A NATIVE FUNERAL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1276, 31 August 1872, Page 4

A NATIVE FUNERAL.

The funeral of Pi<a te Hori, a nativ< chief and assessor, who died at his resi dence, at the Kaiapoi pah, is described a some length by the Lyttelton Times:— "Owing to the novelty which iisuallj attends the interment of a deceased chief the attendance of Europeans was verj large,' including persons from Christ church, Kaiapoi, Rangiora, and Woodend and, as the sight was rather a grand ant unusual one, it was well worth the visit The funeral procession was advertised t( leave the deceased's residence at 3 p.m., and up to that time, any persons wlu wished to satisfy their curiosity by having a look at the deceased, were freely invited to do so before he was screwed down in the coflin. It is needless to state thai many persons availed themselves of the opportunity thus liberally offered, and they were somewhat surprised to see with whattaßte and skill the natives ornament and partially embalm the bodies of theii superiors in rank. The funeral cortege, as it moved off from the deceased's house to the cemetery, presented a very solemn and' plcti|regque appearance., It waa he'adjed fcjr jajwut,. &,-■ dqzexx picked men, partially ' cla3 in native costume, with wreaths jolt, eyergreaa flowers upon theii heads, a«d iiative mats of various dyes encircled round their waists.. They each carrj'ed, ftj^ftdad,.miwket4»4frveTrpoßitionß, clearly showing that they were not well up in theme-fit arvasi #hjen?lbHo.*ed til sari which contained the coffin, and it was driven by John Patterson, M.H.R. for the Middle Island. On' either side of the vehicle there were ihree t venerable-looking natives of the 016! r school cfad in war costume. It consisted of. their being encircled iri a network of evergreens from head to heel, and great taste had evidently been displayed in the 'get up.' Behind the vehicle,eame ;th^ cjhief niour* ners, iric'loiiirig fhe' widWof the deceased, and thuy- wowfuHlWUtt b yHfTonjf string of natives with y^ww lnscriptions of ornamentation on their heads, bearing implements . ,of mar, <4nclndirig* spear^ staffs, greenstone, tomahawks, &c. The cemetery was but a short distance from the deceased's residence, but a circuitous route had been mar^d-; off, with:. ttoodeh stakes, round which the procession marched. . Erom _ the time, the coffin wag placed in the vehicle 110111 it arrived at the gate of the cemetery,., a na^ivE was stationed at the grave as a sort of'sentinel, and Jie. kept 6rjp§ r a.,gon.abp,ut every imftrife." At the gate of the cemetery the coffin was takenpptpt thft,cacfe f and borne shoulder-high till alongside the grave, where a temporary bench had been erected under a large canvas awning. ItAvas laid oj*?h this >behMij'sna the followers having gathered round it, the f-ineral service was r&tfUby the' Key. J. W. Stack, and Mr George Peter Mutu* It was then lowered irtto 5 a'Wantiiullybuilt brick grave. Several volleys we*e then 6red o^er tl*e gtaVV-fy'tfiosV'wh.o led the procession., and the proceedings terminated^ ,?/ i;r : ■ '" - ' J ' '