1901 The Maori Gave His Best Visit of T.R.H. the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York Visitors to the Maori Reception, 1901 Photo: Turnbull Library

1. THE CAMP THE MUSTER OF THE CLANS Early in March of the year 1901, the Hon. James Carroll, Native Minister, issued a circular to the chiefs and Maori tribes throughout the North and South Islands, calling upon them to meet at Rotorua in the month of June to welcome their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, then about to leave England on a tour of the Colonies. As early as April negotiations were commenced for transport by horse, coach, rail and steamer. Men, young and old, and even women, sought temporary employment to earn a few pounds to take them to the land of Waiariki, for the moment made doubly attractive by the projected visit of Royalty. Chants that emphasized the points of a weighty speech in the runangahouse, short ditties that maidens carolled forth about the pa, war-songs that fired the hearts of warriors on the march—these were heard through the length and breadth of Te Ika-a-Maui, Maori poets vieing one with another to compose songs suitable for the occasion. Dainty fingers played deftly with raupo, and evolved the poi-ball. Old, scarred warriors waxed wrathful in heated debate over ancient wardances to be used in mimic warfare at Rotorua, the almost obsolete ‘peruperu’ that were wont to awake echoes in the New Zealand forests in the fighting-days of the past. Once more the Maori lived in the past. For a brief space the edge of the heavy curtain that screened it was raised, old memories revived, old chords were touched anew, and hearts thrilled and vibrated to the weird music of the dead ages. This fascinating account of the Maori display given during the visit of Royalty to Rotorua in 1901 is taken from a very long account in Royalty in New Zealand, 1901 by J. A. Loughnan. There is evidence that a large part of the text reproduced below was written not by Mr Loughnan, but by Sir Apirana Ngata. We believe it is an important, if unknown part of his literary inheritance. THE MAORI CAMP The Maori was—as the Duke had requested he might be when His Royal Highness should have the pleasure of seeing him—on his own ground; what is more, he was managing his own ground. It was the beginning of a new era, the keystone of which was that in his own capacity for improvement lay the future hope of