HBH 1892 July 8 4 WAIPATU ASSEMBLY Hastings Correspondent, July 7, 1892 To-day has been a gala day at the WAIPATU pa, both for natives and pakehas. In the morning there were various sports, including foot-races for men, women, and children. A tug-of-war between members of the Assembly and a picked native team was won by the former after an eight minutes' pull. A race for native members over forty years of age was won by Mr PEHI, member for the Bay of Islands. The other competitors were: - Mete KINGI, KEREAMA POTU, and TAIKAWA. Major KEMP'S fine band contributed greatly to the enjoyment of all by their spirited playing, which did equal credit to the players and their band-master, Mr EVANS. In the course of the proceedings Major KEMP threw down a bundle of notes and a bag of sovereigns for distribution among the assembled natives. Of course the great event was the haka, which was danced by about 60 natives, male and female. The former were garbed in kilts of Turkey red, and the latter wore white shifts and native mats which gave them a very picturesque appearance. On they came six deep; then they formed in lines with fuglemen and wahines at the ends, the latter being armed with spears and meres. Their shouting and gesticulations are impossible to describe. Between the "acts" the dancers crouched upon the ground while one of the leaders recited an appropriate "local" relative to the Treaty of Waitangi or the proceedings of the Assembly. Then they, alt sprang up and sang the chorus. One orator, TUTANIHONIHO, made frequent and eloquent appeals to the Treaty flag to look down upon them and direct them as to some way of getting relief from their burdens. The leader of the ladies of the ballet (a fine specimen of a native) was simply delightful, his fantastic poses and airs and graces being such as would have done credit to a French opera dancer. After a long performance the performers danced off amid the plaudits of the spectators, both native and European. I should mention that the exhibition, although well worth paying to see, was gratuitous, the majority of the natives having outvoted those who wished to a make a charge. I am informed that the only work done in the assembly since Saturday has been the engrossing and signing of the bills to be presented in the house, viz., the Native School Bill, the bill for abolishing the Native Land Courts, and the bill for prohibiting the granting of publican's licenses on Native lands, There are also a covenant binding all tribes to work together for the general good and the support of the Treaty of Waitangi, and another for a levy among the natives as stated in one of my former letters.