FRIEND OF THE MAORIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 56, 7 March 1932, Page 9

FRIEND OF THE MAORIS.

TRIBUTES TO REV. C. A. FRAER ORATIONS AT TUNER-AX. LATE VICAR'S FINAL REQUEST. At the funeral in Christchurch of the Rev. C. A. Fraer, who, with his wife, was well known in the Dominion, there was a large attendance both at the church and at the graveside, including representatives of all those organisations with which Mr. Fraer was connected. A party of Maoris from Tuahiwi attended the funeral and brought a native kakahu (mat), which was draped over the coffin. At the graveside after the ceremony the Maoris sang a lament and paid oratorical tributes to Mr. Fraer. The addresses, which were given in the Maori language, were interpreted. "Depart, O Chief, depart into the soft-veiled shades of the spirit laud," stated Hoani Kingi, in hie native tongue. "Go to Him who is the Alpha and Omega, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind. Depart to our forebears who are hunting in the happy hunting grounds. To.day our hills and valleys are filled with the waters of unbelief. Now you are not with us. We are left as a remnant, without a leader. Again I salute you and pray that your spirit will rest in peace." Keriopa Harawera, a churchwarden of Tuahiwi, said that Mr. Fraer, their former vicar, had been the agent of inspiration that had brought about a revival of the national spirit of the Maoris, raising their statue both socially and spiritually. . They would treasure the wisdom and love he had brought down to them from the great Prophet of Nazareth. "Farewell! Go to the land of our fathers, brothers, and sisters," said Hamuera Rupene. "Go to those who were privileged to walk in the great temples of knowledge. We shall surely follow you. You have done well for your Maori children. Depart, having first carried well the responsibility and organisation laid down by the late

Reverend Canon Stack. The hearts of your Maori children are stricken; they shed tears for the one they loved. Depart into the greater land of eternity where the saints await you." Te Aritaua Pitama said that in this unorthodox ceremony the Maoris were expressing their love and admiration for the man who had saved the Maori people throughout the length and breadth of the South island. He trusted that the Church would give due recognition to their great benefactor. His greatest deeds were known to few, but the returned soldiers of Tuahiwi wished to pay tribute to their padre, whose place no other could take. As, according to the Maori proverb, another bell-bird was born for each that died, so he hoped that another Father Fraer would arise to help the Maori people as he had done. Their late vicar's final request of the pakeha people was: "Will you pray for my Maori people?"