DISTINGUISHED GATHERING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27447, 21 July 1950, Page 8

DISTINGUISHED GATHERING

Funeral Ceremony Today PA GISBORNE, July 20.

Tribal delegations from all parts of the Dominion have assembled at Waiomatatini during the past three days for the last rites for the late Sir Apirana Ngata, who will be laid to rest tomorrow in the traditional burial ground of his line. The funeral procession and burial have been tentatively fixed for 11 a.m. The parliamentary delegation, headed by the Prime Minister, Mr Holland, will arrive in Gisborne by special train at 5 a.m. on Friday and leave by road for Waimatatini. The party will include Messrs W. A. Bodkin, E. B. Corbett, W. Sullivan and T. L. Macdonald, members of Cabinet, C. G. Harker, J. J. Maher, S. I. Jones, T. Hayman and J. R. Hanan. representing the Government benches, and P. Fraser, W. Nash, E. T. Tirikatene, H. G. R. Mason, A. E. Armstrong, T. P. Paikea, R. Walls and Mrs I. M. Ratana, representing the Opposition benches. The Australian Minister in New Zealand, Mr A. R. Cutler, V.C., the chief judge of the Maori Land Court, Mr D. G. B. Morrison, and his predecessor in office, Mr G. P. Shepherd, Dr A. G. Sutherland, Judge John Harvey and Judge H. Carr will also attend. Dignitaries of the churches with which Sir Apirana Ngata was associated in the preparation of a new text for the Maori Bible will attend the ceremonies, and it is expected that the rites of various denominations will contribute to the occasion.