ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18023, 19 May 1930, Page 11

ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS

__ ' t g TRIP UP WANGANUI RIVER; *| . WARM . WELCOME BY MAOrl|| (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) f M WANGANUI, Sunday.® Members-of the British Rugby teiro as guests of'the Wanganui Union, wejg taken by river steamer to Parikino ;tg| day, where they were welcomeds in true Maori fashion by natives of tlio Wainuiarua sub-Union. Various liiffr torical points en route were indicajatl by Mr Alex. Takarangi, an ex-Wangaiiiij representative. Maori men, strip£>ds to the waist and armed with manijlp spears, welcomed the party on arrival at the pa. »§ ■ - Eulogistic speeches made were tefpreted by Mr K. Tahiwi, the Maora Advisory Board representative on {lig New Zealand Rugby Union. G. Puji&i hiki voiced the sentiments of the MaioM people not only of the Wanganui RiVeff but of New Zealand. .i jg. V Mr J. Baxter, manager of the visiiff ing team, in his reply said: ‘-‘You spdlife of King George. It may interest yoil to know that if it had not- been for hrs influence and interest many of the be|| .members of the team would have best* unable to make the journey. When« return 1 ! will convey to His Majesty the news of your wonderful welcomes In the time-honoured Maori fashitM Mr Baxter was made a rangitira sfif} presented'’ with a piupiu mat and hf| ■head was adorned with a green. em| blem of friendship and goodwill. I|§ In return Mr Baxter pinned the Ilrth rampant on Chief Tanginoa Tapa arpM a scene of great enthusiasm. ' *|§ Mr Baxter also received a carve® pipe as an emblem of rangitiraship.; is • Mr Prentice received a piupiu Acknowledging it he said he serve|E; witlr the Maoris in tho- Great War ajn|§ learned to know them as great Now he knew .them as splendid hosjt^|