NATIVES MOURN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19258, 25 February 1937, Page 4

NATIVES MOURN

UREWERA CEREMONY TANGI FOR RUA AN IMPOSING TOMB In the canoe-shaped valley, through which the Waimana river wends its way at Matahi, Urewera Maoris and all the neighbouring tribes are assembled in deep mourning, with all the ritual of Maori custom, for the passing of their prophet, Rua

Bush-clad hills surround the riverformed flat on winch Matahi pa is situated, and on this lonely site, 200 or 300 natives of the Whakatane, Te Whaiti. Ruatoki, Opotiki and other tribes have gathered. These are but a few of the many who will participate in the tangi, as word of the prophet's death has been sent to all the tribes in the North Island.

The "body of the prophet lies in a ■offin on the verandah of his whare, open lo the public gaze. It is clothed in the purple robes of prophetic authority. Five of his wives are amongist those present, but the chief mourner is his grandson Taueaua, eldest son of Rua's eldest son, who was killed when a police party skirmished with the tribe in 1915 in effecting the arrest of the prophet on a charge of sly-grogging.

NEARLY BLOODSHED

There was very nearly bloodshed when two ancient enemies contested priority of place before the coffin and struck fighting) attitudes armed with taiahas. The paramount chief of the Tuhoe tribe, an ancient enemy of Rua, buried his enmity and delivered a long and fiery oration, in which he declared the prophet should be buried immediately and not left to the public gaze, as his body was sacred. He quoted the example of Te Kooti, who was buried soon . after he died. This matter was debated for some time, but no definite coriclusion seemed to have been reached.

The visiting Maoris brought generous gifts, which were laid before the coffin. The Ruatoki representatives arrived with a truck-load of kumaras and pigs, as well as 30 £1 notes, which were scattered around the coffin.

The tangi will continue, indefinitely, as the main body of Rua's own people from Maimgapdhatu have not arrived yet owing to the rough nature of the country to be traversed.

The natives are now constructing an imposing tomb of concrete.