MOURNING AT PARIHAKA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 50, 22 November 1907, Page 8

MOURNING AT PARIHAKA.

PEEPABATIONS FOR TE WHITI'S FUNKRAL. INTEREv?TING CEREMONIES. (FROM OUII SPECIAL COnitESPONDENT.) Pungarchu, November 21. To-day Parihaka was the scone of much suppressod excitement, but tho pakehas, who attended in considerable numbers, wore greatly disappointed. Thoro were no actual ceremonftis, the only outburst taking place in the.early morning and evening, after the majority of European visitors had departed. Tho body is still lying in tho open tent, wrapped securely in many mats. Around tho bier, bowed in attitudes of deep grief, sit To Whiti's daughter and female relatives. Valuable mats, mores, oil paintings of departed chieftains, Wi Parata, Ruakiri, Moealn, Rulcumoana, Wharepouri, Te Whetu, and others, draped in black, surround tho. dead chamber. The only notable arrival this morning was tho Rev. Mr. Haddon, a relative of both Te Whiti and Toliu. He lived at Parihaka sixteen years ago, and learned from the prophets the old Maori chants and incantationsAfter leaving Parihaka he became a Wesleyan missionary,- and is now.one of tho most respected native clergymen in tho Dominion. There wore also present in tho settlement the Revs. Wi Kaipo and Ropere (Anghca i>. The' Natives welcomed Mr. Haddon this moriiing with, full ceremonies, and addresses were given on Wednesday night; . A korero was held to decido the place of burial. Charlie Waitara and leading To \\ hiti-ites favoured interment in a small concreted marae,' a few feet in front of the room whoro tho prophet always sat. Others advocated .the graveyard, and othors again the principal marae where. tho prophets in tho heyday of their power harangued ■ their followers. -By midnight it was apparently decided to adopt tho first proposal, and many retired, some to keep vigil with tho dead, othors to sleep.' Tho dispute again arose later on, and tho kororo was resumed, and kept going till four this morning, when comproniiso was effected, and by one vote it was decided that burial should tako placo in tho open square about fifty yards in front of To Whiti's big house, and on the site of the foundation of the settlement, whero tho first house was erected.

Work commenced early this morning at excavating a largo gravo on this spot, tho grave being lined with bricks and comont on a soft concrete foundation. ■ The whole will be cbmented over, and form a closed tomb. The square is to bd levelled and romotallcd, and a largo monument erected over tho grave. This morning a long parley ensued over burial in . a cemented pit. Tho Tohu-ites pointed but. that it'had boon tho custom of the prdphots from : the time they started to preach tho doctrine, forty-soven years ago, to biiry their followers at death without coffin; ta throw thoj body in a hole like a dog. They advocated, that ho be buried in tho same manner ns his deceased followers. Aki Aki, in a diplomatic harangue, advised tho To: Whiti-ites to turn a.deaf ear to this. The followers who had gono before were very much grieved for .by all,- thoy having been buried in a different form to To Whiti.

The Tohu-ltes still sought to argue the matter out, but .were met with stolid silence, and .work at tho gravo. proceeded without further .interference. Nothing has been decided yet as c to the' manner of burial. Tho Rev. Mr. Haeldon is to address a gathering in the marao in favour of burial according to Christian rites, ; pointing out that other arrangements have been mado in piikeha fashion. The relatives rofuse to_ make nny statement, but it is not unlikely that Mr. Hnddon will succeed in his proposal. The most interesting event of tho day was the ceremony connected with the welcomo to the Waikanao, Waitara, TJrcnui, and other Natives to the number of about 150. They were accompanied by Dr.' Pomare and Hira I'arata. \Whon.sighted from the look-out at Fort Roberts, , which' dominated Parihnka at the time 6f tho raid, hundreds of gunshots wore,fired, and a wolcoming party of over a hundred Nativo women, led by 'J uteuroeho, master of ceremonies, moved out and commonced a dance of welcome. The chants and responses referred to the deep sense of loss sustained by tho Maori people by this great fall, tho fall of a great man. The visitors slowly approached tho house of tho dead, tho welcoming party, dancing and chanting dirges until a halt was mado near the bier. Hero tho lament and wailing by tho women wero renewed, increasing in fervour, until tho big assomblago of Natives showed open signs of reciprocating the grief '. There was no affectation, strong men giving way to their emotions. This scene was enacted and re-enacted for a spat:o of over an hour, until darkness drew a veil over the spectacle of grief. There was no denouncing of tho prophet on this occasion, the burden of tho speeches pointing out how ho had gone and the white feather emblem of his followors still remained.

The great majority of the Natives are well dressed and most orderly. There is no sign of any liquor, and, while no one appears pronouncedly in authority, perfect discipline prevails.

The idea that To Whiti possessed a gold hoard is generally discounted by his followers, who state that Tohu was the banker. Gharlio Waitara, now principal man in the settlement, is a quiet, gentlemanly man, who appears to mourn the lato chief and father-in-law deeply. Ho respectfully declined to bo interviewed to-day, and 3tated that Te Whiti never would bo interviewed, but, as in the past, Parihaka was open to the pakeha to come and go, and view .it according to his own ideas. He informed me, however, that he would make an important speech at the funeral, when ho may make a statement as to the future of the settlement, the ownership of which now passes by right of succession in Maori law to To AVhiti's half-brother.

The fun'oral is fixed for one o'clock to-mor-row. To-night and to-morrow morning important koreros will be held. About 1000 people arc present.