DEAD CHIEF’S FUNERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19032, 9 June 1924, Page 3

DEAD CHIEF’S FUNERAL

OLD CUSTOM REVIVED. ARRIVAL OF THE ARAWAS. (Correspondent N:Z. Herald.) WHAKATANE. June 4. The funeral of the dead chief Hurinui Apanui took place this afternoon in the Whakatane Cemetery. The cortege was headed by the local band and natives carrying the various flags of the different tribes. About 100 motor-cars, besides a number of other vehicles, followed. The scene at the graveside was very impressive. Father Westiende, the Roman Catholic priest of the district, conducted the service. As the remains were lowered into the grave a great wail went up from the assembled Maoris, both men and women. The native women plucked off greenery with which they had decorated themselves and flung it into the open grave. All the natives then voiced a sorrowful farewell to tbeir chief, the lamentations being continued until the last spadeful of earth had been thrown upon the grave.

One of the most exciting incidents of the tangi occurred yesterday morning. On the arrival of the Arawas from Rotorua about 100 of them lined up and performed a stirring haka. They were stopped by a challenger fom the pa. After the usual preliminaries the challenger led the visitors to the pa, and the latter revived an old Maori custom which was to get to the body of the chief in spite of the opposition of the local tribes. Instead of lining up o n the further portion of the grounds as previous visiting tribes had done, the Arawas made a concerted rush for the front of the meeting-house, where the coffin was surrounded by the women. The local tribes were caught unawares, and had much ado to keep back the invaders with the result that for a space there was a great scrambling and pushing, and to the onlookers it appeared as if a free fight would re suit. The local natives were speedily reinforced, and at last succeeded in pushing back the Arawas, and quiet was restored. In the old days it was the custom, it is stated, for a visiting tribe to go forward and lay hands on the body. If they succeeded it meant a defeat for the local tribes and added mana to the visitors, who would afterwards go home and tell their people of the prowess they had displayed. The Arawas were ceremoniously welcomed later on They presented a roll of 100 one pound notes tied to a pole as a contribution to the expenses of the tangi.