LATE KING MAHUTA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 162, 26 November 1912, Page 5

LATE KING MAHUTA.

THE FUNERAL OBSEQUIES. THE NEW KING. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Monday. Maliuta was buried, and his son, Te Rata, crowned "King" at Waalii yesterday.

Three thousand people gathered in the village square. The procession was led by the Native Band, and by women dressed in black with a green bough twisted round the body as a sign of mourning. The Native clergy wore white surplices, and the' young King was dressed in European clothes, attended by his relatives and advisers, also in European clothes, each wearing also a large feather mat. Some of the followers were dressed in the old costume of the race, but generally, the clothes were typical of the gradual merging of the Maori into European habits. The ceremony was almost entirely religious, and took the form of the Methodist and the Church of England services. *

It was conducted by Maori clergymen. The Psalms were chanted, the singing being exceedingly good. The Rev. Mr. Popere preached the sermon, "Fear God, Honour the King."

The crowning of Mahuta's successor was performed' by Tupu Taingakawa, whose ancestor was known as the Kingmaker. Tupu said that in the days of old, Kings were anointed with oil, but since the advent of Christianity, they had been anointed with the Word of God, in token of which he placed an open Bible on the young King's head. He reminded the King of the celebrated saying of his ancestor Potatau, "Keep the law, Love the people and tawhiaos." "Though ye be dark on the outside,, see you keep your hearts pure and spotless,"

Following on this, came typical Maori songs, and greetings from various sections of tlie new King's subjects and a dinner, which was an elaborate feast, to which both Maoris and Europeans were invited.