DEATH OF MAORI PRINCESS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1930, Page 5

DEATH OF MAORI PRINCESS

FUNERAL YESTERDAY

CHRISTCHURCH, June 9.

The highest Maoris in the land gathered at Tuahiwi yesterday afternoon to pay their last respects to Rahere, Muriwai .Morrison, 0.8. E., departed princess of the Ngaitahu, direct descendant of Taint, progenitor of the tribe, and the last of her line. Many Europeans also attended, and there were over 500 at the funeral. Air W. Para tea. big komatua of the tribe and Air T. Alnkitanura, ALP., for the Southern. Maori, and Air K. Hadlield, komatua; of the Tuahiwi .Maoris were among the mouners. The Hon 0. Witty, Al. L. C., and Air R. W. Hawke, ALP,, represented the Governing lit. Members of the Canterbury Rugby Unoti and of the British football team were present at the request of the chiefs of the tribe.

The tangi in honour of the princess had already been in progress for two days at the meeting hall at Tuahiwi. Speakers from the various tribes lamented her death, and told how she had always been in the forefront of any movement for the welfare of her people. Air FI. S. King. Deputy-Nat-ive Trustee, expressed the sorrow of the Native Minister (the Hon Sir Apirana Ngata.) All the customs that the Natives follow in mourning their lost ones were fully • and reverently observed. Her peole gathered round the body as it lay in state in the meeting hall. The low wailing of the wahines, wearing a garland of greenery as a symbol of their grief, grew louder as the coffin was borne to the hearse, preceded by a surpliced Maori youth hearing a cross and followed by the rnngitiras and wahines who made up the tangi party. They followed the bipr afoot in solemn procession to the church among the willows, where all joined in a short service conducted in English by tho P°v. C. A. Frner, and the Rev. E. Chard, vicar of the parish. Slowly then the cortage proceeded to the remeterly nearby where the two ministers read the burial service, the committal being spoken in Alaori.

The wailing broke out again in rising crescendo as the tangi party chanted their last farewell to the spirit of the departed princess. Individual Alaoris advanced to the graveside and spoke their farewells in the Native tongue,, speeding the Spirit on its way to the seat of the Gods.

“Maori and pakelia friends,” exclaimed a member of the Tainui tribe, the West Coast branch of the Xgaitahus. “I take this fa fitting ifrom the coffin) back to the West Coast to the church that she loved so well.” Sadly the mourners made their way back to the meeting ball, there to continue the tangi,