FESTIVITIES AT TE ORE ORE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8846, 26 August 1907, Page 6

FESTIVITIES AT TE ORE ORE.

Unique Native Gathering.

Trio of.. Christenings

Large Assemblage of Natives

The Tohunga a Foremost

Ffgure

Some Interesting Details.

It is many a long day siuce the stately old "long house" at To Ore Ore p;i saw such a large and festive assemblage, both of Natives'and pakehas, as that which gathered there yesterday afternoon on the. occasion of aii interesting and important .'event. For some years past the pa has led a somewhat'secluded and dignified existence, aud the historic charm of the meeting house has truly wasted its sweetness on a desert air, only very occasional visits from curious strangers relieving the monotony. Yesterday, however, all this was changed," owing to a circumstance as welcome to the Maoris of the hapu as it is unique aud educative to the pakeba, many of the latter erroneously supposing that in these enlightened days of Tohnnga Suppression Acts mid the propagation of sceptical pakeba doctriues'iu general, the faith of the Maroi in the influence of the Native seer is being substantially diminished.

Simeon Haratiarc, a very wellknown Native of Te Ore Ore, and in the early athletic days of Masterton a wrestler aud runner of repute, being despondent of ever boasting a male heir to inherit his worldly possessions and uphold his traditions in the field of sport, as his wahine had presented him with five daughters in succession, repaired to a celebrated prophetess, domiciled in Hastings (Hawke's Bay), whose incantations were evidently .successful, as recently Simeon was made the father of a bouncing boy. Needless to say the whole hapu was on the tip-toe of expectation previous to the event, and when the prophecy proved correct, they decided to celebrate the baptism of the new- arrival in a fitting way.

For a whole week the iMhabitants of the pa have been making preparations for the ceremony. Natives from near and far being invited to participate in the jubilations, with a result that between two aud three hundred of them are now assembled at r JL'e Ore Ore, including influential raugatiras from different tribes in various parts of the Island. It was decided to "kill three birds with one stone,"

to use a colloqualism, aud two other infants—girls procured through the influence of the same prophetess—

illiMrY'l! Of wealthy parent*, were baptised at the same time. The prophetess herself was the mother of one. of the latter, ami, of course, was present at the ceremony. The Rev. A. O. Williams, of the Hawke's Bay Maori Mission, was the officiating minister. The ceremony took place in the meeting house, the bnptisimal procession being a strikingly pretty one. The dresses of the sponsorial parties, and the infants were most gorgeous, and must have cost a good deal of money. The reverential spirit shown during the proceedings was in keeping with the traditional love of the Maori for the mystic ritual, aud the scene—set as it was in a frame of grotesque carving _ m the foreground, with the tomb of a departed" chief as a silent monitor in the background—was deeply impressive. The names of the babies christened are: Raukura Heuei Enoka. Hmemoa Mauuhuia Clayton, and Hamaiwaho Himiona Haratiare. The god-fathers were Taiwhaio Te Tan. Rupuha Hianga and Titahi Hirini. and the god-mothers Wiina Tuke. Huia te Hapuku. and Tangi te Tai respectively. The baptismal cakes were most elaborate, there being four in all. Three were brought from Hawke's Bay, one being a massive four-decker, with silver pillars between the decks. Under the cakes several pound notes were visible—presents to the babies from their respective fathers.

A sumptuous repast was partaken of after the ceremony, 87ft length of tables being decked with eatables of all descriptions, prepared by the women of the pa. The tables were prettily arranged, and the long-house, festooned with gaily-coloured paper, and having at any time an attractive interior, looked "kapai." Not the least interesting part of the proceedings was the customary speeches of welcome from the local Maoris, and the replies by the guests. Some eloquent addresses were made, couched in the simple but dignified terms which only the Maori knows how to frame. Te Hamaiwaho, grandfather of one of the chilrden baptised, Rupuha te Hiauga and Hapuku, for-t-he visiting Maoris, returned thanks for their warm welcome, in response to speeches by Puhara te Tan, Tau Mataura, Tuhohe Ngaraugi, Haeata, and Simeon. The speeches were plentifully garnished with flattering references to Hikapuhi—the prophetess—the mention of whose name was the signal for salvos of "Kia Ora!" to which the lady responded with "Kia Ora !" and grateful smiles. Some of the speakers gave expression to their feelings in periodic outbursts of. song, the following, addressed to the prophetess, being a typical example—

E Tnaua ahau E koa ana roto Kiakn Raukura Kua Titiaho F!E ! F ! a free translation of whicii would beTo Hikapuhi, welcome ! w e are" slied with joy • For the gift you have sent us. Welcome from the Hamuas!

The girls would occasionally join in the songs, and the blending of their voices with the sonorous tones of the mens', was sweet music indeed, aud the old. long house must have felt that its mana was really being restored. The number of visitors from town during the afternoon was very large, quite four hundred people cycling, driving, or w r alking the easy distance to the pa. Simeon, in characteristic Maori fashion, extended a welcome to the white people, and asked them to make themselves at home in the pa aud see all they desired. He informed them that to-day was to be set apart for a great feast and hakas, to which all were invited, and th.at tonight a free dance would also be held in the long dance house in honour of the occasion. Moana Paratene interpreted the speech, which was loudly applauded. . The lady visitors were greatly interested in the dresses of the baptismal party, and also in the tiny causes of the jubilation. The Native women were delighted at this attention, and proudly allowed the infants to be nursed by the admiring visitors. The person who was the centre or attraction was, however, the lady who must be considered the primary cause of the festivities—the prophetess. She is an extremely handsome woman, With most intellectual features, and looks to be about forty years of age She is- a member of the celebrated A-rawa tribe, whose hapu is on the shores of Lake Rotorua—the cradle of the most beautiful of Maori romance. She is a niece of the celebrated-old guide Bella, and cousin of the latter's

equally famed handsome daughter, Maggie Papakura. The Arawa women are noted for their classic featuresinclined to the Semitic mould—and Hikapuhii is .no exception. To converse with, "she is as pleasant as one could wish, and confided without hesitation to'visitors who questioned her 'OP the subject that she "worked it" for Simeon to have a son. She informed one person that sho has performed like services for many others, and has, after leaving Te Ore Ore, a whole host of engagements to fulfil in other parts of New Zealand. As she converses, one is struck by her mag-, not'ic.manner', which certainly is conducive to a belief in the occult, if all exponents are as winning as Hikapulii. Her lips and chin are tattooed, showing off more vividly the gleaming set of pearly teeth sho possesses; aud the beautiful head of hair which crowns her forehead in a wavy mass helps .to stamp her as an exceptionally handsome woman. Greenstone tikis and' other' pendauts of great value are on her neck-chain, and a goldmounted' comb tastefully set in her hair also adorns her artistic person, which, though a shade portly, is most gaihly. She is very proud of her tribe, " and her baby's name— Hinemoa—shows that, although now resident away from her native, home, she has not forgotten the pretty legend which has helped to make it famous in Maori lore.

One of the children baptised is a great-great-great-graudehild 'of Ringatu Piripiwaka," an old Maori lady residing at Kaiwhata, on the East Coast. Her great-grandson, Te Hamaiwaho, gave a speech at the pa yesterday in honour of the christening of his grandchild. Ringatu, is reported to be one hundred and twenty-three years of age.

The Natives at the pa wish it to be distinctly understood that no liquor whatever will be allowed at the pa to-night, and persons bringing any will be liable to prosecution. It is to be hoped that visitors will not disobey this rule, as the motive of the Natives in endeavouring to preserve their young people from the temptation of drink is most commendable.