LATE MR. HOLLAND

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 659, 11 October 1933, Page 5

LATE MR. HOLLAND

(Press Assn.—

IMPRESSIVE MAORI CEREMONY IN PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS RECEPTION IN WELLINGTON

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

Wellington, Tuesday. | The body of the late Leader of the Opposition lies in state in the main vestibule of Parliament Buildings. , The casket containing the body arrived at Wellington at 7.30 this morning, and was conveyed to Parliament Buildings at 9.30. • Here it was received by representatives of the Maori race, led hy Sir A. Ngata and the Princess Te Puc-a, of the Waikatos, and with an impressive Maori ceremony was handid ovei4 to the relatives of deceased. As the; hearse arrived in the Parliament grounds wailing broke out from the Maori women present, and died away as the hearse stopped. Six messengers emerged from Parliament Buildings, and coiiveyed the coffin to the hiei*, which h'ad been erected in the vestibule. They were followed up the steps by Mr. Holland's daughter, Mrs. Forman, who was supported hy her hushand and MJrs. R. Semple and members of the Maori party, including Te Tomo and Tirikatene. The mat of a high chief eovered the coffin. ^Standing rcmnd the cataf alque were the Premier, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, members of the Cabinet, members of both Houses of Parliament, Mr. Holland's relatives, and a number of. representatives of trades unions. Bowed Down With Grief Haunui Tawhiao, grand-uncle of the present Maori King, speaking through an interpreter said: "The Prime M'inister. — I am addressing* you all. I am on this occasion bowed down with grief because this great friend of yours and ours came into our midst full of life and vigour and returns to you this day as you can see him there. I am sincere in my heartfelt sympathy on this sad occasion of the taking away of one of your great friends. To the widow and bereaved we extend our sincere- sympathy, and we join with the Labour Party, who were so closely associated with Mr. Henry Edmund Holland. As representatives of the Waikato tribes, in whose midst he died, we ftel that we have discharged a duty in bringing baclc his mortal remains. I salute you all. Depart, O soul, depart to the council house of the departed, there to sit in the councils with my departed ancestors." Tawhiao then laid a wreath on the coffin on behalf of the Waikato tribes. , , Speaking under stress of emotion, Mr. Roy Holland said: "On behalf of my mother and members of my family I wish to thank you for the great honour you have done. us in bringing our f ather to us . with tbe great traditions of your race. We know your illustrious ancestors will look with pride on you to-day, as we look with pride on our father."