THE TAWHIAO TANGI.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 226, 21 September 1894, Page 3

THE TAWHIAO TANGI.

A MONSTER GATHERING.

GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION "OF THE \

AFFAIR.

(BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

* Taum^, this day. The tangi 'over Tawhiao is thei largest native'gathering since the great meeting atKapu, in 1879. Fully three thousand natives of all agee, Wen and women, are , assembled in camp: around- Tawhiao's remains. Large sheds are erected for the visiting Maoriß. Three or four' hundred tents are pitched in the enclosure, i The Maoris are most orderly, and there is no drunkenness whatever. The native policemen keep order, and fines are 'exacted for breaches of the rules.: . .'

Twenty-sSs tribes are represented from all parts" of the Island. The Maniapotos and Ngatihauaa arrived in great force with Tawhiao'a body.

The scene ab the reception bE Tawhiao'a body was moab impressive. The firing party on each side consisted of three hundred armed men naked to_ the waist. Volleys were fired at frequent intervale and dynamite, exploded -round Jhe burying place. •. /',., ' ';.. ' :■■■:, ■ *'■ ..■ .'■■..„ \ t . A cortege cotrirjosecl of over nine nuudried men and women was welcomed on arrival by the Waikatos with song and dance. The noise of the chant-dance could be heardfor milea around. ,

Whitiora, the famous Waikafco chief, cousin of Tawhiao, formally welcomed the Ngatimaniapoto and other tribes. V. A tangi then took place, followed by other songs of lamentation and welcome. An immense quantity of food is stored here fdr the natives. There aro over twenty tons of flour,-and many tons of potatoes. The tangi >vti\l lasb till the food gives bub. I:-. :

The body will probably be interred on Wednesday. ,- . " " To-day was devoted entirely to the tangi and speech-making by chiefs. \ To-morrow a political meeting will b3 held, when the natives will di&cuss the Maori kingdom and the new king. Major Te Wheoro and Henare Kaihau desire mo to state thab all Europeans will be welcomed on Monday, when songs of salute will be repeated. t More natives are daily arriving. The natives here are impoverishing themselves over the tangi and will be short of food for a long time. } '