The Royal Visitor

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19457, 22 December 1934, Page 7

The Royal Visitor

STIRRING WELCOME IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIAL. ANCIENT MAORI RITUAL. SCENES AT ROTORUA. EXPRESSION OF LOYALTY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ROTORUA, Saturday. Supercharged with all the symbol ism and fervour, of which native sent - meat is capable, and enacted am settings as inspiring as they ' ve picturesque, the Maori w el com 11.R.H. Prince Henry, Duke of ter, this morning, was a'-magmflcen demonstration. Calling to their a poetry and the warrior instincts their race, 2000 selected natives, led by Sir Apirana Ngata in Maori costume, voiced by the thunder of i , haka, the rhythm of the poi dance and i the forcefulness of gesticulation, the \ messages of goodwill, continued an * unswerving loyalty to the Throne, and the steadfastness of their belief in tne beneficence of British rule. Few of those privileged to witness the event will ever forget the spectacle presented by Arawa Park when the present generation lived again for the nonce the warlike moments of their ancestors, proud of their right to shout •' Haereniai ” to the third grandson of the late beloved Great White Mother Victoria. All that the Treaty of Waitangi stands for found articulation in a flowing stream o loyally which rippled even to the feet of the Royal Prince himself. Bronzed ■and lalooed descendants of the pioneer pilots of the Great Canoe, those taking part lost themselves in the inspiration of the moment. Of all the impressions Prince Henry will carry back to England that of the homage paid him to-day will assuredly be in the forefront. Tlie gala spirit of New Zealand s famous thermal centre had the town under its command 1 from an early hour and long before the departure of the Royal party for Arawa Park, every vantage point had been captured. A Thunderous Welcome. It was through .a cheering throng that the Duke made his- triumphant appearance on the marae at the entrance. The vast crowd received its first inspiration from the dashing challenge of the outrunners with piercing cries of welcome, and the Ngeri Parerewha tribal representatives received the Royal visitor. This phase was in the hands of the Arawas. From the Ngati Tuwharetoas came the war dance with its stirring message of “ warrior meets warrior, man to man as tlie battle is joined." Equally expressive was .the command to valdur of the NgaliraUkawa haka which followed. 'in vivid and telling action it exhorted Hie slash of weapon to sever the restraining bonds of liberty. His tail figure set off by the colourful uniform of a colonel of the Tenth Hussars, the Prince slowly ascended the dais and turned to face the assembled tribes. There was a dramatic -pause. Chanting voices penetrated the . silence as the first words of their national anthem, “ Kainate, Kamate,” thundered forth. Exemplifying the unity of the races was the blending of Maori and Pakeha voices in the singing of the National Anthem in English. The Speech of Welcome. The Maori speech of welcome was enclosed in a carved frame carried ijy a party of Maori chiefs to the 'foot of the dais, accompanied by a chant with appropriate actions, which formerly flourished as a song of 'defiance or derision. In deep and resonant tones the Bish'op of Aotea Roa, the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, read the Maori text, the English version being delivered by the Native Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Fo-rbes. One striking passage epitomised the .spirit of New Zealand’s “Haeremat” It read:— • “Thou treasure from a far land, thou who weareth the sacred plume and sit among the highest of the earth, thou son of Tane, welcome. Hail to -tiie august Majesty, and power of Empire, all Hail.’’ The outlook of the Maori did not escape mention: — “We are troubled in spirit," ©aid the message In one part, “and are wondering what will become of us in the days to come, in the distress of-the Pakeha world, when the strong peoples of the earth will master their desires over the weak ones, that may lie in their path. Come then to renew that message of goodwill which ’ Victoria gave her people, so they may be assured once more of llie mantle of projection which she spread over them, and that the heart and faith of .your Maori people may be strengthened.” Colourful Ceremonies. A colourful action song was the Horn which succeeded the Duke’s reply. Its keynote was that march lo happiness for ail upon earth lay along the road of love and the highway of faith. Stirring and impressive were the men’s ceremonial dance, and the haka of welcome by the women of the Malalua tribe and the haka and graceful poi of the Ngaiterangi tribe. The impression created by the Ngatitu Wlmretoa women’s dance of welcome and ruri, and the men’s ceremonial dance had not faded when the Arawas combined. The items of the "poi, action song and haka were presented. Back were turned the pages of history, while the song recalled the coming of tiie Arawa canoe. The “ Haore Ra.” Descending from the dais His Royal Highness passed through a quivering lane of performers before hearing the farewell chorus and “ Haere Ra ” of the natives of New Zealand. Subsequently he inspected Hie model Maori pa and attended a civic reception, where a less' spectacular hut equally warm pakeha welcome was given. QREETING AT ROTORUA. INTEREST IN MAORIS. ROTORUA, Friday. Maori and pakeha joined lo give tiie. Tmke an informal greeting when he reached Rotorua this evening. The Minister of Native Affairs, linn, f- w li’orbes, the Minister in charge 0 f the tour, the Hon. .1. A. Young, and sir Apirana Ngata, M.P., awaited him 'V (Continued in next column.).

on the-steps of the Grand Hotel, in front of which a crowd of nearly 1000 people had gathered. A party of about 20 Maori chiefs was.drawn up in line to the right of .We Entrance. The first to greet the Prince was Mita Taupopoki, chief of the Arawas, who took precedence as. representing the Maori people of the immediate district. Other chiefs seconded his wel- ; come with the well-known haka “Kamate, kamate, ka ora," which they gave with great vigour. After the Duke had been greeted by Mr Forbes, Mr Tau Henare, M.P., and half-a-do.zen of the chiefs were presented to him, and when he had mounted the steps the Maoris gave yent to- their feelings in another haka. The Duke appeared greatly interested, particularly in the gestures and grimaces of the fugleman, who made much play with a large carved staff. THE MAORI ADDRESS. VERY LOYAL WELCOME. ROTORUA, Friday. Following is a translation of the text of the address to be presented to the D.uke of Gloucester to-morrow by a, party of Maori chiefs on behalf of the whole people. The address is mounted in a frame carved with Maori designs. “To H.R.H. Duke orf Gloucester, welcome. Welcome, welcome, welcome. 0 son in whose face we see your Royal Father and mother and your elder brothers, whose R,oyal and princely footsteps trod the broad, billowy paths of Tangaroa. It is good, very good. It is good that you should come. It is good that members of the Royal House should come often among the divers peoples of the Empire, for the world is changing and the times are stressful and there are forming in the womb of the age the things that the world of to-morrow will count allimportant. Who will say in what shape such things will emerge into the light of the new day? “ Here is your Maori.people, a handful among the peoples who shelter beneath the mana.of your Royal father, a people weak in. numbers but strong in its heartfelt-allegiance to the Crown of England. Welcome, then, among the Maori tribes assembled once more on the field where, with fitting ceremony, they received your Royal parents and elder brothers. They are troubled in spirit and are wondering what will become of them in Hie days to come, in the distress of the pakeha world, when Hie strong peoples of Hie earth,will march to their desires over the weak ones that may lie in their patch. “ Come, (lien, to renew that message of goodwill which your revered ancestress Victoria gave to her people, so that they may lie assured once more of tiiat mantle of protection which she spread over them. So will the heart and faith of your Maori people be strengthened. Thou treasure from the far land, thou who wearest tiie sacred plum and sittest among tiie highest of the earth, thou son of Rang!, of Bangftu, of Rangiora, of Tane, welcome. Hail to the august majesty and power of the Empire! All hail!”

MR COATES’ REGRET. ROTOlil'A. Friday. Unable to attend Hie Maori welcome, to live Duke. Hon. .1. 0. Coates has advised I lie Hon. .1. A. Young Hull, but for the neetimiilnlion of business, he. would have been present. "I know I would have enioyed in company with my Maori friends Ihe rveeplion Ihev will give Hie Hoval visitor," lie advised. "Please convey to the people my best wishes and assurance that although I cannot he with them in' person, my heart, as 1 feel .sure they will know, is with them and is warmly associated with theirs in one of the most'memorable of many days."