Singing Delegation

Che Islands Sent a Singing Delegation o Meet the Queen

)ELEGATES of chiefs and leaders from Western Samoa, the Cook Is., Niue and the Tokelaus who ere invited by the New Zealand overnment to go to New Zealand i representatives of their Terri ries during the Royal Visit, were so the guests of Island Territories epartment on an extensive tour of le North Island and part of the >uth Island during their stay.

Through the courtesy of Island srritories Department and the Blegations, a PIM Representative is allowed to travel with the party r motor bus on a part of the tour iring December.

The big Railway Department bus signed to the party was not very r on its way before it became very ident that the Island Territories id certainly sent a singing dele tion to meet the Queen. The imoans, especially, not only made e trip pleasant by singing their ly across country with songs both rious and amusing, but also gave eat pleasure to their various guests stopping points along the route.

Though the delegates may not ve noticed it as they put their arts into their singing, many a rious farmer, far out in the untry, looked up from his task in rprise as the singers flashed by. re scarcely expects to hear Samoan isic in the outback of New Zea id!

But if the Samoans were perhaps e most enthusiastic singers, the •ok Islands delegation was not at behind when it came to dancing, and Councillor Piri Maoate ised many a howl of delight along e route as he took the floor at e reception or another to shake ; considerable bulk in the hula, ok Islands version, when music suitable tempo was offering. Nor is Mrs. Malama Head slow in ning him—in a Niuean version the dance! [t happened that on the night it the party arrived at Russell, 3 well-known BBC commentator, pnford Vaughan Thomas, com ite with recording equipment, in irch of background material for s Royal Visit to Waitangi across 3 bay, was also there. He took 3 opportunity to record some of 3 songs and chants sung by the legates at a Maori welcome given it evening. These were later to used by the BBC in conjunction ;h the actual Royal Visit to litangi due some weeks later.

Vherever the party travelled in w Zealand it was bound to come contact with Islanders who have tde that country their temporary

or permanent home. Strangely, few seem to have settled in the north where the climate more nearly approaches that of Samoa, but the first such meeting of the trip took place on a country road near Keri Keri.

There the big bus passed a young woman on a bicycle. Immedi ately some of the Samoans called to the driver to stop. The Samoan girl, naturally astonished to meet the party under such cir cumstances, said that to her know ledge there are but two Samoan women living in the area north of Auck land.

Later, at Dar gaville, the party was to meet Joseph Brown, young Samoan radio technician from Apia broad-

At Opononl the Cook Islanders met Dr. Jim Rennie and family, formerly of Rarotonga, but now stationed at Kohu kohu. Left to right: Mr. Piri Maoate, Dr. and Mrs. Rennie and children, and Makea Nuie Teremoana Ariki, leader of the Cook Islands dele gation.

The delegates visiting a large citrus orchard at Keri Keri, Bay of Islands. The Cook Islanders were par ticularly interested.

At forestry head quarters in the heart of the famous Wai-

poua kauri forest reserve, the partywas escorted by Forester W. H. Jollife, who recently returned from the Cook Islands where

he had advised the Administration on a forest planting scheme for the Lower Group islands.

ist station 2AP, gaining ex arience at New Zealand radio ;ations. He is possibly the only lale Samoan living in the North uckland area. Mrs. Head also id a brief meeting on the road de with a Niue family living in le north.

A number of the delegates had ;ver been outside their own Terri ries before. Peato, the Tokelau presentative from Nukunono, and le Samoan speak little or no Eng »h. For these the trip was, of urse, packed with interest.

The New Zealand Government is naturally hopeful that some of ,e forestry and farming projects icwn to the party would be of actical use to them on their re rn to their home Islands.

The party consisted of the fol ding delegates: Western Samoa: alietoa Tanumafili 11, Mata’afa ulinu’u, Matai’a Europa, Tulele asoe, Jacob Helg, Lilomaiava To’lata, Gatoloai Peseta, Talamaivao.

Cook Islands: Makea Nui Tere >ana Ariki, Piri Maoate, Tuaive ase, Tangi Trego Ariki, Mrs. Jane iraroa Ariki, Tihau Napara.

Niue: Mrs. Malama Head, Ser ant Tohovaka. lokelau Islands: Peato.

Ihe party attended several notions at Rotorua and Welling i at which the Queen was present, ley were presented to the Queen Wellington.