OLD RESIDENT MET CHIEF TE KOOTI “ON THE MAT”

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 9, 8 July 1949, Page 5

OLD RESIDENT MET CHIEF TE KOOTI “ON THE MAT ”

The distinction of having come face to face with the old Maori chief Te Kooti cannot be claimed by many living people today. But Mr W. J. Eivers, probably Whakatane’s oldest resident, who reached 90 years of age on Wednesday, is one person who can claim this. It was at the time that Te Kooti was planning to stir up trouble in Gisborne, Mr Eivers told the Beacon.

“I had come to Whakatane and was strolling down the Strand, which in those days consisted of a line of huts to the Heads, when a Maori acquaintance of mine asked, me if I would like to see the great chief Te Kooti. He took me to a hut, which stood on the present site of the Beacon. I looked inside and there was the chief lying fiat out on a mat asleep. He was dead drunk.”

This incident and many others of old Whakatane were recalled by Mr Eivers when interviewed on his birthday. Whakatane—As It Was

He recalled that when he arrived in 1880 -all vessels used to tie up to a flat rock in front of the old Whakatane Hotel, a one storeyed building and the only hotel in the district. Here there was 14 feet of water.

Apart from the hotel the only other businesses in the town were a smithy and two stores. The road to the Opouriao Valley was only a track and led from the town be-, tween Pohaturoa Rock and the cliff. On the other side of the Rock, where the main road now runs, was deep water. Mr Eivers said that he first came to Whakatane on the advice of a Mr P. Comiskey, who stayed at his home in Ireland. Mr Comiskey was already settled in the area. Although he knew nothing about farming Mr Eivers came to the country with the idea of taking it up. He worked in the Opouriao Valley as a stock rider on the station of Sir John Campbell, the then mayor of Auckland, for some years and then toqk a farm near Auckland, where he was joined by his brother. Later he returned and established a farm on the Taneatua Road.

It was while he was living here that Mount Tarawera erupted. The land was covered with small pieces of rock, dust and ashes for months. From here he went to Ohiwa where he took over about 1600 acres for sheep farming. This was not successful so he changed to cattle. It was near his house that Te Kooti and his followers camped, but not once did they interfere with him.

“A Fine Race” For the Maoris Mr Eivers had a special word of praise and admiration. They were a fine race. He always had the greatest pleasure meeting them, found them honest and straight forward in all their dealings. Often he employed some of the men to work on his farm and they always did a good job. Later Mr Eivers sold his farm to the Native Department and came to live at Whakatane where he has been ever since.

Still very active, he goes for two walks each day and still enjoys good health. Very fond of reading, Mr Eivers reads anything he can lay his hands, on, but books on other lands hold a special fascination. When he is met face to face it is difficult to realise he is 90. He looks years younger.

Mr Eivers celebrated his 90th birthday on Wednesday with a quiet day in 'the sun reading.