, who,; when the infant was born, was away campaigning down in the Wanganui district. When Te Waharoa was about two years of age the Arawas from Rotorua attacked his tribe, who were located on the slopes of Maungatautari, and the onslaught was successful. Te Waharoa and his mother were taken captive to Rotorua, where the child grew to early manhood, but his assertive and domineering disposition was probably the primary cause of the Arawas restoring him to his hapu. Te Waharoa was not long in collecting the scattered remnants, and he trained them so assiduously that they soon became a factor in tribal disputes. Gaining fresh adherents, they were soon in a position to throw down the gage to the Arawas. However, Te Waharoa tried their mettle on lesser tribes first, and one of those to suffer was the tribe of Te Wherowhero Potatau, who later became the Maori " King." He was a great tactician, and was universally feared, cunning <and surprise attacks being important factors in his campaigns. .He gained ascendancy of the Maoris at Cambridge (called at that time Haowhenua) and arranged with Mokerau at Otawhao (Te Awamutu) to attack the Ngatimaru tribe, to the south of Cambridge, sweeping down from the slopes of Maungatautari wich a rush that was irresistible. »Te Waharoa later destroyed Hao-whenua, and a little later invested the strong pa at Matamata, going on to the. Bay of Plenty. Then came his decision to attack the Arawa—the people who had reared him from childhood to manhood, and taught him the arts and crafts of warfare. He made alliance with the Ngaiterangi, of Tauranga,, and in the subsequent fighting he so severely damaged the Arawas that it called forth the tragic comment of one of the Arawa chiefs, " It is a pity we saved him as a child." Te Waharoa was a dominating influence right to the time of his death in 1839 and his name is perpetuated by a district only a few miles from one of his most important fights—at Matamata. Bro. Oliphant's address only lasted a few minutes, but it was interesting throughout, and he was heartily applauded for his contribution to the evening's enjoyment. Bro. Ces. Corboy (an old favourite) was accorded a rousing reception for his baritone solos, " Muleteer of Malaga," and " Nirvana," and Bro. Bridge "followed with a half-dozen Scotch stories, delivered in racy style. Bro. Doug. Stallard was also heard to advantage with his tenor solos, "Friend o' Mine," and "Memories:" The closing Ode terminated a very happy evening.