GREAT MAORI CHIEF

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 576, 31 January 1929, Page 16

GREAT MAORI CHIEF

MEMORIAL UNVEILED NOTED LEADER MOURNED (Special to THE SUN) WHAKATANE, Wednesday. “In the name of God Almighty, I unveil this monument to a very old chief and a Christian. F r or the younger generation he laid the corner-stone by which they, if they follow the faith, will reach success and salvation.” In these words the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, to-day unveiled a memorial statue to the memory of the late chief of the Ngati-Pukeko tribe, Kaperiere Pouawha Meihana, at Poroporo. Over 1,000 natives and several hundred Europeans from all parts of the East Coast assembled for the ceremony. Mr. Coates said he wished to thank Sir Apirana Ngata for his generous action in allowing him to perform the unveiling. It was a privilege of which any man might be proud. It must be remembered that though the monument stood there in peace and quietness to-day, Meihana had had his troubles. Having adopted the Christian faith he followed strictly the words of the Great Book, and it was the privilege of but a few Europeans to know the rankling in him concerning old grievances. The late chief was never responsible for the events that led to the confiscation of native lands. He uii loyal to his King and to the system of government in this country. Huge tracts of country were taken from the late chief’s ancestors through no fault of his. How many of the pakehas would have taken the steady and constitutional course of emphasis;g the injustice which he and 1: people felt? asked Mr. Coates. How many in like circumstances would have resisted revolution and outspoken resentment? But thelate chief stuck r_o the constitution and spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi, relying on fair play eventually to see the wrong righted, and today they had another chief asking again that the Government of the day should give recognition not only to the claims made by the late chief, but on behalf of the young natives. IMPRESSIVE SERVICE The ceremony began with a Ringatu Church service led by Bishop Timutara. It was followed by an Anglican service conduoted in Maori by Bishop Bennett and several native clergy. A.t the base of the monument the widow of the late chief and other women mom nors, wept silently throughout the tn-ding*. Bishop Bennett, on behalf of the chiefs and the Maori people, expressed gratitude that so many pakehas had come to show their sympathy at the loss of Charlie Mason, the name by which the late chief was known to his pakeha friends. Meihana was a leader of the Maoris, and a revered chief. Several speakers, including Mr. W. Sullivan, Mayor of Whakatane, paid tributes to the late chief. Merito Hetaraka referred to Mr. Coates’s endeavours on behalf of the native race.