FUNERAL OF MAUI POMARE

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1930, Page 13

FUNERAL OF MAUI POMARE

PREPARING FOR THE CASKET ARRIVAL OF MANY VISITORS: • WAHJNES’ WAILING WELCOME. The ceaseless activity at* Maiiakorihi Ta, Waitara, where Maoris from all over the Dominion are preparing for to-morrow’s reception of the casket containimr the ashes of their late leader, Sir Maui Pomare, continues —but the sounds of sawing and hammering are punctuated by the sobbing cadences ot the wahines drawn up near the entrance to ‘the enclosure. Upon the arrival ot each fresh party .the wahines alreadj in residence at the pa give a wailing welcome.. Representatives from among the visitors respond—and so the whole day long. There are many more natives .at tne D a now than on Monday/ Numbers nave arrived from’ South Taranaki and Taumarunui, and a small party from Auckland. A large number of. Walkatos, about arrived last evening. About 80 arrived from Patea, Hawera and Manaia. Large parties are expected today. [mt families continue to appear :-t all times of the day. . . Consequently the marquee containing the long dining tabice is never empty and the helpers in the tent are always busy. Food continues to arrive, several barrels of mutton birds being a notable iteni which was heartily . approved by those who witnessed'the unloading. .7 ' . The pa has assumed an entirely different. appearance. Large marquees and small. ones, big tents and little ones/ have been erected; the pillars of • the main meeting-house, the fences and'the <ruy ropes of the tents have been hung with pungas and grenery and an arch of punga fronds has been formed at the cate. Inside a road which leads round to the left rear of the pa buildings is in tlie process of being metalled. This, together with a number of heavy tarpaulins, indicates that the Maoris are not over-satisfied with the weather prospects. The special train conveying the casket and the parliamentary party is due about 8 o’clock to-morrow morning. The transportation of the casket from the station to the pa by the Maori warriors in war kit, together with the haranguing multitude which will follow it up the° hill, should present a wonderful sight. The officials at the pa are not certain that the funeral will take place on Sunday, as they thought, or on Saturday. Although the natives wish the final obseques to be held over until Sunday it is understood some of the official party from Wellington would like to see them take place on Saturday to enable a return to be made to the capital before the beginning of the week.