boxing the ears of your young people and encouraging them to take the advance as your rank and file did 23 years ago. ‘Are you showing the courage and imagination that you showed at Alamein?’ he challenged them. ‘Only you know. I do not. ‘You will find no better friend of the Maori people than you will find in me, but I refuse to be sentimental. I hope and feel you know me well enough to accept such blunt words ‘I say it again,’ he said, ‘whether you like it or not, that the Maori people are going to find their leaders in the Universities and the higher professions, not in the freezing works. I say to you, as 91 years ago my grandfather said to your grandfathers at Turangawaewae, “Be thirsty for education”.’ This representative of the Queen in one of the last stands of a dwindling empire, had given a speech, not moribund but pulsing with vigour. It was received, and perhaps answered, with a second spontaneous haka. The Maoris are a singing people. Sir Bernard speaks of the ‘vast singing crowds at Tikitiki, 38 years ago’. Rowley Habib in his poem The Raw Men speaks of it: ‘Enraptured in the singing. Always there is the singing. ‘In the deserts of Egypt there was the singing. ‘In the streets of Rome there was the singing …’ That day the Maori people laid on the altar of the past a very considerable sum of money. Sir Bernard Fergusson charged them to live the words they so often sang: by accepting his challenge to lay the honour of the people on the altar of the future, by their achievements. Now, on the maraes throughout the land, there is a sadness of singing paying tribute to a great Governor-General, a forthright and an understanding man who has himself splendidly answered a challenge.

Hemi Wiremu The Head Receptionist at New Zealand House in London is Hemi Wiremu of Kaitaia who went to the other side of the world with the Maori Battalion and now, at fifty-four, is settled with his family in London. Hemi was educated at St Stephens and was later on the staff there, teaching agriculture from 1931–1936. He then worked at the Forestry Department in Rotorua, working also for the St John Ambulance Brigade there. As well, he started the 2nd Company of the Boys' Brigade at Ohinemutu, and was a lay reader at St Faith's Church. This busy life was interrupted by the Second World War: Hemi was a lieutenant in the Nga Puhi A Company. He was captured in Greece and spent four years as a prisoner-of-war in Germany. In 1945 he was released, came to London, met his English wife, and spent a year at Bangor University in North Wales doing a forestry course. He and his wife visited New Zealand in 1946, returned to London in 1947, and have remained there ever since. Hemi worked in farm management, and as a member of the voluntary civil police, until in 1963 he joined the staff of New Zealand House as Commissionaire. Hemi and his wife have two sons and a daughter, all at school. The eldest son hopes to go to Oxford University next year. Hemi is an active member of the Aotearoa Maori Club. He enjoys the chance of meeting New Zealanders in his job, and obviously often thinks of home. —Barbara Ewing.

Continued from page 34 Mr R. G. Falconer, had made his comments. The McEwen trophy went to the Ikaroa area. Thursday morning saw elections resulting in Mrs M. Penfold, Auckland, and Mrs M. Te Kawa, Ruatoria being elected Vice-Presidents. and evaluation of the conference. In an afternoon bus tour, visits were paid to the Mission House, Judea Pa, where Dr Maharaia Winiata was remembered, Gate Pa, where trees were planted by Mrs Sage and Mrs Grooby (Waipounamu's Area Representative), and Mount Maunganui. Conference ended with a magnificent Debutante Ball, when 30 daughters of members were presented, and a wonderful supper was enjoyed. Congratulations go to Miria Karauria, Tainui's Area Representative, and the local host committee.