NAPIER.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2508, 19 January 1877, Page 2

NAPIER.

Thursday.

The fcangi for Sir Donald McLean was postponed yesterday on account of the rain, and was held to-day. Those natives who were to take part in firing and other demonstrations assembled at Clive Square, divested of their clothing, except round the loins, and performed a war dance, and afterwards marched in procession in proper military style to the paddock adjoining the residence of the late Sir Donald. About three hundred natives were assembled. The firing party numbered one hundred and twenty. After the funeral volley, speechifying commenced. The general tenor of the native speeches delivered by the chiefs of the provinces was expressive of the greatest sorrow for the loss they had sustained by the death of their old friend Sir Donald McLean. Nothing could exceed the depth of sorrow expressed. Each chief vied with the others in the use of terms of lamentation. Chants of sorrow were given in most mournful tones, the women taking up the wailing cries and repeating them again and again in. cadences betokening their great anguish. At the conclusion of the speeches by the natives, Mr Ormond replied at considerable 1 length, fully reciprocating the sorrow felt, and agreeing with sentiments expressed that with the dead all difficulties should be covered in the grave. He said that by their meeting there today they testified to the love they bore him who had passed away, and what now remained to be done was to ascertain at an early date what were the difficulties under which the Maoris laboured, that means might be taken to abolish them. Mr Douglas McLean (Sir Donald's son) also spoke at some length, thanking the chiefs and other natives. The whole concluded with a grand war dance. A large concourse of Europeans were present.