WIDESPREAD MOURNING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17409, 6 November 1930, Page 11

WIDESPREAD MOURNING

LADY CARROLL’S BURIAL SCORES OF FLORAL TRIBUTES \ PAKEHA INTEREST KEEN. The keenest interest was taken by pa Lena residents of the district this aiternoon in the final rites in connection with the burial of Lady Carroll, widow ol Sir James Carroll, and one ot the outstanding figures tit the native community of the North Island. The decease of Jxidy Carroll occurred ou Saturday lust, and the intervening period has been filled with demonstrations of respect, from natives and pakcha friends alike, the ceremonies culminating in a considerable gathering of native tribesmen and tribeswomen to-day, reinforced by hundreds of pakehas who came both to pay their respects to the dead cliieitainess and to witness the Maori manifestations ’of mourning. There was more than ordinary interest in the gathering, for it comprised representatives of a large number of North island tribes, including the Tuwharetoa (Taupo), Arawa (Rotorua), lama tea (Southern Hawke’s Bay), Ngatikahungungu (Mohakti, Wairoa, Ntthaka and Mahia), Ngatiporou (East Coast north of- Tokomaru Bay), Whanau a Rua (Tokomaru Bay), Hauiti (lolnga Bay), Ngati tionohi (Whangara), Mahaki (Poverty Bay north of the Waipaoa River), Kongowhakaata (Poverty Ray south of tho Waipaoa River), and Ngataimanuhiri (Muriwai). Not all of these tribes were represented by large bodies of natives, for many of tjie tribesmen who had come to demonstrate their love for tho dccased had been forced to return home. This inability of the Maoris of the present day to assemble and remain lor many days in attendance upon the remains of a highly-respected member of their community is a sign of tho times. Eeononfic pressure hag brought responsibilities to the Maoris which they cannot ignore, and it is the general practice nowadays for each tribe to bo represented at official functions not- by large parties, but by the most influential of their members. AFFECTING) SCENES.

There were affecting scenes throughout the funeral ceremonies to-day, scores of floral tributes being delivered at the late residence of Lady Carroll this morning and up till a short tune before the funeral procession commenced. Tho number of wreaths and other emblems constituted a striking tribute to the memory of Ileni Materoa, as did also tho wealth of condolences forwarded to flic relatives of the deceased from all parts of New Zealand. Among these latter were communications from two organisations with which the deceased had bad close associations, namely the Maoii Women’s Guild of Auckland, and tho Rotorua Ladies’ Hockey Association. it will be remembered that- on the occasion of the recent hockey championships in Gisborne, tho Rotorua Indies’ team made its headquarters at Lady Carroll's house, and that her good offices were always at the service of the .playei*. It would have been strange if the obsequies of Hcni Materoa had lacked some recognition of the ties that bound the hockey players to the memory of the deceased.

MANY SPECTATORS Tho departure of the cortege for the burial ground was preceded by a short service conducted by the Right Rev. F. A. Bennett, Bishop of AcVcaroa, who was one of tho closest- personal friends of Jleni Materoa. Then, through tho ranks of a largo crowd of spectators, who stood bareheaded for the time, the casket was borne on the shoulders of the pallbearers to the hearse, those chosen for tho honor of pallbearers being members of the Kahutia Bowling Club, comprising Messrs. B. L. Power (president), R. Morse and J. J. Martin (expresidents), P. W. Smith (vice-presi-dent), A. Sawyer (life member), and R. Jenkins (lion, treasurer). At eyery intersection along the route of tho procession, and lining tho streets completely for the first half-mile, stood hundreds of spectators, few of whom failed to make obeisance to the casket Us it- passed their stations. Hero and there stood groups of cars, bringing fresh; reinforcements to the cortege, which as it left- (lie residence of the late Lady Carroll comprised at. least 70 cars, and was considerably swelled before it reached the burial ground.

CEREMONY AT TJIE GRAVESIDE. Loud and prolonged wailing from a large, group of Maori women, wearing wreaths of willow and other green ioliago in their hair, warned the crowd waiting at the graveside of the approach of the head of the procession, and repeatedly there rang out the tangi apakuras which express so vividly the spirit of despair and heartfelt grief displayed on such an occasion. Constantly, too, was heard the minor tones of the keening women, rising to a great volume as the hearse appeared in sight, followed by the cars of the relatives of the deceased, the chief mourners. Behind the family of the late Lady Carroll, in the procession, followed in order the representatives of the various Maori tribes, the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngnta, Messrs. K. 45. Williams and W. I). Lysnar, M’s.P., Chief Judge U. N. Jones and Judge IT. Carr, of the Native Land Court, His Worship the Mayor, Mr. I). W. Coleman, members of the Gisborne Borough Council, members of tlie Cook County Council, Waikohu County Council, R.S.A., 9th 11.8. Regiment, representatives of the Cook County Women's Guild, the St. John Ambulance, police force, Native Department officials, members of the professional and mercantile communities, a deputation of the Chinese residents, and a large number of cars carrying representatives of public, semi-public and sporting bodies. The Kalmtia Bowling Club, represented prominently by those carrying out- the offices of pall-hearers, was also strongly in evidence in the latter portion of the procession. At the entrance to (be private burial ground waited the Bishop of Aotearoa, supported by Canon If. l’acke, vicar of Holy Trinity, and by the Revs. W. J. Elliott and 0. All,wright, with the following members of the Maori clergy 7 : Revs. P. Tamahori (Ruatbria), P. Hakiwai (Hastings). If Huata (Moliaka), W. T. I’ulia (Mann hike), W. Hauwaho (Tolaga Bay). P Kohere (Rnngitukia), and Wi Moana (Tokomnru Bay).

The service at the doors of the vault was not a lengthy one, but it was truly impressive, the first part being rendered in Maori, this portion including a, beautiful Maori hymn. Then followed a striking address bv tho Bishop of Aotearoa, referring to the passing of the notable figures of the past generation as marking stages in the history of the. Maori rare.

Rain fell during" the concluding minutes of the service, and there was a hurried exodus of .sightseers who had overlooked the chance of a change in the weather, and had come unprepared. The ceremony was completed with the committal of the casket to the vault.