THE WAAHI GATHERING.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13583, 26 November 1912, Page 6

THE WAAHI GATHERING.

BURIAL OF "KING" MAHUTA

CORONATION OF HIS SUCCESSOR

iBiNiTED Press Association.]

Auckland, Nov. 23. Mahuta was buried, and his son, To llata, crowned "King" at Waahi yesterday. Threo thousand people gathered in'tko village square and the procession was led by a Native band, and by women dressed in black with green ■boughs twisted round their bodies, the sign of mourning. The Native clergy wore white -uirplices, and the young king was cLesscd in European clothes. Ho "was attended by relatives and advisers, also in European clothes, and each wearing a large feather mat. Some ifoljoweijs werci dressed in accordance with the old custom of the race. _ Iho ceremony was almost entirely religions, the form's of the Methodists and Church -of England beivg conducted by Maori clergymen. Psalms wore chanted, and the singing was exceedingly good. The Ilev. Po;^re prerched a sermon on ".Fear GoJ. n»»-:' honour your King."

The crowning of Mahuta's successor! was performed" by Tupu Taingakawa, whose aaice-st:>r was known as "The King-maker." 7;>;>u -,r.i:l th/it in days of old tb.' king:-, wow <.mointed with oil, but since the advent <>F Christianity they had been-anointed with the word of God as a token of which lie placed an open Bible, on tho young king's head. Ho remindo-d the king of the celebrated saying of liie ancestors, ''keep the law and love the people," irml Tawhiao's, "Though yo be dark on tho outside, see ye keep your hearts pure end spotless." Following on this came typical Maori songs and "greetings from various sections of the"new king's subjects, and a. dinner, which was an elaborate feast, to which both Maoris and Europeans were invited.