The Maori Contingent.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XX, 15 November 1902, Page 1225

The Maori Contingent.

ONE OP THEIR SONGS. The Maori section of the New Zealand Coronation Contingent, who recently returned from England by the Tongariro, performed some very effective “haka” song and dance turns in the Motherland of the pakeha. Besides the hakas they used to sing a rather pretty waaata or chanting song to a quaint plaintive old Maori air. This waiata, which was composed and arranged jointly by Paul (of Orakei), of the Ng.tiwhatua tribe, and Hari Wahanui, of the Ngatimaniapoto tribe (King Country), was sung on board the Tongariro coming out from England, and was greatly appreciated by the Premier and othe£ pakebas on board. The opening solo parts in each line were taken by Otene Paul. The air (rang!) la called “Ba o Maehe.” The following is the song, with a translation: — “Tera Akuhata ka Iri kite Karauna Ka tore taku ringa kite kfngi Ka tu nei ko Eruera. Ka mau taku ringa kl te Ukansa Kei ture tuturu. K? puta te hari a te Maori E ncho nd 1 Niu Tlreni. E kore au etaea te uri no Maui no nga tupuna I whiua mai au kt runga kl te tikanga be! Koronelbana; Ka tere moana nu! au nga whakaihu kl Ranana. U tain a mai au ki runga ia Nowhaka au e tere net. Ka tahuri whakamuri he wai ki aku kamo e rlrlngi nel; Aotea. Waipounamu—nga ngaru whakateie ki Poihakene. E noho e te iwi tu ake ki runga ra me te hari ano. ' Ahuareka ana te rere mai e te ture na * runga i te moana, I ahu mai Ingarangi e te pou tuturu e maharatla nel. Kupapa e te iwi ki raro kite mana o Pirimla . Het kawe la tatou kirunga ki teoranga - tonutanga. Ka tlka nga kupu I maka e Timi i te wa i mua ra. ’Ka taka ko tenei whakarongo kite riri ka mutu ra 1 Awherika. Hei whakahari ake mo te mana Ingirihi Nana nel te mutunga—l—l!” "! (TRANSLATION.) • “In the days of August the crowning was to be; My hand stretched forth to King Edward. We put our hands to all his laws for ever onwards. Then came forth the joy of the Maori nation; A Maori am I. the offspring of Maui and the ancestors of old. Sent here am I. sent to the Coronation. Sped I across the seas, heading straight ever for London; Brought here am I by the ship Norfolk. ,We looked back as we travelled, and •f went for our far-off country. J For Aotearoa, for Wai-pounamy, be1 yond the high rolling waves. j Remain there. O people: let joy fill ■J your hearts. 2 Pleasant 1* the bringing of the law J act css the seas. . Here is our strong pillar and support; 1 Hero wait the people under the mana § of the Premier: - He it Is who will bring us to all prosperity . ‘liue were the words of Timi (Mr / Carroll). . j In the days gone by. .. Peace has fallen on us; the war in M Africa ts dona Rejoice we at the English power that at wrought the end of strife."