WETERE TE RERENGA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2090, 18 March 1889, Page 2

WETERE TE RERENGA

Wetere Te Reranga, the head chief of Mokao. who died on Sunday last was 60 years of age, and had only been ailing a few days, his complaint being congestion of the liver.

The deceased chief was of the purest blood of tLo Ngatimaniapoto tribe, aud w«m a eon of Tekstrei, a noted obief, who resided near Mokao, and whose mana extended over all the land m ihat neighborhood. He had an older brother who survives him, bat who was a very unsssunv ing man, and Wetere soon left him m the shade. Dnrlng the Taranakl War he was m the field against op, and was the leader m the last and most dreadful episode of that war. On the 13th of February 1869. excited by the deeda of Titoko* warn, and Te Kootl, Wetere headed a taua, or war party, of the Mokau hapa of the Nlgatlmanlnpoto, which, m broad daylight, descended upon Pukearahe, the oolonial redoubt at White Cliffs, and there, under olrcamatanoes of considerable treaohery , masmored the Rev John Whiteley, Lleat. Bamber Gasoolgne, his wif» and three children, John Milne, and Edward Richards, who on their approach had received them In a most friendly manner. The Rev Mr Whlteley was. ai stated at the time, shot by Wetere, bat the deooased ohief always denied this, and said he had done his utmost to save the life of the venerable missionary, who had educated and baptised him by the name of John Weßley, at the 'mission school, at Kiwbia, many years before Daring the session of 1882 Wetere acoompanled Me Joshua Jones (Mokan) to Wellington, where a rumoor was oiroalated that an attempt would be made to arrest him for the murders. He Was quickly emaggled out of Wellington m the dead of night and joined the West Coast ooaoh on the Porima Road. The same amnesty which pardoned Te Kootl extended also to Wetere, and sinoe then he has lived quietly and has more than once visited Auckland and Wellington. He was a man of great intelligence and influence, and, exoept for a brief interlude, took considerable interest In assisting Mr Jones to open the Mokau dlstrlot,— -'• Waaganul Chronicle."

Says the Taranaki "News":— By the death of Te Wetete another name hii been removed from the Pensions List of the oolony, Te Wetere being, at his death, In receipt of £100 per annum. This is the third native chief that has died within the last six months m this dlatrlofc who were m receipt of pensions. One drew ft pension of £58 par annum and the other £30. There Is now|only one ohief left In this district from Waltotara to Whit* Oliffs, who Is In reoelpt of a pension, tht amount being £50 a year. At this rate the Pension! List will loon be wlpUd oat.