LATE SIR J. CARROLL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 284, 1 November 1926, Page 6

LATE SIR J. CARROLL

FUNERAL AT GISBORNE. AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. LAMENT OF THE Af.'A W AS. *.4 ‘ ’ Per Press Association. GISBORNE, Oct. 31. . Bofore a concourse of mourners estimated at between six and eight thousand, the body of Sir James Carroll was laid to rest on Sunday afternoon, the vault being on private ground about • four miles from Gisborne. The day was fine and a huge crowd watched the cortege pass through the town. • For some days past Maoris, from practically all the North Island had been arriving in Gisborne, and parties numbering from 80 odd in the case of Ngati Porou (East Coast) and 40 of Atawas (Rotorua) to nine and ten each of more distant tribes wee present today. The tribes represented, in addition to those mentioned, were Ngati Aw’a (Bay of Plenty), Ngati Whatu (Auckland), Ngati Kohungunui (Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa), Autauga Ahauti (Uawa), Whanauarua (Tokomaru Bay), Rongo Mai Wahine (Mahia) and Wanganui and Horowheiiua. tribes in addition to Sir James Carroll’s own tribe, Rongouhakaata. The Government was represented by Hon. K. S. Williams and Sir Maui Pomare and the- Legislature' by Hon. G. C. Carrington (Dargaville) and Mr ,W. D. Lysnar. The coffin was borne from the residence to the accompaniment of a tangi by grief-stricken Natives with the customary willow wands and willow wreaths, headed by the city band. The lengthy cortege, which included public men and local body men from all parts of the North Island at length reached the burial ground. On the entrance to the ground the hearse was met by Arawas who had been specially honoured by being asked to perform the. ceremony. The aged paramount chief of the Arawas, Tutanekai, with tears streaming' down his face, went out to receive the coffin with lamentations and strewing the ground every few yards with wands of willow. When the coffin was taken inside the ground a large body of Arawas, all bearing willow wands and ; wearing. willow wreaths, with tear 'streamed faces, received it with the old-time rowhiri. >

At the graveside the funeral service was held by Father Murphy (Gisborne), and Father Kreymborg (Tolaga Bay), and hymns were sung by Maori boys of the Waerengaahika College assisted by a Maori choir, finally the whole copcourse joining in the singing, in English, of “Nearer My God to Tiiee.” During the proceedings at the graveside Tutaneki and Meta Taupopoki, Arawa chiefs, knelt at the foot of the. coffin resting on taiahos and sobbed openly. As the body was lowered into the vault the lamentations of the Maoris increased and the tangi continued for some time. Then a sharp command rang out. Three volleys were fired and the Last Post sounded. In deadsilence, «Meta Taupopoki, standing on the tomb, addressed the mourners. “I am a member of the Arawa tribe,” he said, “and we have come from Rotorua to pay our last respects to our chief, genial'Timi Kara.” He thanked the pall-bearers, clergy and choir and continued: “Greetings to you my; pakeha friends one and all, especially on this day when you have come to do honour to a friend both for the Maori race and yourselves. It is pleasing to see such a large concourse, for it shows Timi Kara was held in high esteem. I thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of my people.” He thanked the Cabinet Ministers for their attendance and continued, “Now I will say a few words to my friend” (pointing to the vault). Go, go to the great divide. Go, go to where your elders have gone before you. Their forefathers and their friends. Go, and carry them what has been done behind. • Go, go and join your old comrade Richard Seddon apd greet also your late colleague tlie Prime Minister, William Massey. Go and leave us behind. We are unworthy for departure yet. We know not to who to turn for guidance. Our grief is for your widow who is left lonely and in sadness. But we have our friends with us representing the Government, Mr K. S. Williams and Sir Maui Pomare. Farewell, farewell, a last farewell,” . The impressive ceremoiiy was over. Timi Kara: who w r as born on earth under a cabbage tree, had slept on earth in his fighting days, Has once again in the earth sleeping his long last sleep. , ■

“GIANT TREE OF THE FOREST.’

MESSAGE OF NGATIAPA TRIBE

The following is a translation of a message that has been sent to Lady. Carroll on behalf of the Ngatiapi tribe:— • ■■■■■. '■ “Salutations in your hour of grief, in which we join with you I Farewell, 0 sir, to follow the footsteps of the illustrious dead gone before you, to join the multitude in the cold chamber of death I A constellation has gone into space; another star from the firmament -of tire Maori world has dropped into oblivion. A giant tree of the forest of Tane has fallen',: and the sweet singing bird among the tribe among assemblages has flown. The canoe of the tribe has been split in twain; the midpost of the tribal house has split asunder the sheltering palm of tire great and small has fallen, has been swept into the river of sorrow and carried out to sea. Stay, 0 mother, in thy house of mourning and lament for .thy loss. Our elders in lamentation have said: ‘With weapons of man we have equal opportunities but with those of the Gods food vanishes and man disappears. The Maoris have lost a father, the Dominion a citizen, the Empire a statesman.’ ”