Maori Customs.

Manawatu Herald, 30 April 1898, Page 2

Maori Customs.

last; Wednesday's Chronicle says : — Following the usual Maori Cus. torn, a big feast is to be held in eontion with the tangi over the death of the late Major Kemp. Preparations for the destribution of the food pro. vided by the Putiki natives for the visiting natives were oompleted yesterday, and the distribution and feast will in all probability take place to-day. Ai showing that in the matter of " kai " thin will ht fiofe.

ing to complain of, it may he mentioned that the food forms a huge stack, about 80ft long and seven feet wide, consisting of 26 sacks of potatoes, 14 tons of flour, 48 large boxes of biscuits, 127 bags sugar, 17 tins biscuits, 10 sacks and 5 boxes dried fish, and 18 boxes tea— lOibs 18lbs, and Slbs in weight. Tho whole is surmounted by flags of pound notes— £l96 in all - which j are placed on sticks. At the base of the stack are three hhd3 of beer, 2 cases whisky, 10 baskets of mutton birds, 2 sacks pumpkins and melons, and a large piece of greenstone, and 10 fine-looking live porkers. At each end of the pile are several very pretty Maori mate, while a few yards away a framework has been erected, on which are placed no less than eighty-three Maori mats, somo of them very choice and handsome. They consisted of korowals (worked with tassels, parawais (plain, with ornamental border), kiwis, heiheis (fowls feathers), pikahas (peacocks' feathers), peihanas (pheasant feathers.) On the framework are also displayed 10 large and beautiful greenstone meres, 6 patn paraoas (whalebone meres), 6 aus (smaller greenstone curios), and a rare green- j stone ; panehe (axe), with carved handle.- Wbh the exception of two tons of flour, 20 bags sugar, 12 61b boxes tea and some mutton birds and candles (which were donated by the Government), most of the above has been contributed by Kemp's people at Putiki, other Wanganui natives , also assisting.