RUA'S FUNERAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 50, 1 March 1937, Page 15

RUA'S FUNERAL

IMPRESSIVE ,LAST RITES

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WHAKATANE, February 28

I The funeral of the Maori "prophet" Rua. who died last Saturday, took place at Malahi on Saturday afternoon! The tangi held throughout the week was attended by large parties representing tribes in the East Coast and inland districts, but only about 300 followers from the Tuhoe.tribe-and a few. visitors remained to take part in the last rites. The burial took place in a concrete tomb specially constructed alongside the residence. The burial ceremony was very. impressive, and lasted about an hour. Tv Ruku Uku, a paramount chief from Ruatoki, led a. haka for. the departed to the'undertorieof'wailing'by wahiries, including Rua's-' five "remaining, wives. . -~.',• The Rev. J. G. Laughton, Supervisor of Presbyterian Missions, conducted a' service in Maori and referred ,to the tense .-moment- experienced, by those present on Wednesday evening as a result of-Rua predicting [ that .'he would rise from the ' dead in • three days. The fact that Rua had.ruled without reference to others and that others had submitted to his direction would make it difficult to carry ,'on, but he asked them to remember thatthey still had God, "whose direction they should follow.

According to Maori custom .a- successor to1 a chief, is decided on merit. On this occasion a committee pf' four was appointed, including' Heta J Rua, son of the deceased,' who was -given, the opportunity to succeed and welcomed the visitors to the tangi.- ,

The result of the International Convention for the Protection.of Fauna and Flora in.Africa,whichwas held in London, and was attended •by representatives of the Governments, of the United Kingdom, South Africa, Belgium, Egypt, Spain, France; Italy, Portugal, and the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, provides for the establishment of national parks and natural reserves in. Africa, and the protection of species ia certain cases of urgent importance.