NATIVE OBSEQUIES

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 18898, 29 May 1936, Page 9

NATIVE OBSEQUIES

TANGI AT TAUWHARE. DEATH OF CHIEFTAINESS. . OVER 300 .\iAORIS 1N CAMP. Special to Times.) CAMBRIDGE, Thursday. Over 300 Maoris, from .\laungatautai‘i, Te Awainuiu, Llordont'on, Whetstwhate. ’i‘aliunu, Ngurunwaihia, \\‘aha—tron and .\lorrinsville, are in camp at i’l‘auwhare fur the tungi which has jbeen in progress since Saturday, in connection with the passing or Parepumai Te Whetuiti t.\lrs Karike), who died at Cambridge last Saturday. The .\ieoris have gathered to pay their last respects to a. chieflainess or the NashWherewhere and Ngatipaoa tribes and to await the funeral to-morrow. The late Mrs Karika was born at T 0 Au-o-Waikato, .\lorrinsville, in 1850. her parents ‘being a chief and chief—teiness of the tribes mentioned. and by direct Lie-scent. deceased had the right. to sit in counmi with the highest in native rank in the Dominion. A Valued Guido. ‘Many years ago Mrs Karika forsook the life of her people at; the pa. an'l came to Live in Unu‘lbridge, where she adopted European methods of living. She was a valued guide to all mem—bers of her race in the \Vnikato. She‘ had acquired great. wealth by her; sound judgment in the control 01' large i areas of land handed down to her in" her parents, and her estate includes many thousands of acres at; ’l‘huwhare. 1 The deceased is now lying in steiei at her Tauwhare home and all day and i night ten wnhincs keep vigil in a small open tent adorned with many of her valuable native mats and possessions“ Evidence of the high rim]: of Mrs‘ Karika is shown by a visit on Tuesday from King Koroki, who arrived from‘ the \Vaahi Pa, liuntly. with 20 fol—lowers, to pay their last respects. On Tuesday evening a number of pakehas visited the nmrue and were welcomed by \Vheki Paora and Canon Kalaka. ‘