SAD HOME-COMING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 48, 25 August 1930, Page 11

SAD HOME-COMING

THE LYING- IN-STATE

After the service at (lie church the i casket was solemnly removed to the i main vestibule of Parliament House, where it is to lie iv state until this . afternoon. A party of Maoris tisseuib- < led on the steps of Parliament House ( greeted the. remains with characteristic ] expressions,of Maori, grief as the hearse : approached from the church, and the wailing intonation was continued more . or less without a break while the many ; iloral emblems from various institu- s tions, departments, and private indivi- I duals were arranged around the casket. Several Maori mats were deposited be- i side the casket, and also a. handsome ( mere from the Ngati Toa tribe, to which Sir Maui belonged. The .mourning relatives —Lady Pomare and her daughter and two sons, and Sir M'aui's mother and sister —stood quietly by, with bowed heads, aa the mournful ceremony proceeded. An address to the dead and a few words of welcome to Lady Pomaro on her return with the ashes from America were delivered by Mr. Hapi Luve. A SHOCK TO THE NATIVES. A. welcome to Lady Pomaro on beliall.' of the Maori people was voiced by the Minister of Native Affa.ir.-s (Sir Apirana Jsgata). "The. news of the cremation of Sir Maui Pomnve," lie said, "came as a shock, but during the 'weeks that we have been wailing for you and his remains lo be brought brick to New Zealand that feeling has died down. It was only to be expected thai; on receipt of thai news, his people and the Maori peopk' throughout New Zealand should fi'el shocked. We welcome you back. We have thought a good deal of you and Maui during your absence. i*ou set, out. from New Zealand full of hope that a change of climate and special treatment might, restore him to health, because I do not think the Maori people believed that, hits mission in life had been completed. However, it has pleased the Almighty to call him hence. We welcome you back in. sadness, and at the proper time wo will accompany you to Waitarn, -whe.ro we arc told he will have his last resting place. That will be the proper occasion for the Maori people to do honour to one of the greatest men that the history of New Zealand has known." At Hie closo of his address Sir Apirana led the mourning Maoris in a lament for the dead. A SAD HOME-COMING. ! Speaking with the aid of an inli-r- | preii'i-, the Kifjit lion. J. C f'oalcs j said that it v.-as not only the Maoris who expressed ojaliludc al seeing Lady Pomaro return, but aNo the pakehas. They realised that Lady .rVimsre's Tin-divided attention and. devo-1 ■ : \w£l $0 £8g Manx lad been. g£. so ttJgMf

and that the Almighty had called him. She had done all that human could do in helping Sir Maui in his illness. Only time would record the work that .Sir Maui, whom he referred to as "our late brother," had donp, not only for the Maori people, but also for the pakeha. "It was fitting" said Mr. Coatcs, "that on this threshold where his work centred for many years past, working on behalf of his people but always with a correct perspective as to the pakeha mind as well, ho should remain for a short time before going to his last resting place." Mr. Coatcs made- reference to the assistance Lady Pomare had rendered to Sir Maui in the course of his political life, and invited'her continued assistance on behalf of the Maori people in the future. It was a sad home-coming for her, as it was also for everyone else, but if sympathy and affection could help her iii her trial, it was felt towards her in abundance throughout the Dominion. A half-brother of Sir Mani also addressed the gathering, welcoming Lady Pomare, paying a tribute to the dead, and expressing thanks for the tributes paid to Sir Maui's memory.