LATE SIR MAUI POMARE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20656, 30 August 1930, Page 13

LATE SIR MAUI POMARE.

r A sHES TAKEN TO HOME*

PICTURESQUE CEREMONIAL. GREAT GATHERING AT PA. 7 TRIBUTES TO DEAD CHIEF. t Tby telegraph. —own com:Esronpent.] Is"EW PLYMOUTH. Friday. Historical scenes were re-enacted at Jlanukorihi pa, Waitarn, to-day, when llje ashes of Sir Maui Pomare, after their loDg journey, arrived, to bo honoured a nd laid to "est by Sir Maui's peoplo with a ]l the solemn and picturesque ceremonial c f a native burial service. for days Maoris from all over tho Dominion have been gathering at ManuJiorihi pa, Ihe headquarters of Sir Maui's tribe, and with the arrival of tho ashes by special train this morning fiorti Waikanae, a tangi/ of unprecedented interest was begun. Soaking and almost continuous rain made conditions uncomfortable at th» p a > hut tho arrangements for tho tangi were carried out in their entirety. The train carrying tho ashes also carlied 170 persons, in addition to the official party comprising 56 persons, the rest being natives from Wellington and the east coast. Travelling in the, train were Lady Foniarc, Miss Ana Pomare, and Jlaera and R. Pomare. The official party included tho Hun. Robert Masters, tho Right Hon. J. (J. Coates, the Hon. S. G. Smith, Sir Apirana Ngata, and ?» number of other members of Parliament. Other members of the party were Dr. Ellison, llnpi Love, and many other well-known natives. The recognition of the work of Sir Maui I for the Samoan people was expressed by the presence of Misses Nelson, the daughters of Mr. O. F. Nelson. Several of the members of Parliament were accompanied by their wives. J At 10 o'clock, with wahines wailing shrilly, the casket was taken from tho train, together with 70 wreaths. With four bearers walking beside it, the hearse get off for the pa, followed by about 60 cars. As a mark as respect the shop doors were shut as the cortege passed through tho town. At the pa his peopJo Waited. The brow of the hill overlooking the road was black with them. There must have been between 2000 and 3000 people there. Women Mourn at the Gate. At tho gato a party of 100 women waited. Leaves of green pare fern were wound round * heir heads, and they carried and wore pieces of taua fern, these being recognised leaves for uso on such occasions. Some wore piu pius. Very sud- ' denly, as if at a given command, they burst into an unforgettable cry, waving their branches. Bowing and dipping they advanced a little way toward tho stationary hearse. Their rhythmic movements in tho picturesque mae mac dance, keeping time with a wailing chant, and receding / slowly, tho band of women preceded the casket, now in tho hands of the bearers again, into the grounds of tho pa. Behind the casket walked Lady Pomare and her children and relatives. Behind these came the Parliamentary party. The marae was thickly-ringed with people, and in the centre, covered with mats, a place lay ready for the ashes. Reverently the ceremonv mats were pulled aside, and the beautifully-carved casket was revealed to the view" of all. It lay surrounded by wharikis, kahu, kiwis and taniko koroivais, or various kinds of mats, used for the Durpose. The eyes of all were upon it all the time, and" the women kept up their plaintive wailing, softened by ancient chants. Ashes Conveyed to Tent. Various chiefs of different tribes then addressed the gathering with characteristic eloquence. The casket was then / lifted by four persons chosen from the gathering, all related to the deceased chief, and carried to a specially prepared torit, the entrance to which was hung with symbolic green ferns and leaves. When the bearers slowly neared this tent the wailing rose in volume, and was sustained for some time. About the tent entrance gathered many weeping women and sotihing men. Mats, photographs ' snd spe;«rs were also taken to the tent. As the casket was placed under cover a party of Rat ana natives stepped from the encircling crowd and sang a special chant. The speeches were then resumed. In one speech mention was made of tho fact that the journey of the casket homewards had not been broken at Wanganui. An old custom, on bringing the body of a chief home, was to allow it to stay for a brief while at various places -.n'the wav, so that different tribes could pay their homage. The natives of Wanganui wf'i'O grieved that they had not had the opportunity of paying their respects in the old way. About ono o'clock tho ceremony was stopped, arid the natives and the official party retired to the dining hall and a lnigo marquee beside it for luncheon. There were .seated at one sitting alono more than 400 people. The fare was plentiful and sumptuous. Many of the visitors expressed admiration at the, manner in which the (lining hall was arranged. Dead Leader's Service to Country.

After luncheon, owing to rain, more ihan 500 people gathered in the marquee ;where tho official speeches were made. Sir Apirj&na Ngata spoke first, followed bv Mr. Coates, who spoke of Sir Maui s association with the Reform Party. Mr. S. (;. Smith and the Hon. R. Masters represented (lie Government and the Legislative Council, and Mr. J. MeCombs the, Labour I'arty. All extolled the services to the Maoris, and tho country as n whole, of Sir Maui, and tendered svmpatl i.V to his relatives. The two Maori members, Mr. Tau Jlenaio and Mr. I. Makitanara, also addressed the gathering, and chiefs of virions tribes added tributes. Jn a sli'iKing speech, full "f typical native allegory, Itakaherea Pomare, Sir Maui's younger Fun, replied on behalf of the. faniilv. i

To-morrow (lip ceremonial p;irt r>f (hp t'linal, Ji;ik.is Jin'l jjoi dances, will fake place before the Parliamentary parly ]p;i\ps for Wellington in ( lip afternoon. It- is probable 1 hnt (lip actual service a rirl deposit ing of I lip a slips in tho vault will take place on Sunday.