STIRRING SCENES WITNESSED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 59, 11 March 1930, Page 7

STIRRING SCENES WITNESSED

NEW MAORI MEETING HOUSE OPENING FUNCTION TO-DAY [ Per Press Association ] GISBORNE, March 10. Stirring scenes were witnessed to-day at Tepoho o '‘awiri, the new Maori meeting house in Gisborne, which is to be officially opened to-morrow morning by the Hon. G. W. Forbes. Yesterday and to-day Maoris literally poured into Gisborne from all parts of the district, very large numbers of visitors coming down from the ’.Vaiomatatini Hui xvhich concluded on Sunday. To-mor-row morning more Maoris will arrive and before noon is expected there will bo 1000 natives assembled at the new Kaiti pa. The advance guard of the Tokitinius and Ngaliporous came down first, in readiness to receive the visitors on their arrival.

This morning and this afternoon stirring scenes were witnessed on *he Manic in front of the meeting house as the joint hosts to the Hui welcomed in traditional manner the visiting tribe with chants, hakas, speeches and customary greetings, which were replied to in kind, the speechmakers being the elders of the respective tribes. The tennis courts at the new pa were receiving the last touches this morning in preparation for special matches and for the continuance of the Maori tennis championships which will go on to-morrow. At Ruaria the championships were carried to the round just prior to the semi-finals and the remaining games will occupy probably two or three days. In addition the Morehu Cup, played for by teams representing various districts under Davis Cup rules, with one minor modification, is to be contested at the new