TE WHITTS BURIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2045, 23 November 1907, Page 3

TE WHITTS BURIAL.

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

SPEECHES AT THE TANG I

f’OR AND AGAINST THE PROPHET.

A RUMOR Oib POISON

I>*OSS Association. X®V OALYMOUTH, Nov. 22. There was a large gathering at Pari ha kh for To AA.hitrs buna ceremony. Tho Maoris uioUiUo Julia, * Now- Zealand's Giraco Palling. A party of whites j iiioluduig V\ • ti. Skinner, AV. J. Gray, Jack (fieservos Agent), Rev. J. 13* Brocklehurst* Dipt. Young (Department of Agnculture), Oapt. Hood (Harboriiiastor), and others expressed gnei in semi-Maori -custom, anueli to tuo delight of the .natives, who expressed their gratitude for tho sympathy, and said the kindness wiped away the last trace of ill-feeling between the races. The bone of contention was buried for over. 'Hie funeral was delayed on account o tho grave hclng unfinished. If W"J 1 probably take place this evening. A sensational rumor has been circulated .that To A\ hiti died by poison. He is said to have been so very depressed that no one visited him on Sunday', iith, tho .usual day of the monthly meetings. NEW PLYMOUTH, Later. This' afternoon, at 2 o'clock. Te Whiti .was laid to rest at Parihalu, and .with him was buried tine last connection holding the Maori to associations of the past. During the greater part of Thursday night work wab-continued at .the tomb, which was completed shortly after noon to-day. The w'hole night through the'mourners, who had not left the side of the bier since -Monday morning, continued their lonely vigil. It was an impressive sight,heightened by the effect tho dimly lighted surroundings, livery few minutes the stillness of the night would be broken by a long-drawn, weirdly, eerie wail of some lonely mourner, to bo taken up in various parts of tho sentdemont,. until. -tho dead chamber watchers joined in, and the experience is not one readily to be forgotten by those privileged to witness it. Liko everything Maori, however, incongruity reigned supreme, except for relatives and devout followers. ’Women did all tho mourning, the men scattering themselves about- in various places of amusement, notably the "billiard saloons, till the necessity for sleep •and preparation for the morrow’s event asserted itself. At the break of day .work w-as resumed on the tomb, also preparations for breakfasting, several hundreds being in attendance at the interesting sight. The best of food in abundance was served, and will continue to be until the supply gives out. During ■the morning many notable speeches were made, and while the older warriors clung to. the prophet’s teachings, the younger men used their eloquence to point out the failure ol ■the toliu'ngas'to improve the _ race. “This,” said .one speaker, “is the last- day of Maori wisdom. Te AA’UUti was tho last, but the page is now closed. The two trees of the forest have fallen. Tiiese two who stood before their .people -as immortal have ■withered, ‘and everything is proved in vain. It is- finished! It is finished ! Gone is the author of peace, •who is now departed, and left us in gloom and darkness. Though .gone you still live in our hearts. Your word will he the guiding star or future generations.” Still another claimed Te Whites prophecies would be fulfilled, and that by his mana he had established peace and .averted war. - .The beat deliverance was made by a now prominent Tohuste, who accused the previous speakers ot not speaking out. “What- was m thenhearts? Why did. they not say op-enlv that the prophets acted falsely to the tribes who were tlieir ' supporters? The people had been disappointed, hut deserved no better, and should have known the teachings were false. lhey should now -take a lesson from the .pakeba for future guidance.” . , : Tile speeches were interrupted b> an announcement .that a party oi .Southern natives were approacning. Volleys were fired for some time, and then a body of dancers went out to .meet -them. It was an animated ' scene when the party was being concocted- to the marae by the welcomdh?r natives, bedecked from head to foot with greenery and mass- Otherwise they were naked, their faces besmeared with red, daubed with black. Altogether their get-up. ua„ picturesque and impressive. .1 ,? e were Maoris of all ages, small children,'old women, withered and trail, contrasting with the exceptionally stout. -Whilst the adults were adhering religiously to .the Hue movements of the dance some of the youthful in ithe back ranks kept time gaily with a cakewalk. A brass, band, which marched at the head of the visitors, lent lifo to the proceedings. The .whole of tho natives assembled in front of the marquee, and tangiing was kept up for an horn . “To Whiti has gone, but the white feather still remains.” 'ln “ddition to tho lament arid burden of speeches a marly of Europeans, well known ' to’the Maoris, shortly after arrived, piloted by M"r. Grey, and expressed their sorrow for the relatives in semi-Maori custom, much to the delight of the natives,, who were glad to see something the reverse ot the curiosity with which the mi’ontj ot whites enter Parihaka. The reverence shown forrfle Wluti s remains so much impressed them, that they took the first opportunity of expressing- their gratitude. They said this 'little kindness seemed to have wiped away the last dram ot nilfeeling. Kvm old natives who have retained their grievances against the whites right up to the present say that it is a red-letter day m ■Maori jhistory, for to-day the bone of contention between the two races has been buried, for never would this old sore he reopened. Dr. Pomare poetically expressed his tribute of respect to the dead and also the living. These proceedirigs over, prepaiations for the final scene commenced about .noon. In tho masonry tomb m-as first laid a deep covering of mats, then a feather mattress, over which was laid a white line of sheete ’and pillows, on which were worked the full name of the deceased prophet. The aide 3of the tomb weie Covered with opossum «igs and valuable white feather mats. ~ V'hen everything was ready, Charlie VVai tara, 5 dressed ill chieftain costume, at their head, a large party ol female dancers suddenly appeared and slov.lv .approached the grave 'in files of four, opening out to leave an avenue, through which the body was carried from the tent to the grave. As the body was lifted by pall-heal-ers a great cry went up ot wauiu o bv the chief mourners, and increased in intensity until the only sound audible above all. else were the heaving sobs and cries; of women. Aimed at the grave Mai tar a called for stillness, and proceeded to address tlie multitude. Ie V\Juti, he said, .had only one word 1 caco and his badge was tho white f n ther Those who would not weai the feather when he was .alive were not . liis people. Now those who were not for him were against him. There was at this a great outcry of dissent, and AYaitara repeated his words. Tie went on to explain the significance of the white fentlior, which was that all liationu'lities were .to lie one feather, which was the sign of peace, unity, prosperity, and goodwill. In committing the body to the grave he sprinkled some earth, saying: “Now I commit you to earth, whence you came.” -Maoris then filed round tho grave .loudly lamenting the . reposing chief, who was covered with costly mats. Half an hour later the tomb was closed, amid great wailing, the firing of guns, and the band playing. AVaitara’s speech, was strongly resented, many speakers holding that he had not spoken Tc AVhiti’s wish. IV

If -tho chosen woro to follow To W hiti strictly then they should have mo dealing with Governments or Europeans, and should not accept rents from the Public Trustee. Tho tangi will continue tor some days, but on a speedily declining scale, while the tood lasts. Elio opinion is hold by the best 'authorities that tho Young Maori 1 arty will take, the opportunity ot ending Parihaka influence by cutting up the large block of land and. partitioning it amongst those to whom it- belongs to work. Ere this is accomplished there mav bo some trouble with the old warriors, who are still averse to -modern conditions. Te AVhiti’s last words preached to Maoris was “Peace and goodwill to all men. If your neighbor thirsts give him drink.” He led his followers to believe that- Maoris wore the lost tribes, and that the Bible said the Israelites would be established again, and that- the Almighty gave his prophets command to carry out His word, hut as they did not fulfil it He sent- his Bon. who also failed to achieve the fulfilment of God, and then raised up To Whiti to be the fulfiller. 'l'his wonderful okl imposter bad his own officials, whom he had appointed, carry out the preaching of his doctrine." They were disgusted and disappointed in him when they heard him utter: “It cannot- be fulfilled I It cannot ho fulfilled !