DEATH OF A NOTED MAORI CHIEF.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1432, 6 May 1912, Page 9

DEATH OF A NOTED MAORI CHIEF.

GREATEST TANGI IN NELSON'. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Wakapuaka, May 5, Tho funeral obseouies of tiie lato Jlcmi Matenga (Martin), liusbaml of Juliu Martin (the Grace Darling of Tsvk Zealand), was conducted this afternoon at the Native burial ground, Waknpunka, near Peppin's Island and within a few miles of tho Eastern Extension cable station. Deceased, being n well-known and noted Maori chieftain, was responsible- for a iargo attendance of influential Natives from nil parts of tho Dominion. I'or upwards of a week it was impossible to encage a vehicle from any stable in kelson for the funeral. Vehicles were numbered in hundreds at the pa, and, for significance, the tangi will never agiua be equalled in the Nelson district. It cost over SIM. The burial service was conducted by tho Ven. Archdeacon Grace and thoEev. Bennett. Subsequently elaborate preparations were made for entertaining tho visitors, who were sumptuously provided for. An old identity informs the Press Association representative that lie was present at the wreck of the Delaware, t>ml deceased, as well as his wife, lent, valuable assistance in life-saving j also that on ono occasion ho crossed from Kapiti Island to Waka m> an open canoe. Hβ leaves a largo and valuable estate, which is being freely discussed locally, nortions being very fcrtne, anil suggestions aro made that the Government should attempt to acquire it for closer settlement. .