LATE CHARLES WALLACE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 81, 3 October 1932, Page 9

LATE CHARLES WALLACE

FUNERAL AT PORIRUA

4- ..>"? ry : largo gathering of old settlers and friends and representatives of .the Maori race attended the funeral of the late Charles Wallace, of Johrisonville, at the rural cemetery at Porirua yesterday aftornoon. At the conclusion,of the burial service, conducted .by tho ■ Key. Father Griffin, of Johnsonville, following . the . Native custom, a kinsman of the deceased on the Maori side, Matai Parai, of Waikanae,\ advanced to the graveside and delivered ,a brief in Maori, which, though not interpreted at the time, seemed in the simple sincerity of its tone.and. manner so appropriate to the occasion that it made a profound impression on those present. .

Tho words in Maori were: .'■■■•_., .TakiKmatua- tuakana:hacre Id o taua tupuna kuiai ,te Po. Ko to kainga tena I. mahia, ai mo. tatou mai i nga, whakatupuranga tae mai ki a tatou itefiei ra. Heoi ki toku. whakaa.ro kaore koe i ,tika Ida takotov i tenei wahi, engari me takoto koe Id. roto o Poneke ara ki AVaipiro. Kei reira to tupuna a Hemi Parai. He ahakoaj kua takoto'. nei koei te taha o tamariki, koiatenei: Takoto ake koutou ko o tamariki c koro. Kua tae ano ki nga. ra i kiia,.e tc Kaihanga hei haeretanga mou, heoi takoto ake koutou i konei." •'""

The following translation' was Supplied by a Maori scholar present :—\ My parent of the elder branch go forth to our ancestors in the World of Night. That is the home ordained i for. us all from the beginning of , time. It seems to me that this is not the most fitting resting-place for' you, but that you should .enter the bosom of earth at Waipiro in. the confines of Wellington, where your grand-parent Hemi Parai awaits you. However, since you have elected to; rest here amongst your children,.who' have preceded you into the Great - Beyond, let it be sp.t Eest here with your' beloved ones. The spasm of life , r: allotted you ,by. the..Creator, fended; this day and so we bid'you a.long farewell. ' ~ . , : .