THE LATE HEMI MATENGA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 8 May 1912, Page 6

THE LATE HEMI MATENGA

" ,AN ANCIENT MAORI CUSTOM. , the.;'Tahua eoa kai." In the early 'days of colonisation a cus-' toni was prevalent amongst the Maoris, on the death of an illustrious chief, ot 'distributing food as the final conclusion of the "tansi." . • This custom; has now practically died • oat' in almost'every part of the IJoniin- / ion. . But - the late 'Heini Matenga being •' not only a man of high rank amongst ■ the. natives, ' but-being also one of the ~ last of-the. old type of .Maori chieftain-. ■ 1 • ship, his; relatives .decided to revive once ''more this old custom of-the "Tahua Kaj.**as'a'fitting conclusion to the "tangi" for the deceased rangatira (chief). _ - Immediately in front of the late chief's : residence was a great heap of food covering a space of about 40 feet by 8 feet Vy * ■ .4 feet nigh. The f ocd cxmsisted of 240 s -bags.of■yfiouiv 40.-bags- of sugar, E0 t.in3 of, biscuits" 22 boxes of-tea, 2 casks tifci - 'or mutton bird',-each.cask containing 425; • ■-■ c 'birds, : and over "the whole heap" were 5 - '-sticks, each stick ornamented with 30 "SI notes, making. ££o altogether. * - • After'aeveral- addresses .were delivered,- ** a representative of the deceased's family - "divided-up the' food into separate heaps, .. likewise the money. Each heap was presented" to different tribes, and amongst the tribes. announced was the pakeha tribe. ; The-speaker took the opportunity of thanking pathy; they had shown to tlie relatives of the'-.deceased,- evidenced by the; very large numbers who had come tb""witness the last mournful" rites, of -the "tan"!.'' The genuine sympathy manifested had beenra great; consolation to the "whareinate," house of mourning. The Ven. i Archdeacon Grace - replied, on behalf of the Europeans, and accepted the gift by placing; his .hands this parfict'loTheap. Tfcen he returiied the gif tto these living in the "House of. Mourning." Each " tribe did the same. At the. end of the day they. no - - further ahead , than they were In the r >morning, as all the focd - had been; returned. So matters were deferred", -until this morning (Tuesday). - About 9 ; o'clock the ceremony peated. - This time the heaps was divided intoV two: parts, one for the North . Island natives, and the other for i the South.''lsland. A number of eloquent and interesting speeches were_ delivered, and eventually the focd was distrifcuff&L amongst the following .tribes who y.'ere represented- pn the maral, (courtyard)' NgatLToa-j JSgati JJaukawa, Te Arawaj Te Atiawa,. and Taranaki. This .closed an .interesting but very ex-pensive-ceremony, a. ceremony which will' nrobably not be seen. in this district ■ ■ again. . .