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Te Ao Hou, Spring 1954, Page 40

links with the past in people and settings. But when Sir Peter Buck was a child anti-British feeling about the Maori wars was still intense and the people were landless through confiscations. Later, land was restored to them and many of the hosts at Te Rangihiroa's funeral feast now have flourishing dairy farms. The plan for the burial ceremonies on the Sunday was elaborate. Off the burial ground, the most interesting event was perhaps the dancing at Manukorihi Pa (Waitara). Apart from the group of older people, who had also performed at the Royal Visit at Rotorua, members of several youth clubs performed. One group in particular made a great impression on a very critical collection of chiefs from all over New Zealand, all watching to detect the bad as well as the good. It is high praise when such chiefs speak about a tribal group other than their own as “very good”, or “these are the ones who practised.” I had seen this particular group being trained. The teacher was a welfare officer who had travelled 45 miles to be present. The pupils, about 60, were boys and girls from the local farms and factories. The rehearsal lasted from eight until midnight without interruption. Many believe that at all Maori burials there are omens. Rain and storms are frequently accepted as such. There was no rain on this occasion, but two unusual incidents startled the gathering. First, the man who challenged the Governor-General broke his taiaha, and later it was placed in the vault beside the ashes. Then the door of the vault could not be opened when the casket of ashes was carried down to it by a solemn procession headed by (Continued on page 43)