ROBBING THE DEAD.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1080, 12 October 1883, Page 3

ROBBING THE DEAD.

We take the following from jesterTaranaki Herald : — Some fourteen years ago a Maori chieflainess of high, rank died at her settlement near- Stony River, and she . Was buried with great pomp and cercafter the fashion of the Maoris. JirThe having been ended, which lasted many days, the remains of the defunct Maori lady were buried in a secluded spot near her settlement. Her beloved husband caused to bo placed in her coffin all the finery which she was wont to appear .in on impor- . tiHnt occasions, including a silk dress, numerous other articles of female ‘ adornment, not omitting a famous greenstone, which she had worn as an earring, but the weight of which had mutilated her ear until it was no longer possible to wear it. In addition to these valuable articles the affectionate husband caused 15 sovereigns to be in the coffin, os being part of /the. property of the deceased. The 1 sovereigns, it is slated, were given to her by the late Rev. Mr Whitely (probably as a token of good will.) No ; ;oiic but the chief knew of the sovereigns being buried, although it was well known that the greenstone and other valuables were in the coffin,; but there wos.no fear of the Maoris disturbing the haljowed quiet of the grave for the purpose of plunder. So much, however, cannot be said in favour cf the pakeha, for after fourteen years peaceful slumber it was discovered a few m days ago that the remains of the deported chieflainess had been exhumed some of the valuable articles buried with her, stolen. Information was sent to the police; and Constable Ryan went out to the settlement yesterday and found that beyond doubt the grave had been opened and the dead robbed. The 15 sovereigns were, of course, gdnej bat the greenstone had not been touched. The silk dress, in which the deceased was arrayed when placed in the coffin, strange to say, Was there in all its original lustre, sound and perfect in every .respect. The other articles of clothing had rotted and fallen to fragments, being almost unrecognisable. The aged chief, whose name is Porikapa, is much distressed at what has occurred, and he will only be pacified by the offender being brought to justice. It is generally thought to have been the work of a European, but how the European could have found out the , spot is a The grave was opened during the absence of the natives from the settlement.