THE PARIHAKA TANGI.

ARRIVAL OF NATIVES. '

IMPORTANT KOREROS.

[BT TELEGBAPH.-SPECr.VL CORRESPOSDENT.]

Pc.vgabeuc, Thursday Parihaka to-day : was the scene' of much suppressed excitement, but the pakeha, attending in considerable numbers, were greatly disappointed. There were no.actual ceremonies,■the only outburst taking place in the early morning and evening, after the majority of the European visitor's, had departed. •;.'."■ '"...'■ The body of Te Whiti is ' still lying in an open tent, wrapped securely in --nianj mat and covered with valuable feather mats. Around the bier, bowed in attitude of deep grief, sit the daughter and the female relatives of the dead chief, their stoical immovability and abject sorrow during the long hours of the day being one of the most remarkable incidents in connection with' the tangi. Valuable mats, meres, and oil paintings of the departed chieftains Wi Parata, Ruakiri, uUoeahu.Rukumoana, Wliavepouri/To Whetu, and others, draped in black, surround the death chamber.

The only notable arrival this morning was the Rev. Haddon, a relative both of Te Whiti and Tohu. He lived at Parihaka 16 years ago, and learned from the prophets of old Maori chants "and incantations. After leaving Parihaka he became a Wesleyan missionary, and is now. probably the most respected native clergyman iu the Dominion. There were also present in the settlement tho Revs. Wi Kaipo and Ropere (Anglicans). The native welcomed Mr. Had don this morning with full ceremonies, and addresses were given. On Wednesday night a great korero was held to decide the place of burial. Charlie Waiters and the leading Tc Whitiites favoured interment in a small concreted marae, a few feet in front the room where the prophet always sat. Others advocated a graveyard j others again the principal marao where the prophet, in the heyday of his power, harangued his followers. At midnight it was apparently decided to adopt the first proposal, and many retired, some to keep vigil with tho dead, others to sleep. A dispute again arose,- and the korero was resumed, and was kept going till four o'clock this morning, when a compromise was effected, and by one vote it was decided that the burial ■will take place in the centre of an' open square, about' 50 yards in front of'TeWhi■ti's big house, on the site of the foundation of the settlement, where the first house was erected. ■■■ ; . /■ • .

■ Work ; was commenced early this morning with the excavation of a large grave on this spot, this being lined with bricks and cement, on a soft concrete foundation. Tho whole will be cemented over, and a large monument is to be erected over the grave. This morning a -long parley ensued over burial in a cemented pit. The Tohuites pointed out that it ! Bad been the custom of the prophets from the time they started to preach the doctrine, 47 years ago, to bury their followers at death without a .coffin— throw the body m a hole like a dog. Nothing has yet been decided as to the manner of burial. The Rev. Mr. Haddon- is to address - the gathering in the marae to-night, in favour of burial according to Christian rites, pointing out that the other arrangements had been made in pakeha fashion. The relatives refuse to make any statement, ■ but" it is not .unlikely that Mr. Haddon will succeed iu his proposal. . ■ . ; ,; , - > The.most interesting event of the day was tho ceremony connected with the welcome to the Waikanae, Waitara, Urenui, »nd other natives to tho number of about 100, accompanied by i Dr. Pomare ' &nd Hira- Parata. i This ; evening "when they were sighted from the" look-out at Port; •Roberts, which dominated Parihaka at the. time of the raid, hundreds of gunshots were fired, and a welcoming party of over a hundred native women, attired in piupius and greenery .led by Tuteur,ooho, master of ceremonies, whose splendid body movements arc rarely witnessed nowadays, moved out and commenced a takitaki (dance of . welcd": h): ; Led by : a native brass band the visitors slowly approached the house of the dead chief, ■ the welcoming party dancing and chanting dirges until a halt was made near the bier. Here the laments and wailing by the women were renewed, increasing in fervour until the big assemblage of natives showed open feigns of reciprocating grief. There was no affectation, strong men giving way to ; the' emotions consuming them. This scene was enacted and re-enacted for a space of over an bour, until darkness drew a veil? over the spectacle of pros-' trated grief. : : A speculator in New Plymouth,; who bought the Nora Niven's consignment of fish yesterday, made a disastrous bargain. Over five K tons were sent out to-day, and the natives refused admittance to the waggons. Eventually, however, less than one-half of the fish was accepted, but the remainder will probably ; be a complete loss.". ' '

The majority of the natives are well dressed and most orderly. " There is no sign of any liquor, and while no one appears pronouncedly in authority perfect discipline prevails. . The idea that Te Whiti possessed a golden hoard is generally discounted by his followers, who state that the late Tohu was the banker. Charlie Waitara, who is now the principal man in the settlement, ia a quiet, gentlemanly man, who appears to mourn his late chief and father-in-law; deeply. He. respectfully declined to be interviewed today. He stated, that as in the past Parihaka was open to the pakcha to come and go. He intends to ": make an important speech at the funeral, when he may state the future of the settlement, the ownership of which now passes by: right succession in Maori law to_Te Whiti's half, brother. The funeral is fixed for one o'clock to-morrow. To-night \ and tomorrow morning important koreros will be hold, about 1000 being present.