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Recordings made at the opening of Takitimu Meeting House in memory of Sir James Carroll (Timi Kara), which took place during a hui held in Wairoa at Waihīrere Marae, from the 15th to the 18th June 1938.

(N.B. Full details of these recordings are contained in the Catalogue of Radio NZ Recordings of Māori Events 1938 - 1950 by Mervyn McLean page 23--28)

Part 1. Kawa ceremony 15 Jun 1938.

1. Poi pōwhiri - welcome poi and haka for King Korokī by unidentified group.

Karakia by Tiaki Hira (Waikato) to remove tapu from the new meeting house

2. Karakia and whaikōrero by Rangi Ira (Patea)

3. Mihi, waiata tangi and haka by unidentified group (probably Whanganui)

4. Whaikōrero - unidentified speaker

5. Whaikōrero unidentified speaker from Te Arawa

6. Whakōrero - unidentified speaker from Whanganui

7. Whakōrero - unidentified speaker

8. Whaikōrero - unidentified speaker

9. Whaikōrero Unidentified speaker in te reo Māori and English

10. Whaikōrero by a female speaker, Mate Haere (Ngāti Porou)

11. Mihi to visitors and the acting Minister of Māori Affairs Hon F. Langstone by Te Hata Tīpoki (Ngāti Kahungunu)

32:00 Part 2. Sir Apirana Ngata welcomes Mr Langstone in English.

He says the chief who just spoke (Te Hata Tipoki) is both a supporter of the Anglican church and a leading member of the Ringatu faith. He says a kawa ceremony has taken place already the previous week.

He says George Ormond of Mahia, a guardian of Māori custom along with Sir James Carroll, is present today. He insisted the proper ceremonies be followed to remove all tapu from the house.

There was also a ceremony by the 12th April by the Ringatu church and also the Roman Catholic church.

Sir Apirana Ngata speaks humorously of ghosts that Sir James believed would be there if Māori etiquette and kawa was not adhered to.

He pays tribute to Sir James as a bridge between Māori and pākēha worlds and this house will stand as a reminder of his work.

Sir Apirana mentions that the Minister may face questions in the House about the government expenditure on 'these houses' - but notes that they are necessary to help Māori recover pride in their ancient culture.

Hon F. Langstone replies and speaks at length about Sir James Carroll.

He commends all who worked on the house and notes that there have been complaints that too much money is being spent on Māori projects on the East Coast.

He then speaks at length about Sir James Carroll, his character and his work for his people, his friendship with Sir Maui Pōmare. He also pays tribute to Sir Apirana Ngata as 'a man with two minds' understanding both the pākēha and Māori worlds.

He compares the Māori and Irish cultures and peoples from whom Sir James was descended.

He speaks about the need to improve Māori housing and make Māori land more productive

(The end of his speech is on the next part of this series.)