OBSEQUIES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 16, 12 October 1937, Page 6

OBSEQUIES

Late Raniera Erihana IMPRESSIVE SERVICES As an evidence of the high respect in which the late Mr Daniel Ellison was held in the estimation of his friends, both Pakeha and Maori, the gathering at Te Hauke last Sunday, the day of his funeral, was one of the largest seen in Hawke#'s Bay for many years. There were over 100 motor cars on the marae, and well over a thousand people present at the funeral. The presenee of several hundfed Pakeha, representatives, some of them, of State and Ghurch organisations, was a much appreciated and touching gesture of cooperation of the two races in this day of bereavement.. Among those present from a distance were his brothers, , from Otago Heads, Mr J. Ellison. and Mr D. Ellison, and Dr. E. P. Ellison, from Rarotonga, Mr Dick Taiaroa (one of the two survivors to-day of the famour Maori football team which toured Britain away back in 1888), and Mr Tom Parata, of Waikanae. There were representatives from almost every settlement throughout Hawke's Bay. The Government was represented by Mr E. L. Cullen, M.P., who gave a sympathetic address before the funeral, m which a message of smcere coudoience from the Prijne Minister was conveyed to the widow and children, and to the Maori people in the loss of a valued member of the race. The funeral service, was conducted by the Kight Rev. F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aatearoa, assisted by the * Rev. W. Moana, of Porangahau, and the Rev. H. Kangiihu, of Waipatu-Moteo. The singing was led by the Te Aute College students, the whole school as well as the staff bemg present. The first part of the service was held in the marae in front of the casket, which was covered with valuable Maori mats and beautiful wreaths. in his address, after speaking in Maori, the Bishop thanked, on behalf of the family, the many visitors fo»f their presenee and expressions of condolence. Their sympathy helped them to bear with fortitude the heavy burden pressing upon them. 4 ' Mr Dan Ellison, was oue of the great men of the Maori race," continued the Bishop. "He was also one of the most cultured both on his pakeho side as well as the Maori. In the earlier days he was a valuable bridge, uniting the two races, translating the ideals and aspirations of the Pakeha to. the Maori, of the Maori to the Pakeha, and so drawing the. two races closer together. He came from an intellectual family, for the Ellison family is the only Maori family that has produced two professional men from the one family — the late Mr Tom Ellison being a solicitor, and Dr. E. P. Ellison, who is present and who is in charge of the hospital at Rarotonga." Very Humble Man "The deceased," continued the Bishop, "was a very humble man and gave a lot of his time to iielp ihose who needed iiis assistauce. it made uo difference to inrn as to what rank tiiey oeionged to, or whetber they wero ricn or poor. He was an expert on Aative Land Gourt work, and his adviee was sought after from both islands. Un many occasions ho worked ior the love of the people and took no reward. He has set us a line example in humility and self-abnegation. The Maori people have lost a centrepole that carried the heavy weight of the house; the race as lost 'Te kaihautu o te waka', the time-caller of the canoe. ' ' The body was conveyed to the cemetery at Te Hauke by Te Aute boys, the wreaths being carried by some of the Hukarere girls. The last part of the solemn burial service was conducted by the Bishop, and after the Benediction the Maori people expressed their pentup sorrow in their wail and lament for their dead. After the burial Mr Hori Tupaea issued an invitation to ono and all to partake of the "Hakari," or Feast for the Dead, and ancient custom which is paralleled by the Irish wake. So great was the gathering that the meal in relays went on for three or four ' hours. j Great credit is due to Mr Hpii Tu«j paea asd his aasiatants £oc Hui asloul