A NATIVE WEDDING AND THE PAI MARIRES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 253, 17 April 1865, Page 3

A NATIVE WEDDING AND THE PAI MARIRES.

(From a Correspondent of the Southern Cross ) Waikato, March 28. It mry be interesting to your readers to hear of a very carious wedding about to take place at Karakariki. on the Waipa. The bridegroom is the soil-of the. Rev. W\ Barton, native missionary. The natives, who are to be present, haver purchased a great quantity of white calico for the purpose of making-long robet, which are to be worn by both sexes on the eventful day. A procession is to be formed and to- march four-deep to church bareheaded. Letters of invitation have been sent to •the different settlements on the Waikato, and a great number intend being present. A number of Europeans will be permitted to attend on the occa-sion t« .witness the. proceedings. Great quantities of provisions, consisting principally of potatoes, pigs, and dried eels, have been collected and sent, as presents from the neighboring hapus for the great feast which is-to-take place after the, ceremony.

The Pai Mai ire fanatics who lately visited Te Wheoro’s place, and afterwards proceeded lower down the river, have not yet returned; it is thought thej T have gone to Raglan by way of the coast.

A native policeman who chanced to fall in with a lot of these devil-worshippers travelling, was ordered by one of their priests to uncover his head and take the pipe he was smoking from his mouth ; also to salute the procession as they passed. He was told that if ho did not immediately comply lie would be carried off by their god, who would punish him and keep him closely confined in another world. They then pressed him to join them, and offered to give him two young girls as wires. This offer was rejected, he being already married.