LATE SIR M. POMARE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 268, 26 August 1930, Page 6

LATE SIR M. POMARE

SERVICE AT WELLINGTON. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 25. There was a large and representative attendance at the funeral service of Sir Maui Pomare at St. Paul’s ProCathedral. The principal mourners were Lady Pomare, her two sons and daughter, her mother (Mrs Woodbine Johnstone) and her sister (Mrs R. Sherratt)^ The Chief Justice, Cabinet Ministers, members of all branches of the Legislature and Departments were present. Mr A. O. Day represented Government House.

An address was given by Canon Williams. He said Sir Maui Pomare was one who always had the welfare of his race.at heart. Prominent positions won by members of the Maori race should be an encouraging assurance to all that a Native who possessed ability and diligently cultivated it had equal opportunity with the Pabeha. of rising to the highest position. The casket now lies in state at Parliament House.

A party of Maoris assembled on the steps, greeted it with wailing ceremonial, and a welcome addrbss was made to Lady Pomare by Sir A. T. ??gata, who afterwards led the mourning Maoris in a lament for the dead.

PLACE OF INTERMENT. AT MANUKORIHE PA. NEW PLYMOUTH, August 25. . Upon a high bluff within the enclosure of Manukorihe (Pa, overlooking the town and placid river of Waitara, "is almost completed a .vault which on Sunday will receive the casket containing the ashes of Sir Maui Pomare. The vault will ultimately be the base of a monument in memory of Sir Maui and another great Moari leader, Wiremu Kingi. No memorial could be more fitting. Behind.are the buildings of the Pa. to the left the old cemetery, wherein lie so many ancient Maori warriors; on the right beyond the road a slope to the sea; in front and below the river and Waitara; and beyond the rolling acres of green the stately cone of Egmont. _ . Upon arrival of the casket at Waitara on Friday, four Maoris dressed in mats similar do those worn by their forefathers, will bear it to the Pa where it will be placed in a small tent until the final obsequies on Sunday. Taranaki Maoris are making preparations for thousands of visitors to the Pa. Many have already arrived, including parties from the South Island and one famliy from the Chatham. Islands. The" supply of food collected already includes five thousand eels and ten tons of /potatoes.