MAORI TANGI AT GLADSTONE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 161, 16 May 1879, Page 2

MAORI TANGI AT GLADSTONE.

For the last three weeks there lias been a considerable muster of Maoris at the Waipoapoa Pa, at Gladstone, the" call" from the resident natives being responded to by somo 300 of their friends and relations from all parts of the province, some coming from Manawatu, others from Castlepoint, Flat Point, Lower Valley, Greytown, and Masterton. Amongst the chiefs or leading men were Rancira te Hio, Premiah, Piripi, and others whoso names we did not get. The object of the assemblage was to mourn over the loss the Gladstone tribe and the valley had sustained through the decease of a highly esteemed old warrior named Rangitata, who shuffled of this mortal coil after having seen the respectable number of 81 years. The meeting was to serve two purposes, advantage being taken of the assemblage to discuss the question as to who should be their representative in Parliament in place of Karaitiana, who died in Hawke's Bay some short timo ago. That so largo a number should at this season have accepted the invitation proves how much the deceased Rangitata was respected, andwhat keen interest our aboriginals manifest in the power we have given them of being represented in the Colonial Legislature. From inquiries made of one of the entertainers, this Rangitita held an exalted station amongst them, Ho was. one of the first to embrace Christianity, and always was an advocate of law and order, fightin , when necessary, on the European side,

When we arrived at Waipoapq'a, tho Lower Valley visitors were paying their tribute of sorrow to the deceased's memory. Ranged up in two lines, the' cry' was very vigorous, if we can so term it,' and when it seemed to wane, one of the number would parade the centre, ge'sticu-' lating, wailing, and interjecting laudatory remarks respecting tho old chief's career, which had the effect of stimulating the grief of the mourners, so that their mourning could be heard a long way off. I Leaving them we moved away to gain some further insight into the culinary business that was being prosecuted with so much fervour in other qparters. Whether the wholo number have one great " cry" together, we did not stay long enough to see, but in other portions of the pa there were groups of men and womon who to all appearance had no concern with the mourners. Wo presume they had had their" cry," or were to have it. The arrangements for coolring seemed

to us who have always associated such business with stoves or fireplaces, of an oxtremely primitive character, but our guide informed us that no system of preparing meat and vegetables for food could

compare with the" copper Maori," which simply means an inclosure about 8 or .10

feet square, with a largo hole in tho ground filled with stones, then a quantity of wood is heaped upon the stones and fire applied. When the wood is burnt out the stones remain red-hot, they are then cooled down to the proper heat by the application of water, and the meat and vegetables strewed over them—tho former, wo suppose, in dishes. Tho food is then covered over with sacks—branches of trees were formerly used—to retain the steam and heat, and left till quite cooked. Such is the modo adopted by our aboriginal friends to prepare large quantities of food, and considering that the store of edibles represented 5' tons of flour, 5 chests of tea, 1 ton of sugar, 100 fat wethors, 40 pigs, 7 tons of potatos and other vegetables, it may be taken for granted that the visitors were not intended to mourn and fast, rather tho contrary, and that the post of cook to such a number

would be no idle appointment. Tho etiquette observed in these gatherings, and the rules for the suppression of drunkenness and gambling, struck us as being in

more ways than one worthy of publicity.

The visitors are received by an appointed manager, a Feu do Joie being fired—3olbs

of powder being provided for this part of tlie welcome; but the general reception is postponed till after the" cry," when they are welcomed by a prominent member, of

le tribe—in this case Mathoro Mohai-

after which all the previously arrived visitors file out and greet, the recent ones, who set apart, the Lower Valley by them-

selves, and so on. Every man, woman.

and child has evidently the right to rub noses with each of the visitors, and to watch this custom was instructive. How

apparent was the rank and importance of each manifested in the greeting! Some prolonged their nasal greeting, while others, again, merely touched each other and moved on. We should have stated that when the representative of tho inviters stood out and welcomed the visitors, the many virtues of the deceased chief were recounted, this being answered by the influential among tho latest arrival of visitors, who endorse all that the welcomer has said, and further state how ranch they mourn over their loss, After this the whole assemblage mix together, and form one happy family—that is providing the regulations for conducting the business of the assembly are observed. The meeting house at Waipoapoa is a long low building, 02 feet long by 24 feet wide, supported by four large uprights, around which wire candlesticks are placed for the purpose of lighting the building. In this building tho meetings are held, and at night it serves as a huge sleeping room, matting and blankets being placed on each side. The legulatioiis previously alluded to are posted at the entrance, aiid these state—That any person taking liquor in bottles inside the building will be fined 303, and any drunken man 10s in addition. Cards are also prohibited, a fine of 5s per pack being enforced acainst anyone so offending; in short, any game'of chance, or any departure from sobriety is provided against, the fines being exacted by the Maori Court or Committee.

The meeting is presided over by Te Kawana Ti Tau, lie being the senior chief. The candidate for Parliamentary honors who will receive the support of the Wairarapa is Henaro Matua, of Porangahau, a man who evidently enjoys the confidence of his Wairarapa brethren, We left Waipoapoa with mingled feelings of pleasure and regret, The former, because of the undeniable excellence of the Maoris as a race, as evinced by the manner in which they, have during such a short period so adopted and familiarized themselves with many European customs; and the latter, because inexorable Fate tells us they are fast departing, and that the clay is not far distant when the Maori will cease to be,