THE GOVERNOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2459, 25 March 1909, Page 5

THE GOVERNOR.

THE MAORI RECEPTION.

GREAT GATHERING AT WAIOMA-

TAT I NT

* N (Special to “Times.”)

PORT AWANUI, March 24. 1 arrived at Port Awamii at 6.30 last night, and after a good night’s rest left at- 9 a.m. to-day for Waiomatitini. The scene of the gathering is 3j miles from Awamii. ’On arrival I was met -and hospitably welcomed by Air. Paratene Ngata and the Hon. At T. Ngata, The meeting place is in the centre of the fertile Waiapu Valley, - and on : the broad green sdopcs-in front of the Poururangi (carved house) was .a -scene of animation—Maoris practising hak-ae, dances, etc., in “expectation of the arrival of the Governor from Kaharau station.; Looking round one -saw many tents, marquees, etc., erected for the laccommodation . of the visitors and. all Surrounding the meeting house called Pournrough THE GREAT MEETING HOUSE. This/house is one of the most elaborate in the Dominion, and is the largest meeting house of the East Coast confederacy of tribes. It stands at the foot of the famous ancient stronghold of Pupata, the scene of many bloody inter-tribal feuds in the olden days. It is built in tlie usual Maori style of architecture-* with the difference that the sides are much higher than according to the regulation method. It stands facing the rising sun, and on account of the peculiar nativy decorations and the, profusion of Alaori art of tlie best quality, espeeiallv about the entrance, it lends a charm to the scene, and at once inspires reenoct. At the angle of the gables is a magnificent figurehead of the usual Alaori workmanship,, marred, unfortunately, bv the insertion of two china saucers, instead of paua shells, for eyes. Above the figurehead, in a martial attitude, stands tlie bust of Tuterangiw.liui, the famous son of a famous father-—Tuwkakairiora, tlie ancestor of most of tlie East Coast tribes. The carvings at the lower end of the gables are delicate, refined, and from the point of view of any art perfect. The side posts facing the courtyard are also carved, and the figures of two demigods stand out in relief on each .side, one on top of the other. The lintel panel is a woi'k of elaborate carving, consisting of the usual m ana is and spirals and in the midst of . this combination, glitter forth the polished insides of many paua shells. The beautiful lintel panel rests over the main door into the meeting house,, and there is a similar one over the “Alatapihi,” or “little door.” On entering the door one is filled with res]>ectful awe, for one not only stands in what is a monumentof the architectural skill of the. ancient and modern Alaori, but is also faced by carving of the noblest type, and by Various patterns of woven material decorating the walls, dedicated to the memory of the departed nobility of the Ngatiporou ■frible.. The rafters are ornamented in magnificent style, bearing a profusion ol’ natural symbols—the “mangopare,” or hammer-headed shark, and aIso : the “haku,” or kingfisher. These are the predominant patterns. Amongst other decorations a special feature is the ornamented ridge pole, resting on two hugs supporting columns, each of which represents a wile of the famous chief Pororourangi. The front figure represents Hamo, and bears her bust, while the other represents Rangomai, a niwa niwa. The house was built in ISSB, at the instance of the. late Alajor Ropata Waliawaha, and is regardod •as tlie embodiment of tribal authority. It is the shrine to which every loyal Ngatiporou may come and pay his devotions to the sacred memory of ancient warriors departed hence. On the great and rare occasion of the visit of His Excellency the Governoras representative ol tlie King, the courtyard of this celebrated house was regarded unanimously as the mostfitting and suitable place to entertain hi in.

THE ARRIVAL

His Excellency arrived by the inland road from Mr. T. S. Williams’, Kaliarau. about 11.25 a.m. Ihe road en route is fairly difficult, but was negotiated saiely. He was driven in a buergy by Mr. K. S. Williams, and 10Ilowed by a large crowd of. Natives and pakehas on horseback. On coming to the hui, the entering gate into tie rendezvous,' the Governor was met by the Hon. A. T. Ngata, who was in lull Native costume, and 'escorted to seats in front of the porourangi meeting house. The special chairs reserved tor the Governor were placed on a handsome; whariki, or Maori mat. \s His Excellency took his seat, a lai’O'e body of Maori children sang the National Anthem, A: portion of the assembled Natives, of whom there wereseveral hundreds, then proceeded to dance hakas of welcome. The various sections of the trible were arranged in four squads, preceded by two squads ot the women of tl ie tribe. Jbo R- a “ 1 1" kura section, which composed the liosts, occupied the front left half ol the company, and the other Maori warriors and women comprised the other hall. Ahe Kahukuras were the first to perlorm a haka of welcome, and dedication, the occasion being one both of welcome to the Governor and the re-dedication of the Porourangi carved house, t Inc haka was entitled Rua-a-moko, and was peculiarly appropriate, being an ancient haka full of graceful gestuics and dignified movements. Ihe portormers were led by the. Hon. A. T. Ngata in person, dressed in a magnificent kapali'u kiwi, while the other Maoris, with decorated and painted bodies, were arranged in puipuis and other mats. Other hakas were given by other bodies of Natives, and the performance was excellently led by Tamati Kanvai. As a'spectacular effect the display, was magnificent, the sound effect was inspiring? and the manual gesticulations graceful; while the time kept in the different evolutions was perfect beyond measure. After the hakas. which called forth loud applause from the assembled thousands, addresses to His Excellency commenced.

THE ADDRESS OF WELCOME. On behalf of the tribe.- Hata Ra Ala Tibi, a rangatira. read an address of welcome in Maori, which was translated into English by Dr. Tuiore Wi Itepa. The , address read as follows:—• ‘‘To His Excellency Lord Plunkct, K.C.M.G., K.G.V.0., etc.,’ Governor af New Zealand, —Welcome ! Welcome! Weioo me !_. Welcome to the land of the rising sun, to the shores of the eastern sea, the great land- of Kiwi; Come in peace to see us. We welcome you as the representative of His Majesty lhe King; to ' whom, he honor and long life.,, a , life of '.exceeding great service to the .Empire over which lie. reigns. It is ■'our pvkle to he His Majesty!,s, loyal sub-. ' I.- ■ . Urr • v . \ '• •

jeets. To her late Majesty Queen Victoria we vowed, allegiance.and deemed it the -greatest honor to serve her in peace, and war. . To His Majesty her successor we renew that oath, seeking in peaceful pursuits to fulfil worthily the duties of citizenship. AVe acknowledge with gratitude the honor Your Excellency confers by accepting cur invitation, recognising tlie difficulties and inconvenience that must attend a visit to 'these outlying parts of the Dominion. Your Excellency’s predecessor, the Earl of Ranfurly, visited Te Araroa ton years ago,.’ Your Excellency is the first Governor to visit this part of the district between Gisborne and the East Cape. We trust that we may again similarly be.honored by a representative of tlie Sovereign., With our European friends we join in extending to you a fitting welcome as the . chief of the Executive Council of the Dominion. The two races have lived together in perfect amity and mutual understanding, working towards a common end, the progress of the district and the health and prosperity of the people. To this end we, for our part, have striven to emulate the excellent example of the European settlers in our midst, to benefit by tlie blessings of education, to convert tlie fern and virgin* iorest into profitable pasture, to. improve tlie health and sanitation- -of our villages, and the housing of our people, and generally to substitute for the. ancient standards of living those of a well-ordered modern community. AA 7 o trust that your Excellency may wnioy your brief stay among us, and that your life may be spared to serve the Empire in New Zealand and elsewhere. God save the King.—From the chiefs and representatives of the Ngatiporou tribe of the East Coast.” THE GOVERNOR’S REPLY. “Chiefs and representatives of the Alaori people, of this place,—Your poetic welcome gives me much' pleasure, and I receive with satisfaction your hearty assurances of the same loyalty to King Edward tlie Peacemaker which* you showed to her late Alajesty Queen A 7 ictoria the Good. It is a great satisfaction to me to conic among my Alaori friends, and I am glad that the great sea of Kiwa lias been smooth eHOimh to allow me to land and see somethinof a part of this Dominion which I understand no representative of the Crown has been able to come to before. Glad I am of your welcome, o-lad of your expressions of loyalty, but the gladdest of all am I to hear m your address that the Alaori and the pakelia are on such good terms here, and that yon are so energetically copying _ the exmaple of your white fellow-subjects in devoting yourselves to increasing your education, and to working bard at farming and pastoral pursuits, for by steady industry and wider education vou are not only helping yourselves, but are setting ail example to all the Maori people, and ensuring the continued existence of your ancient race in the land of their forefathers. The following telegram from the Kt. Hon. Sir J. G. AYard was received “I am exceedingly sorry that I am unable to be with yourself and other members of the Ngatiporou tribe-v in welcoming to the district His Excellency the" Governor, the representative in New Zealand of His Alaiesty the King. There is nothing that would have 3 afforded me greater pleasure than to have been present with my friends, the members of your tribe, many or whose chiefs, now passed away, gained hi oh distinction in the troublous times which the country passed through years ago. The name of Alajor Ropata and his compatriots will long linger m the memory of the Alaori and pakelia. likewise view with much satisfaction and gratification the spirit of piogiess which marks the members of your tribe to-day. They are following m the steps of their forefathers, who strove to be in the forefront of the.movements of the tfge. I send to all assembled my sincerest greetings and aroha, and trust that your celebrations may tom every way successful. —J. G. AAard.

TELEGRAM'S OF CONGRATULATION.

The following telegram was received from tlie Honr.J. Carroll.—“AVarmest greetings to Ngatiporou, and congratulations "on the honor now done them by the visit of His Excellency the Governor, the shadow of our great Sovereign. It is pleasing to feel that thoughts' still flow from that great source to the iltiori section of tlie peopie of the Dominion, that the pledges to the old Koumatuas are not forgotten. It is also well that at different times, as we are becoming tlie trend of our are at tides, care is taken to assimilate and harmonise our own local currents of definite lines in keeping therewith. The Alaori of to-day, I am glad to note, is losino- his ancient prejudices, and reluctance to the forward movement, and is already astride the gangway leading to the broad deck of the great ship that is ever freighting the destinies of both races. It is further pleasing to me that to the Ngatiporou should particularly belong the honor of leading in the newer school of thought, illustrating how capable the Alaori is of treading in a practical and effective way the wide fields of civilisation and utility in tlie line of modern progress. Alay tlie sun shine on you all in view of the great Alanuhiri who is with you to-day, and may your minds he clear to receive his words of feeling and advice, and may your minds he deep to hold all that is for good and to profit thereby. The health of tlie people, tlie settlement of waste lands, and the development oi habits of industry, are the great, questions which the Alaori must reduce to a practical solution. Kia ora e.te iwi i roto i te atawhai a to tatou ariki.” The following •is the translation of the latter sentence: “May the people live;,, and prosper under the protection of "our law.”

The messages wore read in Maori to the asemblage by 'the Hon., A. I • Ngata. _ . A M AG NIFI CENT VIEW. After the addresses the Governor and party repaired to the top of Duputa Hill' adjoining, from which a 'magnificent view of the Wtaiapu Valley was obtained. On the top of the hill are a number of. graves, including 1 that of .Major Ilonata Wahawali-a, to ' whose •memory -a* large tombstone has been erec ied by the New Zealand Government as a mark of respect and in tribute'to the services rendered by him. The narty had a most charming view of the, smiling Waiapu Valley, Surrounded by gentle (dopes of bush clad hills and divided by the fast flowing and dangerous Waiapu Fiver. In the imihediate foreground in contrast to the hills are many acres of perleetly level rich conn try, divided into small paddocks, fringed witli poplar and willow trees, A quantity of the land is under intense cultivation, potatoes,, kumaras, and other fruits of the. lertup <.-/)]'l crowing in profusion. I*rout the top of the hill also was obtained. a, striking view of the scene of entcrtaiio k; -l! I ... p\ ■■ ' , . ..... ..

merit, and Plena re Malmika’s house, a most up-to-date structure. Another thing: to strike the eye from the top of the hill was the hundreds of horses tethered to . fences and grazing in the paddocks hpneath. THE FEAST. After the visit to the hilltop, the vice-regal party descended again, ami a select few repaired to Mr. Mahuika’s residence for luncheon. On the main ground preparations were at once commenced to provide food for the large gathering. While dinner .was preparing and the vice-regal party was at Mr. Mahuika’s house, water-melons without end were distributed to the crowd, and were greatly appreciated. During the hoiy’s delay, the natives, imbued off this occasion with unwonted energy, commenced an impromptu sports gathering. The preparations for dinner were ..most interesting. In. one corner great fires were lit on heaps of stones, and when the stones were sufficiently hot meat, potatoes, etc., were placed on them and water thrown on, thus steaming the food and making it most appetising to the hungry gathering. The main crowd of pakelias were entertained in the Porcurangi meeting house at a most excellent luncheon. The guests were seated on the ground on Maori mats and cloths spread in parallel rows down the house, with half a dozen or more Maori youths assiduous in attention to the visitors* wants. After the visitors had lunched, many hundred Maoris sat down in long parallel rows outside in the paddock with cloths ajul linoleums spread. Tins was a true old style ‘‘koppa Maori,' and presented a most striking scene. AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. About 2 p.m.. after everything ws*> cleared awav. the Governor returned from Mr. Maliuika’s residence, and an adjournment was made to the poroii- ■ n gi- house for. speeches of welcome from the natives and the re-dedication of the building. Just inside the building at a table were seated the Governor and his aide-de-camp and secretary, dong with the Hen. A. T. Ngata. J.he liouse was crowded, and the 1V5 ,CG T C *-" ings opened with a welcome to His Excellency by the aged chieftain Pine lull aka, who spoke as follows: Welcome to the Governor who has deigned to visit this portion of the Dominion ot New Zealand. There is no one to welcome vou in a fitting way, but a sony remnant of those who m times past took part in upholding the mans of Oucen Victoria. Come and see those who helped in quelling the rebellion in this and other places in tne North island. Wo, are now trying to improve ourselves and become like the pakeha in the cultivation of the land. Ma> God protect and save Your ExcellenQ Mr Paratene Ngata (father of the Hon A T. Ngata) also spoke, making reference to the re-dedication of the tribal meeting house. He related how the ceremony of opening the house was performed 21 years ago by tlie then Native Minister, the Hon. E. Mitel elson, and when Major Ropata V aha ivaha was still alive. On behalf of the tribe and the residents of the district he wished His Excellency long hie and r.-osom-itv. Touching on other matteis, Mr No-ata referred to the question o, sanitation of their settlements, and requested the Governor to. assist them m this matter, as well as m getting direct assistance from the Government in 0.der that the Natives may engage moie and more in pastoral pursues. In the liouse at the speeches we e gathered 69 of the old warriors vho took loval part in the Maori wai. At the conclusion of the chiefs’ speeches, these old men chanted most impressive war songs, His Excellency and the other visitors applauding heartdv On thc table were two swords tor ’ They had been- presented by viieen Victoria to the Ngatiporeu tribe as a token of their valor in the troublous Excellency then addressed the craUierim 1- . He said he heartily thanked ant dutv of formally re-opening . the magnificent meeting house, and w ished to say that to him it was always a satisfaction to see a great peop.e clinging to lie best traditions of their race lu the hakas, carvings, and such buildings as, this they were doing a great thing for the . children coining after them. No country in the world could keep bein* T a country that did not remem er the ancient and splendid traditions of tiieir forefathers. He assured them that it was a pleasure as well as. a duty to him to come to this pait or the Do minion. The Ngatiporeu tr.be desorved every honor to be shown them by a representative of the King, not only on account of their unswerving loyalty m the past, but also for their present efforts on' behalf of themselves and other Natives ot the Dominion The names of Mokeno Koliere, and Ropata Wahawalia would long remain a noble memory as to their efforts in ci eating good feeling between Maori and Britisher. He liked to tlnnk that these noble men might be looking down at themon this momentous occasion and see that their splendid bravery was not lost, and that a representative ot His Majesty the King was present ro pay respect to the tribe. He congratulated the tribe on the object . lesson they oiving to the other Natives of the Dominion, and said that the determination with which they had turned their swords into ploughshares was being watched with intense interest m other parts of New Zealand, and it was well that they realised that the best chance f or the Native race was in copying good methods from the pakeha and avoiding the bad ones. Ho wou.d urge them not to stop as they were, or the object lesson would be entirely lost. they would have difficulties, as Mr Ngata had now attained* most honorable rank, and could not always bo with them, but in goino- on as they had begun they were not only helping themselves, but all the other Maoris of New Zealand. He would remind them that they had only gone a short way, and that- lie wanted to say what , would be of hso to them. Because they were further advanced than other tribes they must not think they had reached pakeha methods. They .still had a long way to go, and must learn better methods still of farming, and learn better the value of money. Ho Avds yjlsvcl tlijvt noth.in.ee luhl been said in the speeches of Native land laws, or of Native legislation generally. He was glad because he knew as everv thinking person did, that the, Native laws were not perfect, and a.so glad because the Natives apparently realised that Native laws were not the thing to save the country. What the Natives were here trying to do in the way ■ of self-reliance and self-depend-ence was far away in advance of any law the pakeha might make for them. In conclusion, His Excellency thanked tho people for their welcome., and expressed himself, delighted with die lm-

has and dances, arid his appreciation of the efforts put forth to make the entertainment as perfect as it was. After leaving the meeting house at the conclusion of the speeches, a special war dance was given by the tribe prior to the Governor’s departure-for Port Awanui. The dance was most striking, and beautifully performed, and was loudly applauded. " The Governor left Waicmatatnn a? 4 p.m., arid was driven by Mr/ Iv. 8* Williams to Port Awanui, where he embarked in a sur-f boat to the Tutanekai, hound for To Kali a and Opotiki. Prior to His Excellency leaving, the Hon. A. T. Ngata add rosed th.e gathering, thanking the European visitors for their assistance in entertaining theGovernor, and remarking that it showed the perfect accord existing between the two races, not alone in. the Waiapu Valiev, but throughout- the Dominion. The visit of the Governor _to the Coast was most successfully carried out. The arrangements passed without a hitch. To-day’s gathering at Maiomatatini was one of the most memorable ever held on the East Coast, and the behavior of the Natives was most excellent. Not a single case of drunkenness or unseemly conduct was noticed. Messrs Ngata. K. S. Williams. T. E. Sherwood were largely responsible for the great success of ike gathering, and March 24th will ever stand out in the annals of the district as the memorable occasion-of the first visit of the representatJve of Hi? Majesty King Egward VTI. to this portion of the East Coast of the Dominion. , There was fine weather for the de-. incnf-tTation. hut rain pjtervuards icAi heavily.