A Marriage Feast.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10392, 9 May 1927, Page 6 (Supplement)

A Marriage Feast.

NOTABLE FUNCTION AT TO'ROA : IN! >77. WI PERE COUNSELS FELLOW CHIEFS. Off April 26, 1877, a notable wedding feast was held at Toroa in the Waerenga-a-hika,district in honor of the marriage of Hetekia te Kani Pore to Riripeto Rangikohera and of liana Tungia Waere to Mr. Gibson, a European, of Napier. The breakfast fras held at the residence of Keita Waere (Wyllio) and the Rev. Mr. Williams'and the Rev. Mr. Root were amongst the Europeans who were present, also some two hundred Natives. After dark, a ball was held. But on the following Friday the monster feast took place, also at Toroa. ' . Wi Pere invited all the chiefs and the people of the tribes as well as the Europeans to attend the feast. The visitors sat at a table 30ft long and 100 ate at a sitting. It was estimated that 500 Maoris and 100 Europeans were in attendance. After tlie least Wi Pere rose and said: — “I am greatly pleased to see the Europeans here but I did not ask you to come for the good things of . the feast only, but that you should ' hear what I have to say to my people. I do not intend to address you, O Europeans, because of all people of the world, you, the Europeans, are the most learned.” To tlie Maoris, Wi Pere then said: “This is what J have been pondering in my heart: — (1) That we again return to the worship of the true God. Wc did not suffer evil at the hands of that God, but when we turned from Him and worshipped idols we then felt evil come upon us. (2) Let us cease to drink ardent spirits. „ Let us take them in moderation, and not get drunk. t: m rff: rn mm m tt. tt. tt.

Late MR. HENRY CLAYTON, Sen. But let us kill our desire for it. “(3) Let us become industrious so that we may possess property. “(4) Let us cease to sell land and let us not. persist in selling it, lest our children become like those who have not any parents to feed and help them. But let us keep that portion of the land we stilt possess for our offspring, who may sell it when they have as much knowledge as the Europeans who now live in their houses only. “(5) Let us re-build the churches (make anew those churches which have been neglected and became decayed in the time of war). “(6) Let us search cut that which caused the evil to us in the days now past, i.e. how some of us have been led into evil. And let us see how we can act in accordance with the law (of the Queen). “(7) Let the people nominate a committee to carry our tlie above suggestions and let a committee be put into power each succeeding year, so that we may find some line of action so that we may have time to breathe in the midst of tlie trouble which has come on us in the years that are past. “Now O people, send your children to school, so that-thev may be as learned as tlie European children or as our member, ICaraitiana Takamoua. has said, that there bo one law for the Maori and the European and that there be but one people. Now O boys and girls, obey the commands and teachings of your parents, that honor may come to you. Now, O people, teach'your children. Send them to school to he taught by the missionaries. Do not allow them to go in the way of their own'desires, nor allow, them to drink ardent spirits. Look at the manner in which 1 and my elder brother have brought our children up. I now take a sincere delight in them. Now, O friends, take care of your lands, so that you may have them to live on. Cease to squander the good things which God has given to your ancestors. O friends, the Europeans were strangers in the land, but they have become rich. And we, the owners, have become poor, because of our stupidity. ’ Now let us follow in the path by which they are so full of knowledge. Let us all ’sleep at this place.” ' On the following day Wi Fere’s advice was discussed. l’anapa Waihipi said: ‘‘Renew the good words of those who Siepfc long ago.” Hoani Ruru. agreed with Wi Fere’s suggestions, as also did Wi Kaipuke and Wirernu Ivingi. Pairama te Kura said: “I cannon bo swift to agree, but t- will sing a song: Let the chiefs, O friends, be in front; let ns be behind.” Paora Kate said: “I agree that we should worship tho true God, and wo must, teach the European who shoots or uses his gun on the Sabbath.” Hapi Kawae said: “Wc ought to return to do the good works of the days of old, when we worshipped the God Who was taught to us by the missionaries. The drinking of spirits •has been death to us. Butene Telce held that the request that they should worship the true God was the greatest that had been made. Look, he said, at what the Scripture says: “Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and all those things shall be added to you.” Pohara said: ‘‘Let us all work in this good work:” Korehana said: “T am the last ot those men who in times past taught you in the work of tlie true God. Now be strong and I will be as a backbone to you.” - L Wirihana Tupeka said: “I am one who hafT come hack from the war and. the buffeting of the seas and the ocean.of war. 'Let Tajuati te Rangr lie our teacher of the Word of Go&; also Hirini te Kani and Wirernu Kingi te Pain. Men of,, low degree cannot do this groat work.” . :V Nepia Tokitahi accused tlie duets of being the cause of. all the evil. “Let tlmm be those to take action, so that good may come to us,” he added. • •5 Ariaru Matete advised those assembled: to'build .the house called ‘loho-o-Mahnki” (or repair it so that it would bo used). Ho went on,: My word in respect of religion is: Be strong! By the centre part ol a house will the house, be held tip. Even so, let the chiefs stand up ms posts to unliold the people. Let the

children of the chiefs he sent to school. It is right also that the selling of the land should cease now. As we (the old men) are going down to the hiding place you, men of low degree, must enter into and work in this work. Look at a basket of nails and a hammer. By these a house can be built. Let us have a committee.” Tamati Terenga counselled all the tribes to turn from the evil ol the Hauhau religion and work in the work of the true God. “We in days gone by,” he said, “had much goods, but now we are poor.” \yiremu King said he had not seen what evil he had done. He added: “Then I will go to my Father and say ‘O, Father, I have sinned against You.’ ” / Tamihana Ruatapu agreed that the chiefs should lead the way and build a' House of God. “I am going to the place of the unseen,” he added. “Look at.me; my head has become white. I am going to be covered up.”