ROTORUA MAORI MISSION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9933, 1 August 1908, Page 5

ROTORUA MAORI MISSION.

A UNIQUE AND INTERESTING ENTERTAINMENT.

The entertainment given in tho Town Hall last night fully justified the encomiums tluit t have been passed by the Press during the tour of the company in the South Island aud in other parts of the North. It was indeed a revelation to the large audieuco that assembled, as to what careful training, combined with tho native ability of the Maori, can accomplish inadequately representing tho poetry, dancing, aud music of that interesting people on tlio stage. Although some of the subjects wero familiar to a number of tho audience, only exports could claim acquaintance with all that was shown, while many who wero presout saw for tho first turn) tho nature of the genuine life of the Maori, his characteristic art. aud his dances of war aud of'welcome. Tho audience quickly manifested indications of the fasoiuatiou the performauco exerted, and throughout it was 1 punctuated with bursts of outhusiastic applause To givo more than au outline of the varied exhibition would bo impossible. Tho entertainment was organised by the Rev F. A. Bennett aud Mr A. T. Ngata, M.P., whojjhavo just concluded a most successful tour of the South Island as far as Dunecliu. Tho curtain roso on a series of tableaux, representing a characteristic group of old-time Maoris, seated in frout of a whare, engaged in flax-weaving, carving, aud other work A message comes that distinguished visitors are approaching ; mats are- spread on tho courtyard, avid as the visitors aro supposed to come in sight a dance of welcomo, with much vociforatiou and brandishing of weapons, is given—a terrifying spectacle to the uninitiated. The visitors arrive, aud a long and punctilious ceremony is observed, and much eloquence on both sides, after which the "hospitable board"—in this case, special woven mats placed on the ground—is spread, aud as tho feast begins, the curtain falls. The various games aud dances shown were all remarkable, not only for the perfect time observed throughout, aud the artistic grouping in form and colour, bur for their perfection as gymuastic exercises. Four evouiug-dressed Maori youths combined a good tone with admirable balance in tho serio-comic quartettos, 'Mary Had a Littlo Lamb,' aud "Lucky Jim. " Miss Wild Butt has a sweet and natural voico and sang with beautiful expression, "Sweethearts Still," aud for a prononuced eucoro contributed, "A Soug of Sleep. " Tlio poi dances, by the Maori girls wero wonderfully gracoful and fascinating, the performers keeping perfect time. Tho "poi waka," in which a canoo, with the movements of tho paddles, was imitated, was graceful aud striking. A number of familiar "plantation songs", quartettes aud choruses were both original and entertaining, and wero all encored. The series of tableaux of living pictures depicting the legend of Hinemoa aud Tutanekai ou Iriri Kapna rock ou Mokoia Island, was also auother spieinhd representation, followed by others, which wore all good. The entertainment concluded with "Homo, Sweet Homo," being sweetly sung in Maori, and the National Anthem, also in the same melliflous tongue,brought tho performance to a close.

The entertainment is to bo repeated to-night, and wo recommend those who wisli to enjoy a performance that is bjth novel and interesting in a, higii degree, to take the opportunity of being present.