RIVERHEAD: GATHERING OF NATIVES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4406, 9 October 1871, Page 2

RIVERHEAD: GATHERING OF NATIVES.

There is a large gathering of natives ab the settlement of Kopironui, about eight miles from here, occasioned by the funeral of Wiremu Reweti te Whemia, a chief of the Kaipara people, who died 011 Thursday last, at Orakei, near Auckland. The body was brought up by steamer from Auckland, aud about ono hundred natives accompanied it. Other natives poured in, from Waitakere and the different settlements along the Kaipara. There caunot be less than four hundred people assembled. Lameutations and feeding are proceeding in about equal proportions, as is usual at the funeral rites of the natives. ; The deceased was a brother of Paul Tuhaere, of Orakei, and belonged to the hapu of the Nyatiwhatua known aa Ngaoho. He was in all respects a very good man — sober, honest, and well-disposed towards Europeans. Ho was the principal spokesman on the occasion of the concession of the Kaipara railway line to Mr. Sheehau, and. materially assisted that gentleman in bringing it about. He leaves a widow and (a most unusual circumstance amongst natives) thiiteeu children. The Kaipara Railway works are being pushed on vigorously, and the coming summer will doubtless see the whole of the earthworks and bridges finished. — [Correspondent.]