FUNERAL OF TE PUKE TE AO.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 767, 12 November 1886, Page 9

FUNERAL OF TE PUKE TE AO.

** (united press association.) Otakt, November 4. The Native Minister, accompanied by Mr Lewis, Under-Secretary of the Native Department, arrived here to-day to attend the funeral of the late Te Puke Te Ao, M. H.R., which had been postponed tiil to-day to enable Mr Ballance to be present. A large number of Natives assembled, most of them wearing garlands of willow leaves—green being. the Maori emblem of mourning. On entering the pah where the deceased lay in state, Mr Ballance was received by a salvo of musketry and the usual cries of welcome. Hoani Taipua, Wi Parata, ' and other chiefs then made speeches, expressing their gratification and pleasure at the Native Minister having come so long a distance to be present at the burial of his friend the late chief, whose regard for the Native Minister and the Government was well known. Mr Ballance, in reply, said the occasion of bis visit was a very sad one. Mr Te Ao had been his friend and colleague in Parliament, and he had often been indebted to him for advice and information on Maori questions. It was with sorrow he had heard of his death. The 'news of his illness had only reached him the day before. Their late chief was one who, by his noble independence of character, his generous and manly behavior on all occasions, had won his (Mr Ballance’s) regard. He could also speak of the high esteem in which he had been held by the Government and the Parliament, of which he had been an able and useful member. Mr Ballance said he could only hope that in choosing his successor they might select a representative who would show the same regard for their interests as the deceased had always done. The procession then formed, the coffin, which was covered With handsome mats, hnia feathers, and garlands of flowers, being borne by 12 young men dressed in Maori costume. As it left the pah, two volleys of musketry were fired, and the procession then slowly filed away to the Maori church, a handsome structure, built entirely by Native labor and in Maori fashion. The building, as such, is unique in New Zealand. The service at the church was conducted in the Native language by the Rev Mr McWilliam, the Church of England missionary, assisted by two Maori clergymen. After a service in the church, the body was taken to the grave, which was a brick vault in the pretty graveyard surrounding the church, and was there consigned “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” No one could listen unmoved to the wail of the tangi which concluded the sad ceremony, which was altogether a solemn and impressive one, not likely to be forgotten by thoße who witnessed it. A noticeable feature to-day has been the entire absence of drunkenness or disorder of any kind. No fewer than 1000 Natives are present in the village, and there has not been the slightest excess. This no doubt is due to the counsel of the chief

(Hoani Taipua) and Wi Parata, who urged upon the Natives who assembled a few ago ago to adhere to sobriety, and not to disgrace the memory of their deceased chief by any act of intemperance.