The Taiporohenui Native Gathering.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1655, 2 January 1885, Page 2

The Taiporohenui Native Gathering.

Haweba, December 30, The native feast and haka at Taiporohenui are now over, and to-morrow the natives proceed to Manutahi, where the same will be repeated. On Sunday, besides feeding their own people, the natives entertained fully 600 Europeans. The space on which they were seated was carpeted with clean flax mats, and before each was placed a cup and saucer. Plates of bread and butter were brought round, followed by goose, cake, biscuits, lollies, beer, wine, brandy, and syrups, which were, in small quantities, handed round to those present. Titokowaru addressed each relay of guests. The hakas were much the same as those performances usually are. The poi, a ball dance by 86 young women was a novelty. Each and every one was dressed in white, trimmed with gay ribbons, and had a dark belt round the waist. Their feet were bare, and their faces, like the male performers, were streaked with black, and the lip i of all were disfigured with a dab of the same sable paint. Each carried in her hand a ranpo ball, suspended from a piece of string about two feet long, which was frequently struck by their hands as it swung about.