IMPORTANT MAORI WEDDING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1661, 30 January 1913, Page 2

IMPORTANT MAORI WEDDING.

UNITING TWO TRIBES./ - On Saturday Hukauui, two miles below. Waahi, was eh i'ete, tho occasion being ■the. marriage of Taipu, second son of the late "King" Mahuta, to tho daughter of To Heu lieu Tukino, tho great Tanpo rangatira, writes a correspondent of the Auckland "Star." The scene- of the ceremony was a. piece of rising .ground alongside the fine new residence rcceutly built for . Mahutai A tall flagpole : car'riod tho house flag of To Rata, and under -it a flag in the form of the Union Jack; 'having in its centre a figure of a Maori warrior, and along the bottom the inscription, "Piki ao kawa-tapaurnngi." This flag is said to have been presented to one of Sir James Carroll's ancestors, and later presented to Sir Geo. Grey. Just a short'distance from tho house is the vatiit of Mahuitd.

The marriage ceremony of, Saturday was performed after'the ancient Maori manner. Tho guests were drawn/upon two sides of a square, the third being occupied by tho residence of To Marno, widow of Mnhuta; The fourth side of the square facing the river was left open for the marriage party.; Maori niats were supplied to the pakcha visitors, Tho chiefs taking part in the .ceremony wero in tho centre of the square, the principal being Te Wharau, Te Ahau Otorangi, Tupu Taingakawn,.and Rawhiti. . The marriage procession marched from, a hugo marquee to the square, wlioro tho peopld were giving ancient chants, which were-answered, by the members of tho. procession. - On'its arrival, the niarriago procession filled up the fourth side of the square, and comprised tho.'■•'■ bride and bridegroom, and members of their, respective families. All Were, of course, in European garb, with tho exception of tho fine mats in some, cases ..wpr,n..-,pyer l ;tlifi, shoulders.. The mat'worn by the bridoi almost .covered tho. beautiful dress worn by'her. ■ V '■' .•■ '•■.< '-• ■•-■.•. •' '■• ' ■ ■ ■ , ■'• The ■.ceremony, itself,.-to .'European, eyes, 'sooiricd'' aii alternation of addresses - by several; of the. rnngatiras' and ■ chants by these and the people. A, Native band, belonging to the Waahi settlement,' gave some hymns in fair ; style. ■ After tho -young couple, had;been idoclarcd married; !tlio : guests'passed round.in.front,' giving, their greeting's and "felicitations; these, in tho caso of the Maoris, taking- the form of, nose-rubbing and.-accompanying salutations with t'lte pakehns, tlic.conyeiitionul.' lut'ml-shnke : and' 1 best wishes. ■ ''■ It was generally expedtod that the ceremony would take pakoha form. All Mahuta's eons have received an English training, and the bride—a beautiful Maori, girl—received her education in a oonvent, .arid is highly accomplished. After marriage ceremony all adjourned to 'a largfe marquee, where the wedding dinner.was set out. One of the •features of a European wedding was present hero, in '.the form of highly-ornate v wedding cake of great height. This was cut by the bride in the pnkelia manner.. At the conclusion of the dinrfer, To Heu Hen, father of the bride, in a- felfcitous speech, expressed' his thanks-to the assembled visitors for their presence therd that day. It signified their appreciation of this joining, of hands of two .'great tribes!■. He 'might, state, further, that in carrying, out .this, marriage they Were honouring the wishes of the dead. The late Mahuta.had expressed his wish for this marriage, as had the.dead chleftainess,. mother of. the brido. : ,

. Mr. J. P. Bailey, J.P., chairman of tho Hiintly Town Board, and of the Waikatq County Council; returned thanks on behalf of 'the pakoha visitors.

Tho whole of thn arrangements wero in the efficient hands of Annru. Eketone. whose management of the great ,tangi of Mahttto earned him such warm eliconiums. Every courtesy and attention were extended to the visitors. '. : '

■The greater number of the: Native visi■tors has departed. There were visiting rangatirns from all over the. northern parts of tho island, • It is understood that the young couple will, reside at Hukanui. Their marriage is. looked unon with great favour by the Natives, being the means of uniting the ertat . Tanpo tribe with the race of Potatau.

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