A MAORI ROMANCE.

Evening Star, Issue 10746, 5 October 1898, Page 2

A MAORI ROMANCE.

A Maori wedding that took place at IJarihaka last week was most ' interesting from a spectator’s point of view. A young lady whose friends were followers of Te Whiti became enamored with a disciple of Tohu'. Her friends opposed the match, partly because the gentleman in question was a follower of the opposition prophet, and partly because his previous experiments in matrimony had ‘ not been very lasting. However, they made lip their mind to marry, and married they were, although as usual the course of true love did not run very smoothly. Tfiey first tried the Maori form of marriage, but the bride’s friends put ja an appearance and used force to her away. A regular tussle ensued, during which tjie bride lost her earrings and sundry more necessary articles of attire. She,"however, managed to make her escape, and came up to Pungarehu, where she waited patiently for several hours for her lover. He arrived about dusk, and, taking her into his gig, went round in search of somebody to marry them. Tjie Rev. G. Rlaess was awtty, so they went to' the gentleman who so often accommodates people in trouble— Constable Hickman—and asked him to marry them. The constable, 1 not feeling quite equite equal to the cohtract, advised them to' go to Opunake and get a license. Upon leaving the police station a stepbrother of the bride arrived upon the scene witfr ahorse knd gig, and started in pursuit. A most exciting race ensued, but the lovers managed to orft-distance their pursuers. Being afraid to go back to Parihaka, they stayed that night at Rabotu, and went on next profiling to Opunake, where they obtained a license. > Returning tq Ratio tu, they were waned by the Rev, J. H. White. The happy pair ’’ then went h°me In triumph to Parihaka, where they received a great ovation. The “ tin canners ” visited them, and were most liberally treated. One feature of the affair was rather peculiar. The serenades would drink as much as they could, and then retire. Getting dry, however, they returned on three separate occasions, and it was only when the cellar was empty that they left the bride and bridegroom in peace.—‘Taranaki Herald.’