Funeral of Hoani Meihana.

Manawatu Herald, 11 October 1898, Page 3

Funeral of Hoani Meihana.

Punctually at 2 o'clock on Sunday Wi M&huri addressed those present at the Oroua Bridge, and conveyed the salutations of the natives to the visitors and bid them all welcome to the funeral of Honi Meihana, who was the friend of the native and of the European. The service was then commenced at the coffin, the Bevs. Te Hoana, of Eereru, and Tuturu, of Moteuta, being the officiating clergymen. Standing at the head of the coffin, one on either aide,. a portion of the Anglican burial service was read by them most impressively in the Maori language, the natives present joining in the responses. A fter singing the hymn, " With bending head, and deepest I sorrow, 1 * iin whioh the native boys took the leading part, the coffin was the_ placed upon the bier, and a p' a &rt made for the grave, the following gentlemen acting as pall- ; bearers :— Messrs G. M. Snelson, W T. Wood, L. G. West, J. Hall, J. V. | Nannestad, J. P. Innes, J. Mnyo and G. A. Preece. As the procession j moved off a wail went up from the women, and these lamentations were kept up during the entire route. A grave had been prepared on a green hill behind the pab.andaa the corpse approached, according to an old Maori custom, vollies were fired in honour of the dead. Upon arrival at the summit of the sandy knoll the coffin, with its numerous wreaths was lowered into the grave, and the final portion of the burial service read by the Rev Mr Tuturu.— Standard.