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FUNERAL OF THE LATE TE HAPUKU.

(Prom the Ilavike's Bay Herald, Ist instant.) The funeral of the celebrated chief Te Hapuku took place yesterday afternoon at Te Hauk’e,'in presence of a large assemblage of both Europeans and natives. On Thursday the Napier Artillery Volunteers received instructions to 1 be present at the obsequies of the late chief, and yesterday morning, at 11.30 there was a good muster on Clive-square, and they proceeded to the railway station in time for a special train which Mr. Miller 1 had been instructed by the Government to 1 run to Te Aute. Soon after midday the : train, which was long, and completely filled, containing not fewer than' 400' people, started from Napier, and reached the native pa at To Hauke soon' after half-past one. A large number of natives had assembled close to ‘ the railway line, and they received the passengers with a noisy welcome. The' 1 Volunteers formed and marched towards the pa. On their approach] to the pa they 'Were met by a number Of the natives armed with guns, who welcomed them in their usual demonstrative manner. The pa presented a somewhat sin-, gular appearance, the natives in every variety of costume mingling with the Europeans, and many of them exhibiting signs of grief at the death of their old chief. Near the centre of the pa, between the'principal meeting-house and the one recently erected by the late chief, a tent had been erected, under which the. coffin was placed, and visitors were enabled to see the remains before interment.

Precisely at two o’cldck a procession was formed immediately in ' front of the tent, headed by the Napier Volunteers. The coffin, carried by eight Maoris,'came next, and was followed by numerous friends of the deceased, and visitors, They proceeded slowly to a vault about 200 yards southward of the pa. The vault is of brickwork, about 12ft. deep, and rising about 3ft. above the ground. After the coffin was placed upon the top of the vault, the Kev. S. : Williams read the Church of England burial service in Maori, and the coffin was'then'lowered into the vault. The Volunteers, 1 assisted by a aumber ol natives, then fired" three volleys over the grave, and the crowd returned to the pa.

l y-after'the funeral the natives assombledin front of the principal meeting house, and the following telegram, which had been received from Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan, was read by Mr. White, editor of the Waridngai— 11 Friends, salutations to you. It is with the deepest sorrow that we have heard of the death of your: father and chief, Te Hapulcu. - The memory of Te Hapuku will not soon be forgotten, His name - was known not only through the islands, but also in other : lands. His fame as awarrior, in the days of old, is known to all the tribes, and the Europeans know and are thankful for the many acts of kindness and protection received by them at:his hands; the pakeha will not soon cease to remember or to grieve over the dead, Te Hapuku. In these days but few men like To Hapuku remain—the old trees are being blown down by the wind, or falling through old age ; and who shall say whether the young fruit now growing up will ever equal them in strength or usefulness.

Our great hope is that the mana of Te Hapuku will fall upon one who will be able to guide his people safely, and to preserve them from the penis which await a flock without a shepherd. It is also a subject of exceeding regret to us that we are unable to be present at his funeral, but though we may not be there in person, we shall nevertheless be present in the spirit amongst those who will follow reverently to the grave the remains of one of the last of the great old chiefs of New Zealand.” Remarks were made upon the contents of the telegram by several chiefs, and Watene, son of the late chief, briefly thanked the Europeans present for their expression of sympathy. His father, he said, whilst being a true Maori, had that kindness in bis heart which was appreciated by the pakeha. When the Volunteers were assembled just prior to leaving, a native chief requested Major Withers’ permission to address them, and Mr. Master, acting as interpreter, Harawera te Takeke spoke as follows “We are very much pleased with you all for coming to Te Hauke. We all thank you for coming. He has departed from amongst us, and we are left to lament his loss. He was a great warrior, and a good and hospitable man, both to white men and Maoris. I have been in war with him and the white people, at Taupo and other places. May yon all live long and continue in good health. I again thank you all for coming, both for myself and our people. That is all I have to say.” Major Withers said : “ We are all sad at the loss sustained by you all by the death of Hapuku. He was a brave and hospitable man, and I hope his sons will follow his example.” The greater portion of the visitors returned to town by the' special train which left at 3.45, and reached Napier at 5 o’clock.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18780605.2.23

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5363, 5 June 1878, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
890

FUNERAL OF THE LATE TE HAPUKU. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5363, 5 June 1878, Page 3

FUNERAL OF THE LATE TE HAPUKU. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5363, 5 June 1878, Page 3

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