THE LATE SIR MAUI POMARE

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4498, 30 August 1930, Page 1

THE LATE SIR MAUI POMARE

MAORI (MiIEF. IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY AT WiAJTA I? A. Now Plymouth, Last Night. With all due ceremonial, and in the traditional Maori style, the ashes of Sir Maui Pomare arrived from M'a.iknnne this morning and were received at Mamikorihi Pa, Whifava, the head-quarters of his tribe. The train brought the Hon. R. Masters, Rf. lion. .). (!. Coates, Hon. S. (1. Smith, Sir Apirana Nga'ta and Hi other members of Parliament, some with their wives. The chief mourners are Lady Pomare-, her daughter and two sons. The casket was taken from the station to the pa in a hearse, followed by some 50 ears. At the gates of the pa, a group of 100 Native woman received the ashes with a mac mac dance, wearing and waving greenery. They receded before the warriors bearing the casket till Hie latter was laid amongst beautiful rugs and mats on the centre of the marae. Speeches followed in tribute to Sir Maui Ponmre's work. There were about 250(1 people a t the pa. Most of the speeches were in Maori. Some were given in English and translated into Maori by interpreters and in some eases speakers gave alternative versions in Maori and English. Altogether about four hours were absorbed in the expansion of this vast tribute and there were still more speakers who would have contributed their quota of oratory had time permitted.

Sir Apirana Ngat-a, Minister ot Native Affairs, commenced in the English tongue by welcoming Mr. Coates and the other members of the Parliamentary' party. Sir Apirana then proceeded to address the gathering most eloquently in the Maori tongue, interposing on two occasions a long sustained chant of farewell. -Several other members of the Parliamentary party addressed the assemblage in terms of regret at the death of their friend, their remarks, with t lie exception of those of- Mr. K. S. Williams (Bay of Plenty), who spoke in the native tongue, being translated by interpreters. “I am sorry for the cause that brings us to your courtyard and to the courtyard of the ancestors of a man who stands in high repute amongst both Pnkeha and (Maori from the North Cape to flic Bluff,” said Mr. Coates, leader of the Opposition. “Few men bad clone more than Sir Maui to bring about a sympathetic feeling of understanding between the Maori people of New Zealand and the Pakehn. Few men bad done more to stay the surging feeling of discontent and distrust that- was clouding the Maori people or smoothed out the way for a better fueling between the.two races.”

The ceremony was continued throughout the day. The.chief rites will he performed to-morrow, hut it is probable the ashes will he committed to the vault, on Sunday.