Maori and Pakeha Mourn Chief’s Death

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 622, 26 March 1929, Page 1

Maori and Pakeha Mourn Chief’s Death

Christian Service and Ancient' Rites Blend at Funeral

TARANAKI TE L .VS TANGI

(Special to TQ E SUN) HAST! TNG S, To-day* TARANAKI TE chief of the -L Ngati-KahungunU, Hawke's Bay. was laid to rest oVt Monday in the beautiful little cemtf tjery at Omahu. with ancient and picturesque Maori rites. This was the climax to lengthy ceremonial feasting , oratory and mourning lasting several days. Many hundreds, Maori and, JFakeha alike, had attended each day. Scores of cars wei e> lined around the open space near tli D cemetery, where stood hundreds of mourners. In accordance Virith the express wishes of the lats. chief, th© burial rites, conducted acj wording to the tenets of the Christii jn faith, were carried out by two clergymen of the Anglican Church, the Revs. Mr. Huata and Hakiivni. Ancient custom and the new n ©liglon blended without incongruity. At ono end of The open space W a shrine, draped with willows, housing the body of tl je chief. The principal mourners, too, wore willow wreaths. The i lolished and ornamented coffin wit Jhin the shrine was surrounded by pi ctures of the chief’s ancestors, a mod# .Tn photograph of the chief himself occupying the centre. To one side mart _juees had been erected to house and fe* <1 the multitude, which, had come from i all over th© North Island to the taingl. The ceremony began with a liaka by the Wairoa cor jtingent, in which the name of Tara i haki recurred. Pallbearers, the laf e chief’s servants and retainers, dresr sed in ancient Maori robes, reverenl ly removed the coffin to the centre i of the open space. Cadets from the Te Aute College lined up at th a other end of the enclosure.

There had I >een a strong desire byTaranaki thal. the Rev. Mr. Huata should preaclf t the funeral sermon. When the Mai ;>ri funeral hymn, ‘‘Heads Bowed Down, ” had been sung, Mr. Huata preaclj jed from the text, “For now Christ ia risen from the dead and has become it he first fruits of them that sleep.” He extolled the virtues of the depart t>d chief and exhorted the people to foj low his example. Then follow *ved bursts of oratory by various repf esentatives, amid many signs of gg nuine emotion. Porair© Tomoanu a<« ted throughout as interpreter. Sp eeches were delivered by preter.

The guar d of honour took up its position at the entrance to the enclosure. the i ball-bearers lifted their burden for* the last time and slowly bore it toA| ard the cemetery, and the procession filed slowly out under a Union Jaclc floating over the gateway. All around were sounds of mourning and from the women. The ser rice in the cemetery was brief. Tjb/e crowds stood reverent and silenl ~ The burial service was read, a h4vmn sung, and three volleys fired over the vault. When the body had been lowered, and the “Last Post’* sounded, the mourners quietly dispersed.