MAORIS IN NEW YORK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2733, 11 February 1910, Page 7

MAORIS IN NEW YORK.

A NOVEL CHRISTMAS. NEW YORK, Dec. 26. The -Maoris now 'performing at the New York Hippodrome have been having a gay time this Christmas. It has been a white Christmas. .It began to snow early yesterday morning, and has been snowing, with littl.e intermission, ever since; and the Maoris are enjoying it. They had four big turkeys and a dozen plum-puddings for their Christmas dinner yesterday, and when dinner was over the manager, on behalf of the Maoris, made a presentation to the landlady. Several other presentations were made. The manager, Mr Whyte, and his wife received gifts in the nature of piu-pius, Maori kits and belts, greenstone, and a carved walking-stick; and in the evening there was a unique ceremony at the Hippodrome, when the manager (Mr Fitzpatrick), the stage director (Mr Burnside), and the press representative (Miss Anna Marble) were •presented with a number of valuable Maori curios. The presents were placed on the floor in three lots, Maori fashion, in the large dressing-room allotted to. the- Maori women, and when tlie guests arrived they were treated to a rousing liaka, while the leader of the company, Kiwi, went through a special “stunt,” as the Americans say. The presentation was made by the manager of the company. Tonight the Maoris have been invited to a Christmas-tree function, at the church which most of them attend near their boardinghouse; and on Tuesday next they are to be entertained at the home of one of the churchwardens. On New Year’s Day they .are to visit the home of a wealthy resident of Brooklyn who formerly lived in'lSTew Zealand.