HITTING THE SOCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Te Ao Hou, December 1957, Page 29

HITTING THE SOCIAL HIGHLIGHTS One of the last functions attended by the Hon. E. B. Corbett as Minister was a debutante ball at Taumarunui where 43 young Maori girls were presented to him and Mrs Corbett. The whole occasion was meticulously planned, carefully rehearsed and perfectly timed. Chief organizer was Mrs R. Wright, Mrs Anihira Turoa Henry, Mrs P. H. White, Mrs Meri Bell and all the Maori Women's Welfare leagues of the area. An illuminated address was presented to Mr Corbett recording the people's ‘deep sense of gratitude’ for the Minister's work and quoting the ancient Maori blessings: Kia hora te Marino Kia whakapapa pounamu te moana Kia tere te Karohiroho. May the calm be widespread May the sea glisten like the pounamu And may the shimmer of summer Dance across your pathway. The debutantes. Some (as in the centre photograph) were presented by young men of their own age; others, like Miss Rataka Pearl Kuruhanga (left) and Miss Mateahiahi Hemopo (right) came with their parents for the great social occasion.