THE LATE MR. HONE HEKE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 435, 18 February 1909, Page 4

THE LATE MR. HONE HEKE.

FINAL RITES IN PROGRESS"

■ ; (BT TEtEOKArn—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) - _ Auckland, .February 17. The Kaikohe correspondent of the "New Zealand Herald" telegraphs that the remains v . of tho late Mr. Hone Heke, accompanied by the .Hon. J. Carroll and a 'representative of tho southern Natives, - readied the settlement ... of Ngawha yesterday afternoon. where, a large; gathering of Maoris" awaited the body. ' This*;.;: morning. the cortege-ran imposing ' procession ' of 500 people >r- ; came on: to Kaikohe; tho .birthplace of the chiof, and where prepare- . lions for' what will probably.' prove to be ono : of the largest tangis held in New Zealand in recent times,' is 'in progress; . . Cooking places, eating hoUses,, and .two enormous.'., marquees for sleeping quarters have -been' erected, and close on one thousand Natives;Vare already in camp. The . approach of tho ■ cortege was heralded by a volley of contiriu- '/ ous gunshots from the look-out-party situ- , atod upon a knoll near tho roadside. As the funeral - party/ partly, obscured : in. clouds of: dust/ drew near, a llaka contingent marchod out,- and, .after,giving .vent to their grief in, ferocious-dancing and loud : lamentations, escorted the sad procession to tho niarae enclosure,. whoro a raised platform' had been 'constructed for . the reception of tho coffin; At this "point " : ihe women 'of the .different ' tribes; dressed; in black, and .decorated, with, leaves, rent the air with .heart-rending wails,- r' ; and their tribe after tribe knelt and paid ; ' their respects to the departed chief. Tho ceremony was of a most affecting nature. No . ( definito . arrangements havo yet been made • regarding the dato of burial, but tho final rites wiirprobably take place'on, Sunday,. .■