A Mighty Totara Has Fallen!”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 370, 13 September 1930, Page 19 (Supplement)

A Mighty Totara Has Fallen!”

Dear Wendy,—Seeing I have neglected the S Hut pages for some weeks past, I think it i is high time I put in an appearance again, i What say you, Wendy? Thanks awfully for I your kind message of condolence, not forget- i ting “Hut’s Look-out Man” also. Yes. the i death of our friend Miss Jury will be for ever j in the memories of each one, and all of the ( ?YA Maori party. You see. Wendy, there c are over 30 in the party and we boys and 1 girls look upon one another as brothers and r sisters. Gosh! Wouldn't I just love to [ know who our new Ite is. “Speeding Reggie.” .« I must admit he has me puzzled. I can’t j place the writer at all. Wendy. I was cer- i tainly there on the Aramoho Station on my j way to Waitara. We left Aramoho between j 4.30 and 5 a.m.. and arrived at Waitara Sta- j tion a little after 8 a.m. We got word say- .« ing not to leave our carriages until after 1 breakfast was served. It seemed no trouble \ to the home Maoris to serve us with our t breakfast. They would have easily a mile to < go and prepare it. and motor back to the r train in the pouring rain. We from Wanganui were the first to leave our carriages, a as we had to go through our usual Maori 3 Powhiris before the other people from along j the line and Lady Pomare and her family i left their carriage. We had with us a huge i photo of the first 2YA Maori party to visit * Wellington. The late Sir Maui Pomare's ] photo was one of them. I am sure you have \ seen the photo as it was exhibited some time \ back in one of the shops in the Avenue. Lady J Pomare and family are a very sad family |< indeed. Wendy, on seeing the beautiful carv- f ed casket leave the State carriage and Lady e Pomare and family in the rear cure made j our hearts ache. Then there was a bustle t for cars. Our folk deeded to walk and oh. r dear, it was sure mind- your step. Crowds a of people and cars galore. At the entrance 1 to the pa we were met by weeping and wail- t ing women, waving green leaves. The casket fl was taken straight to the centre of the marae h and laid on beautiful wharikis and Maori s mats. Then some of our boys stepped for- 1, ward with the photo and stood it near the a casket. Our Maori people throughout New tl Zealand mourned the leas of Sir Maui Pomare. S Certainly the Hon. Coates was right when tl he said, "A mighty totara has fallen.” d

Speeches were made until a bell rajig letting us know it was kai (dinner) time. You would hardly credit what met our eyes. Really I am not exagerating, but the tayles were as good as any first-class hotel. The waitresses were all dressed in heliotrope smocks and caps to match. The boys (carvers) at each end of the three tables wore white coats. There was seating accommodation for 120 in the lovely dining-room and a huge marquee with very long tables seating over 500. I am sure some meals had to have a second and a third setting. Everybody was made welcome. Soon after dinner we were informed where our sleeping quarters were. Away we rushed to a huge marquee for Wanganui people alone. On entering we saw piles of pillow-cases piled up and stuffed with straw, and straw inches thick on the ground. We helped ourselves to one each, and there was plenty for everybody. Just imagine the crowd there when there were six other marquees besides ours. Each had two and three pole-. The afternoon was spent with welcome speeches and then tea. After that our crowd adjourned to our marquee feeling very tired. Then a short service was read and evening prayers finished we were off duty for the night. “Taukatau” and myself started strumming the ukelele and guitar and singing “Happy Days,” everybody joining in, and before we knew where we were our marquee was full and with just standing room only. Wendy, no diance of sleeping till eariy hours Saturday mohning. After breakfast we never left the marae. Time was taken up with different parties of wahines giving poi dances, each representing their religions and chanting iwalms. Gee! Wendy, it was a good lesson to our younger girls of how poi dances should really be done. The movement of the body and all. Next were speeches to save repetition. You would read about it I am sure in the papers. The burial took place mid-day Saturday. Our crowd from Wanganui led the hymns, a huge feather in our caps. I can assure you. The pall-bearers stood to bear the casket to the vault when “Te Korito.” assisted by “Taukatau” and "Okirae” sang that beautiful lament “Haere ra Pomare.” Soon after we received news we were to catch the special back at 1 p.m. Oh, gee! our lips dropped. We got busy and saw our chief

from Kaiwhaiki here, and asked him if we must come home so soon? He looked at us all and knew we wanted to stay. He quietly said, "Monday morning.’’ Cheers from everybody. Evening again saw us out on the marae for evening prayers and again we led the hymns. After that all good children back to the marquee. We were honoured by a visit from Miss Ana, Mr Te Naera, and Te Rakaherea Pomare. Our manager, "The Wendy Hut's Taxi,” asked us to entertain them with some items. No sooner were we started than our marquee was soon filled again.’ Those that could not get in raised the sides of the marquee. We did not mind a scrap, although it was pretty breezy. Our marquee was the only one honoured by the visit from the Pomare family. Sunday was a day of politics and very interesting, too. The session lasted all day and after evening service they stayed back and carried on, each intending member wa« heard to advantage. There are a big majority who would like to see Te Rakaherea (Mick) Pomare contest the seat. I cannot say for certain if he has agreed. Then we were asked by Miss Ana Pomare to the house where they were staying. We spent a couple of hours in music and singing and then supper. The young folk, as soon as 12 o’clock had struck on Sunday night, asked ue to bring our instruments out on the marae, and have a dance. We danced until breakfast, 6 a.m. 8 a.m. saw us on board our train homeward bound. When we arrived at Hawera we got out and went to the Lady Pomare state carriage, and stayed till we reached Aramoho. "Te Rakaherea” got off with us. He stayed back to make arrangements with the heads of our 2YA party for a trip to Wellington, under him, to raise funds for the lepers on the islands. Wendy, it is for a good cause. Tuesday night saw us at a meeting held at Putiki. Everything wap arranged for the 10th and 11th. 0.K.. Wendy, we are looking forward to another trip to the city. The 17th and 18th of the present month we are holding a bazaar at the old Museum in aid of the Putiki Cathedral. Gee! I am afraid I have taken up too much space this time, so will close with heaps of aroha to you Wendy and all the rest of our happy family.—From "TUMANAKO,” Arakuhu.