Native Feast at Parawai, Thames.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1819, 14 December 1875, Page 2

Native Feast at Parawai, Thames.

(from our own cobresfondent). Last week there commenced at Parawai a native feast and crying in memory of the wife of Te Moananui (chief of the Ngatitomatira tribe, and of Ohinemuri renown), who died a few days ago, and is not yet buried, but is placed in a neat black-draped coffin, which lies in a separate tent some short distance from her late residence, on the west side of Kawaeranga stream. In, passing the tent early this morning, I saw several women surrounding it and^ crying most bitterly. She leaves a family of four children to mourn her loss—two boys and two girls. At the last great native feast at Te Hore, near Kirikiri (a report of which was published in your issue of the 21st of May last), it was then almost unanimously decided to discontinue feasts for the future, but several natives -were anxious that an exception should be made in case of the death of a chief or any member of his family ; and this course the Hauraki natives have determined on carrying ont. Feasts therefore in the future will only take place amongst the Ngatimaru tribe at the death of a chief or of one of his family. There were about 250 assembled on a piece of land fronting the Kauaeranga stream and directly opposite the new residence ofTe Moananui, some of whom had come overland* and others by canoes and beats from Shortland, Kirikiri, Hikutaia, Totaru, Pnriri, Ohinemuri, and Te Aroa. but most of them however, were already either at Parawai or Shortland attending the Native Lands Court. This feast was given by Te Moananui. and some of the chiefs belonging to the Ngatimaru tribe and is supposed to have cost them over £300. There were no bullocks at the feast, and the meat consisted only of pork. The other provisions consisted of potatoes, knmeras, bread, biscuit, flour, and sugar. The provisions were then laid out in heaps, and after two natives had apportioned each lot to the respective families, one of them in a loud voice proclaimed it to them. A prayer was then said and the feasting began. It is much to be hoped that the natives will get their miners' rights money this week, as the Thames storekeepers are grumbling, and very justly, that they should be kept so long out of their money. The payment that should have been made on Ist July last has not yet been, received by the natives, neither any that became due Ist October last; by the Ist January next the Government will be in arrears with their payments to the Hauraki natives for their miners' rights money for the extraordinary term of nine months. I observe that the natives have complained to Sir George Grey about this matter, and he has promised to look into it. When the natives go to Mr Puokey for payment, he tells them that Dr. Pollen has not yet sent the money, but that he expects to receive it the following month, and so the matter has run on since July last.