KAIWHAIKE’S FAREWELL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18974, 27 March 1924, Page 9

KAIWHAIKE’S FAREWELL

TO MR. AND MRS. MeCOSH. AN ENJOYABLE FUNCTION. Electric light, glimmering through the green nikau palms, and puhga fern decorations in the big meetinghouse, Kaiwhaiko Pah, on Tuesday night, told of the importance of that evening. Natives from the pah and the Upokongaro district Jiad gathered in force, and, in true Maori fashion, bade farewell to Mr. and Mrs. S. D. McCosh, on the occasion of their leaving that locality. Large numbers of Europeans were present, at the invitation of the natives. The big meetinghouse, beautifully decorated, with its weird wooden carvings showing through the green, made a picturesque .getting for such a function. Maori and Pakeha mingled in the best of good fellowship, enjoying the dances, the songs, and the good things provided. When the guests of the evening arrived, the native welcome ... took the form of a haka. THE PRESENTATION. The occasion was taken by tho Maoris to make presentations to their departing guests. Little native girls, pupils of the Upokongaro School, danced a quaint presentation dance, and gracefully, in a fashion characteristic of the native race, deposited at the feet of the guests their gifts—handmade fibre head bands, tokens of love and adoration. Mr. Nelson Walker, on behalf of the Maoris resident at Waiwhaike Pah, in making a further presentation of a valuable greenstone relic, fibre kits, and an enlarged photograph of pupils of the Upokongaro School, said that the children’s gift to Mr. and Mrs. Me-Cosh-had taken the form of fibre rings. The ring was the symbol of matrimony. The fibre rings presented contained no stones, but if Mr. McCosh looked into the enlarged photograph ho would see there the children he had taught in his school. They were the stones of the ring. (Applause). As the native leader placed his gifts upon the floor, Maori voices sang softly, and feelingly, the words of the old song—

“Farewell! Farewell! our own dear friends, Farewell!” Mr. D. Whanercre addressed the assemblage in Maori. He said that the Maoris were pleased at the large.gathering, which had come to do honour to Mr. and Mrs. McCosh. It was pleasant to have the children of Mr. MeCosh’s school at that gathering. He could not find words wherewith to express the adoration in which the guests of the evening were held by the Maoris. Their absence from the district would be much regretted. Mr. Donald Ross said that it gave him great pleasure to be present that evening. Mr. McCosh was one of the best teachers the Upokongaro School had over had. It was a good thing for the Maori race to go to school with the Europeans, and to be educated with them, so that in the future the younger ones would grow up and take their places side by side, as-the Maoris and Pakehas had done in the Great War. (Applause). Mr. W. S. Glenn thanked the Kaiwhailte Pah for their invitation to join in doing honour to their old friends, Mr. and Mrs. McCosh. ■ No person present that evening hearing the hymn “Farewell” sung by the children, could listen and not be affected. It was sung in a spirit that did not indicate any other feeling but that of love and respect. No more fitting testimony could be given of the high regard the natives had for Mr. and Mrs. McCosh. “We arc all of the British race,” said Mr. Glenn, “and, it is good that Maori and Pakeha should be educated together. If wo can start life a bit easier with education, let’s do it.”

Mr. W. Ford, as an old pupil of the Upokongaro School, paid a tribute to Mr. McCosh as a teacher. On behalf of the old pupils and the committee he wished the guests long life and happiness. Mr. McCosh thanked the Maoris for their splendid gifts and the various speakers for the kind words spoken. He valued very dearly the friendship which lay behind it all. He had been pleased to welcome the Maori children to his_school. (Applause). Mrs. McCosh also returned thanks. In a specially arranged supper room, the womenfolk of the pah served supper which was greatly enjoyed by all present. Items were contributed during the evening by Mrs. Tamahana, Miss M. Tamahana, Miss Simon, Messrs G. Kawau and Harrold Roberts, and the native school children. The pah orchestra played delightful dance music and Mrs. Tamahana acted very capably as accompanists Tho gifjs presented to the guests of the evening were: A greenstone relic, handed down from distant generations'; a takapui (mantle drape); a pui pui (war dance inat); ti pare (head garments); a ngore (shoulder drape); a wcka and kiwi mat;"Several kiwi and fibre kits.