BOROUGH'S TRIBUTE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 237, 13 November 1940, Page 4

BOROUGH'S TRIBUTE

DEATH OF RT. "HON 1 . NEVILLE •CHAMBERLAIN council pays respects : "You have all' heard of the death of the Rt. Hon. Neville Chamberlain, formerly Prime Minister of Great Britain " andl one of the Empire's greatest leaders." said His Worship the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, wheb the Borough Council assembled! for its monthly meeting on Man day night. "Mr Chamberlain held office during one of the most critical times in the history of the British Commonwealth of nations. He saved the Empire in 1938, so that we were in a bettetf posi-* ti'on to defend oureslves when the tiSme came," Mr. Barry continued. "Mr Chamberlain was a / man with no thought for self and this was demonstrate— when he resigned office in favour of a man the people wanteds "As a* small part of the Em* pire we should pay tribute, and I would ask you to stand in silence." . ? .

AGED VETERAN PASSES FOUGHT IN KAU HAU CAMPAIGN DEATH OF WINEiTI KANAWA] At the ripe old age of ninetyfour years r Wineti Kanawa, one of the leaders of the Tai Whakaea sub-tribe to the Matatua confederation, died on Saturday last at his home at P'aroa. Wineti Kanawa was one of _ the last remaining 'Friendlies' wli<K. composed the Maori contingents fighting with the Pakehas against the Haul Hau rebels and to the time of his death was the recipient of a military pension and the prou<l possessor of a medal of merit. Born in- Wliakatane in 1846 this ( old veteran of the wars of the past lias lived to see the town grow from a'collection of huts to the fine modern centre it is to-dav. As a boy; lie lived and grew up in the triu Maori fashion, living next to nature and learning • tile arts of tlm hunt and of defence from the tri- - bal elders. On the outbreak of. hostilities with the Hau Haus. he was one of the first to join the : bodv of local Maoris who identified themselves with Hie white troops who' were despatched to put down the rebellion.

As. a young man he travelled with a Avar party to Marlborough whers he took an active part in the fighting against Rauparaha and latter Rangihaeata. From these campaigns he was eminently suited for service with the pakelia 'friendlies.* With the news of the murdesr of the Rev. Carl Voikner in Opotiki in 1865, Wineti Kanawa was a, member of the expedition sent to round up the murderers under the late Captain Gilbert Mair. Kereopa, the notorious chief mainly responsible was at length located at Te Teko pah and Wineti was a member of the column despatched to take the stronghold, which fell in October, just seven months after; the massacre, swift justice being; meted out to the bloodthirsty perpetrators of the deed.

Wineti Kanawa gave full and loyal service participating in tlie campaigns carried through-'to, the King Country and Taranaki. Long, fatiguing forced marches through the bush -were the common lot ,of scouts, who could c-xpect no mercy from the rebels should they fall into their hands. On the of T'e Kooti and the disposal of his followers Wineti Kanawa /returned to Whakatane where up farming at Otamauru tlie original Paroa pah. When tMe first native school was established?! there he was one of those responsible i'or the . agitation., and later he identified hiius:elf with its progress and growth.

For many years he lived quietly; farming his land and rearing his family. He took a delight in recalling tales of tlic thrilling past anU was well respected by Fakeha and Maori alike. He was predeceased by his wife who passed away some years ago, but is survived by two children, Mr Johnny Wincti and Mrs Jack Simpson. There arc many grandchildren and numerous greatgrandchildren.

At the tangi natives from all along the coast attended coming from as far away as Tauranga, inland from Te Telco and Ruatoki and south from Te Kaha.