AT WAITANGI.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18444, 30 March 1922, Page 5

AT WAITANGI.

HISTORIC FUNCTION. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND. March 29. . A historic function was held at Wai* tnngi to-day in connection with the for* mal opening of a hall erected to commemorate the signing of the Treaty oi Waitangi. The usual Maori ceremonial was carried out and the Maoris had mad© great preM’. rations. the expenditure being in the vicinity of £5OOO. About 1000 Maoris were present, and many Europeans, including the Premier. The hall is built of brick and plaster, with a memorial obelisk bearing th© terms of the treaty in the Maori tongue. Beside it a kainga for the accommodation of the Maoris consists of huge marquees and tents, electric light being installed. At the opening of the hall, Hon. Ngata said : “We in the East Coast arc reaping the proper fruits of the treaty. It is an example of how fair, bow just, how Christian the British race can be.”

Mr Massey said the building now being opened would, ho hoped, stand for centuries, and be held sacred by both races. He was glad it was to be the permanent resting place of the names of the men of the Maori race who fell in the Great War. If there was any direction in which it was necessary to put the Maoris on a footing of equality as was the pakeha, it would be granted. AH the Government asked was that they should assist in developing th« country by working their own land-