Riperata’s Funeral.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 4, 16 June 1887, Page 3

Riperata’s Funeral.

[communicated]. Mbs Ripebata Kahutia was buried on Tuesday last in the place selected by herself, where repose the remainsof relatives and grandchildren. The coffin, which had a glass plate in the lid showing the body down to the bust, was placed in brick vault, and a glass plate will also be placed in it so that the coffin may be viewed from outside. The deceased was clothed in white satin, and the interior of the coffin decorated with artificial flowers. The funeral service was read by Archdeacon Williams. The attendance, although numerous, was not so large as it would have been had the roads been in a less wretched state than they were, and the weather less inclement. Biperata was descended on the mother’s side from Te itanga a Hauiti tribe, and on the father’s from the Ngaitekite hapu. Old Kahutia was a chief of might in the days when the Colony was young, and held a sway over the whole Poverty Bay district, extending even to Wangaparaoa. It is 30 years since his death. As an instance of his “ mana,” one of the oldest settlers here had taken up a piece of land belonging to hie people, some of whom complained of not getting their snare of the payiren;, which was made in horses, and threatened to turn the pakeha off. The old chief, sent for in haste, quickly put in an appearance, to the joy of the pakeha and the abasement of the malcontents. He settled the business off-hand by seizin'* all the horses himself and ordering the natives to tramp. Tne settler in question was never troubled further on the subject.

On her death bed, Biperata strictly enjoined upon her daughter, Heni Materoa, Mrs James Carroll, the continued observance of the conduct she had laid down as her guide during her life time. It may be added that she was uniformly generous to those who were in any way cependent on her, and although precise, was both kind and just in all her dealings. Her late husband, Mika lipuna, died some months since, but his grave lies far from hers. A number of the mourners cropped their i ir close in token of the 1 ' grief. May she in pcere.