HAIL AND FAREWELL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 83, 26 March 1929, Page 5

HAIL AND FAREWELL

•Passing of a Maori Chief

Funeral Obsequies at Omaha

(Specially Written for the “Tribune”)

With al! the lavish pomp and picturesque circumstance of ancient Maori custom, Taranaki Te Ua Mairangi chief of the kahungunu tribe of Hawke’s Bay—was laid to rest in the beautiful little cemetery at Omahu. This impressive event was the climax of a lengthy ceremonial of mingled feasting, oratory and mourning lasting for quite a few days. Many hundreds of people each day, consisting of Maori and Pakeha alike, gathered to do honour to the fallen chief and to observe or to take part in the elaborate obsequies.

Scores of cars were lined around the open space yesterday afternoon while the actual funeral service proceeded. In all, there must have been 600 or 700 present. In accordance with the express wishes of the late chief, the actual burial rites were conducted according to the tenets of the Christian faith, and were carried out by two Maori clergymen of the Anglican Church—the Rev .Huata and the Rev. Hakiwai. It was intensely interesting to note, however, that the mourners succeeded in blending the traditional customs of their race with the new religion in such a manner that there was no sense of clash or incongruity There is a story somewhere in the Scriptures of the people who, when the long lost Ark of the Covenant returned, mysteriously borne by oxen, they gladly received it and placed it upon a great rock which stood in the midst of a field. It was in such a .manner that the visitor was privileged to witness the crowning of ancient customs which have been the age-long expression of a people’s worship, by the newer symbolism that came to Maoriland with the Pakeha.

For there, at one end of the open space, the visitor on arrival could see the shrine that housed the body of the chief. The shrine was draped with willows in token of mourning, and for a similar reason most of those who stood round wore willow wreaths upon their heads. The beautifully polished and ornamented coffin within the shrine was surrounded by pictures of the late chief’s ancestors, a modern photograph of himself occupying the central position.

Immediately adjoining the shrine were the marquees that had been temporarily erected to house and feed the multitude which came from all over the North Island to the tangi. and while the ceremony proceeded many of the visitors could be observed under the canvas shelters quietly taking their rest. Proceedings began with an impressively rendered haka by the Wairoa contingent in which one could distinguish the constant ’ repetition of the late chief’s name. Then the pall-bearers, wearing typical. Maori robes, reverently removed and placed the coffin in the centre of the open space. The pall-bearers were those who had been the chief’s re- ■ tainers and servants. At the same time, a platoon of cadets from Te Aute College lined up at the other end of the enclosure, [in readiness to perform their task as firing party. It had been the strong desire of the late chief that the Rev. Huata should preach his funeral sermon, and this he did, after the singing of the Maori funeral hymn, “Heads Bowed Down.” THE ORATIONS. By the courtesy of Mr Poraire Tomoana. the “Tribune”, representative was able to follow the subsequent proceedings, which were interpreted to him as they went on. The sermon was preached from the text; “For how is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept,” and extolled the virtues of the departed chief and the hopes that gather around the problem of death.

Then followed a long list of speeches by various representatives, and it can only be said that the quality of the' oratory, the natural gestures, the unbroken flow of language and the genuine emotion and sentiment expressed were marvellous.

Tupaea, who had been chief organiser of the whole gathering, was

first to speak, and said that he was doubtful whether the tribe was really moving forward or not as Tajanaki would have wished. He urged the people to follow the example of their great leader. "We may be successful in everything,” he'said, "except the preventing of death We may .have been fortunate enough to be born in the age of invention, but our duty still remains to realise that we must join those who have gone before, and so live that we may be worthy of a high chieftainship, which may after all only be achieved by entering through the door of humility.” Mr G. G, Ormond, in paying tribute, said that he mourned the loss of one of his oldest and most valued friends, his friendship with the late chief having lasted tor a period of fifty years.

Pito Te Rito said that the advice lei t to them ail by the one who had gone before was that they should remain steadfast in the faith and that they should continue on the path which he had pointed out to them. He also spoke of the Maori’s pride of loyalty to the British flag, under which the chief now lay, -and urged that that loyalty should never slacken, and in this connection declared that he whom they were met to mourn had < followed it always, even to the grave.

Mo Ki te Rangi spoke in similar terms in a few words, and was followed by Mr Skellor, who expressed his own regret, and conveyed a message of sympathy to the Maori people in the great loss they had sustained. It might truly be said that the late chief had carried on the traditions of a great race and that his memory would be long cherished by the people amongst whom he had lived. This was neither the time nor the place in which to narrate all his virtues or the good deeds he did. The great gathering assembled was the best evidence of the honour and regard in which had been held. Tuiri Tareha conveyed the thanks of the Maori people to the Europeans who had come in such large numbers to pay their respects to the departed chief, and Princess Ngahirwa spoke on behalf of the women, and expressed the desire that someone might soon arise whom the people could follow as they followed Taranaki. Pitiera addressed his opening remarks to the cadets, and it was explained that he did so because they reminded him of his brother, a native chaplain to the troops iu the great war, who had died.

Jack Apitu, who is a nephew of the deceased, was almost overcome with emotion sb that his speech could scarcely be followed, and he was succeeded by Parika, who is at present the senior male member of the tribe, who was selected to say farewell to Taranaki on behalf of the tribe. This he did in moving words. THE BURIAL. Other brief orations followed—not only bv those on the official list—until the time came for the burial. The guard ol honour lined up and marched out of the enclosure in slow time and with arms reversed. j)r pall-bearers raised their burden for the last time and followed. From all around came the mourning wails of the women as the people followed to the cemetery. Here the service was brief The words of interment were read; three volleys fired over the vault into which the body of Taranaki had been lowered; the Last Post was sounded; and with the echoes of the hymn “A Day’s March Nearer Home” still lingering, the mourners quietly dispersed and Taranaki was left to his long sleep.