A RAILWAYMAN'S PROBLEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1926, Page 8

A RAILWAYMAN'S PROBLEM.

NATIVES AND A TANGI. NO MONEY FOR FUNERAL TRAIN, (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, this day.' . The Railway Department is occasionally besot with difficulties. In - this category ran be included one that unexpectedly cropped up in the Wanganui district recently. A Maori from Wanganui died while on a visit to Waitara and in accordance with the tribal-cus-tom it was arranged to have the l)ofly sent back to his home place. .This was the stage when the Railway Department became an interested party, ; arrd in a mortuary van accompanied the consignment note marked "freight forward" the deceased Henare was railed to a small station south of Wanganui.. As fitting for a man as Heuare's rank a. tangf was arranged to mark the mournful occasion, and members of the trib6 I relations and friends gathered from far • J and near to pay their respects. It maT. , have been that the financing of the tangi somewhat depleted the exchequer, J for when the railway man at the station I demanded £5 8/ freight due before delivery Henare's friends were unable to find it. A korero was held in the vicinity and £3 was offered as settlement of the claim. "Go and have another korero," was the advice of the harassed railway official. The next one lasted a considerable time and materialised into a offer of £3 cash, a Ratana hank coupon, an 1.0. U. for 15/ and half a bag of kumaras. "Xo good to the Government," said the railway man when the proposition was put. "The lot or you won't have Henare." "Kapai," replied the leader of the deputation, "you keep him." This unexpected decision necessitated action and led ,to hurried negotiations, in which the powers further afield were called I into consultation. The upshot was I that a few hours later a sad little I funeral procession commenced to wend ! its way up the hillside from the station, i There was grief at the passing of Henare ' and probably the Railway Department has had cause to share in the sorrow that the tragic homecoming caused.