THE FUNERAL OF RENATA KAWEPO.

NATIVE LAND LEGISLATION. ( RENATA'S "WILL. Wo doubt whether there have ever boforo been gatliered together bo many people in Hawko's Bay as assembled yesterday at Omaha to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of Eonata Kawepo. It is stated that there were over 1500 natives present, and certainly thero were three Europeans to every native, which, would make the total assemblage 6000, Hundreds of vehicles were there, from the ppny-carriage to the largest-sized coach, and all arrived crowded to excess. Napier seemed to be depopulated, and not a public vehicle was left in town. Besides) this large contingents arrived from Hastings and the surrounding country, and even from Waipawa county many representatives attended. Among those present" were the Hon. Mr .Mitchelson, Native Minister ; Sir George Whitmore ; Captain Preece ; Messrs Urmond, Tanner, Smith, Taipua, and Carroll, M.H.E.'s ; nearly all the clergy of the province, and many old settlers who remembered Sonata's uniform kindness and sterling loyalty to the • Europeans in more troublous times* than tho present. At the pa the sceno was at once sad anit animated. The central object was a magnificent coffin, enclosing a leaden shell, in which were deposited the remains of the old warrior. The coffin was under an awning, and lay on a number of very line Maori mats -and rugs, 'while on it were a number of handsome wreaths in white roses and other flowers, contributed both by Maoris and Europeans. Among the (lowers reposed the sword of Kcnata, which once did good service in the cause of the pukeba. On the coffin was a silver plate bearing the inscription : — RENATA KAAVEPO, I MATE ITB 140 APEBIBA 1888, XI OJIAHU, KOONA TARE E SO. Above the coffin hung a number of greenstone meres, and at its foot rested a large one, the emblem of authority in his tribe, which was formerly the property of Tareha, and descended from him to Mrs Donnelly. At each side of the • coffin . were oil paintings of Tareha, Horewini, Maoro (wife of Renata), Harawira, and Kenata. Seated around were near relatives of Reuata, who, as visitors continued to arrive, kept up a continual mournful " " keening." • Near tlio coffin was a large building specially erected to accommodate the guests whom Kenata had invited to meed Mr Mitchelson, to discuss legislation on native affairs, but who arrived to find Unit it was a tangi and not a korero they ' had to attend. At one end of the hall was a \an\r kitchen, in which the table was set out for service, and then run into the diuiuK-hall on wheels moving in grooved, rails. Provision was here made for European guosts, and the iitmost was done to entertain hospitably (he large gathering, though it was not possible" to attend to all in the time allowed. The proßeedinirs'of the day commenced about noon, when some eiphty natives •> appeared and danced a haka iri capital time. The peculiar features which distinguish the haka from all other dances- ' were so far modified as to remove from it " ■ any marked incongruity with ,the surroundings, and anything which might have been regarded as objectionable from - ' --' another point of view. After the halia i. ; •*' '" meeting was held to welcome the Natiic ; '■',-/ ; Minister and to discuss with' him" < '-'-'-' •''•" PROPOSED NATIVE tmiSLATION.'^ '"'' t"^ The hrsfc speakers ,w6ro. Paora JCai/S;vi (W. Biouguton), inranga; Kajajßri£l&j^;tfP • --•.,-;- - -„ • --:■.:■:■• vs'^y^v^-

Taipn, M.H.R., Hapimana (Wairosi), Hbmona (Wairaa), Airene Tonoro (Mrs Donnelly), end J. Carroll, M.H.R. Wfth the exception of the two last named all the speakers irerely welcomed their visitors, or referred to the virtues of Kcrmta. Mrs Donnelly spoke of Kauranria, Karaitiana, and other grfst cKefs who had preceded Benata to the £?rr ye, and sung a dirge, which was taken np by the assemblage in mournful cadences. Mr Carroll', who spoke after prior consultation with the natives present, and in their name, after welcoming Mr Mitcnelson, proceeded to touch on the land question. He said ho had somo proposals to submit in addition to those discussed at the recent gathering at Waiapn. First, he wished to speak on the suggestion that special legislation for the native? should he done away with, and the same ' laws applied to European and Maori. This had many advantages, but he was doubtful whether the time was yet ripo for that. The natives were, however, unanimous in desiring the repeal of the Native Lands Administration Act of ISS6, and they wished to be consulted in the passing of any Act to take its place. If that Act were repealed the Frauds Prevention Act should be re-enacted. If that were done the natives should be allowed to sell or lease laqd, provided that it was shown that the sellers had sufficient left to live upon. Hut individual owners in a block jointly held should not be allowed to sell -without the consent of their coowners, until their shares were individualised. The natives also had great complaints to make about the Native Lands Court; and they wished the Act of 1356 to be amended. The judges and assessors should be more carefully selected than in the past, and the same thing applied to the clerks and inter- . preters. The natives thought it would be best if in each district they wero allowed to elect their own assessors. 'The Native Land Courts should work with the native committees appointed under the Act of 1883. They also desired that a commission should be appointed to inqitire into disputes between natives and Europeans with regard to land, and into' grievances inflicted on natives by decisions of the Native Land Courts.

Mr Mitchelson, in reply, referred first to the death of Renato, whom, ho said, he bad never seou, but of whom all in New Zealand had heard a great deal. Renata was known far nnd wide for his loyalty to the Europeans in times of trouble. He (Mr Mitohelson) had looked forward to meeting the aged chief on his visit to Oninliu, and it had given him great •pleasure to receive an invitation from Renata to consult on legislation on native matters, and he very sincerely regret ted that death had prevented that meeting, ami that the discussion he intended to initiate could not now he carried on. He had to express his sympathy ■with the relatives Renata had left behind, and ho could offer the natives no better advice, or bear any higher* tribute to Renata, than to tell them to follow the example set by him. If they acted uprightly and practised industry prosperity twist follow. Ho would in a few wdrds briefly sketch the legislation which the Government intended to introduce into Parliament next session. Owing to the numerous petitions forwarded by Maoris for the repeal of the Native Land 1 ? Administration Act, 1886, the Government

intended to introduce a Mil to repeal it. It would then be necessary to introduce another bill to take its place, and the one which, the Government bail decided to introduce had not many provisions. It would give the natives power to sell or lease land or retain it in their own possession, but it would forbid any negotiations until three months after the passing of any land through the Land Court, and any payments made or negotiations entered into prior to that would be illegal. Another provision would he that any blosks of land which had a greater number of owners than ten could not be sold until it was bo sub-divided that no portion should have more than twenty owners. Another proposal would be to prevent tha appearance of lawyers ' in the Native Land CouTts. That ] course had been decided upon in con- ; sequence of the numerous petitions from natives who objected to lawyers appearing in the Courts. Another most important provision was that any native desiring to sell land must prove that he retained sufficient to provide for himself and family. . With reference to the many disputes .as to incomplete titles, the Government felt that before dealing with Buch an important question by bill it would be necessary to appoint a Royal Commission, whose duty would be to inquire into all transactions now incomplete, and to make recommendations as to which were bona fide, and which were not so, and as soon as the Commissioner's report was in the hands of the Government, a bill would be framed to cover their recommendations. Amendments Avortld also be proposed in the Native Lands Court Act, but the Government felt that that question was a most difficult one to deal with, and he had been endeavpring in his travels through native districts to. elicit the opinions of the natives on the subject. That would enable the Government to prepare amendments satisfactory to the native people. The bills which the Government proposed would, be trusted, be printed in the Maori language and distributed throughout the colony within the next thirteen or fourteen days. THE FUNERAL. Shortly after 3 o'clock preparations were made for paying the last; solemn offices to the grand old chief who lay in his coffin. A gun-carriage was bronght up, and the coffin lifted on it and covered ' with tho Union Jack. The Volunteers took up their positions in front, the Navals being first, the Artillery next, and the Hastings and Napier Rifles last. Then came the Garrison Band, immediately before the coffin, which was accompanied by Sir George Whitmore and Captain Precce in uniform, and followed by the relatives of the deceased and many Europeans, including the Native Minister, Mr Lewis (Under-Secretary for Native Affairs), Messrs Ormond and Smith, M.H.R.'s, MrS. Locke, and many others. The procession marched_ round the pa to the slow and stately strains of the " bead March," and so dense was the crowd of spectators that the progress of the corilqc was greatly impeded. On arriving at tiio crave, near the church, the Rev. S. Williams commenced reading in a most impressive manner the burial service in Maori and English, the vast assemblage uncovering and maintaining complete' silence except when tho responses in the Maori services were repeated. After the coffin was lowered into the vaalt a party from the different corps of Volunteers fired a funeral salute of three volleys, and the grave closed on all mortal that remained of one of the grandest Maori chiefs who ever trod the soil of New Zealand. tup; will. During the day there had been many whispered inquiries as to the will— or rather wills— of Renata, for it was known that he had made two. The first, executed some two years ago, was said to be chiefly in favor of Mr \V. Brougliton, though legacies to other natives were inserted. Ihe second, made a few days ■before Renata's death, and after liis reconciliation with Mrs Donnellv, left all his property to Mrs Donnelly, he? brothers and sisters, and their children.

After the funeral, and when most oi the Europeans bad gone, it was decided to speak to the assembled natives on the subject, and Mr P. S. M'Lean, as solicitor to Mrs Donnelly, spoke as follows : — You are aware that for years differences existed between licnata and Airini, and veu are also aware that some time before Kenata died these differences were healed up, and that Airini attended on Renata throughout the whole of his last, illness. There are a great many of you here whom Renata told that he was very glad indeed to see Airini back, and there are also many who had no oppor-« tunity of hearing what Kenata had to say about it. There lias been one matter very much talked of since the death of Renata, and that is the will of Renata. Now there is a will made by Kenata some years ago. There is a will also' made by him a few days before he died. It was not the intcntionof Airini to say anything about the will at Ihis meeting, but a very large number of natives have expressed a, desire that the real position of matters should be explained to them. This, then, is the position : Two or three dajra before Kenata died he .mado a will which gave all hia property to Airini, her brothers and sisters, and children. That will is properly attested and is in proper ' form- Some of you know that I am lawyer to Airini, and that trill is at present in my strong-room in Napier. Now, there is another matter connected with this will which Airiui dcaires to "jay to the people here, and that is this : Airini wishes <o say that ior those who were friends of .Renata during his life she also desires to havo the greatest friendship. Those, she considers, were very solicitous jn carrying out the wishes of Kenata during his life-time. Now that Kenata 5s dead, and has left behind him a document clearly expressing his wishes, she expects that those friends will be equally desirous of carrying out those wishes. If

Airini finds those persons desirous of carrying out the wishes of the dead, slit; will be their friend, and they will find she has inherited from Renata the traditions

of his benevolence. But if they desire to go against the wishes of Renata now that he is dead and not able to speak for hlm•self, Airini is as able to fight, and as strong in battle, as Kenafa ever was. That is all I have to say. Mr Carroll replied : I thank Mr M'leau for what he has said, but these disturbances are a trouble. It is known that a will was made by Kenata en the 12th of this month. It is known that a previous will exists. In consequence of tliese two wills trouble is rising. What I wish to say now is because Kenata's people," who have lived under him up to the present, look to me to say something incdn-

nection with this disputo. All I have to say is this: You know there is a dispute at present existing. Let these two wills be taken to the Supreme Court to ascertain which is the correct one. Renata'a lawyer has the will first made by him. Let the matter be conducted per-eably and without quarrelling, because there is provision in the law for carrying out the will of Renata, and let his wishes be carried out by the law. Renata told me what he wished to l«i done with regard to his people, and I say that those matters must be settled by the law, and let there be no disputes between us now.

Mr M'Lean : There is just one thing 1 have to say. It is quite well known that I Renata had in his house a certain' strong- ! room or safe. Airini considers that the \ key of that safe belongs to her, as it was given to her. But some persons who consider that they have a rig'it ' under the former will of Renata have possession of that key. Now I have no wish to go into any disputes which have previously arisen with respect to the possession of that key ; but everyone knows that if a man keeps a strong-room he keeps it because he has something in it worth keeping. All that I want to ask is that the key may be given to-Rcnata's banker in order that he may keep it and all papers in the strongroom until all matters in dispute are settled. I think that is a fair proposal, and I think that Air Carroll, on behalf of whom he is speaking, will sen his way to agree to it. .The banker of Renata "was the Bank of New South Wales, and the manager is here present and raady to take possession of the key. Mr Carroll : Kenata's lawyer agrees that the key ot that strong-room shall be given to Mr Potts, banker, at Hastings. It shall be given up to-morrow. It is not here now.

Mr M'Lean : Do you undertake that it shall be given up to-morrow? Then in the meantime the police shall remain in charge of the strong-room. Mr Carroll: It shall be given up. I believe it is in the bank at Hastings. Henare Tomoana, on behalf of the Nativo Committee, intimated that tho conrsc suggested would meet with tho approval of tho committee. The proceedings then terminated.