TE WHITI SUCCESSOR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 864, 9 July 1910, Page 6

TE WHITI SUCCESSOR.

HIS DEATH ANNOUNCED. THE MAN AND HIS WORKS. The death is recorded (says a Press Association message from New Plymouth). of Taaro Waitara, the wellknown chieftain, son-in-law of the late To Whiti, and generally acknowledged as his successor at Parihaka.

Private information states that Taaro Waitara died yesterday morning at a Native pa three miles out of New Plymouth. He had been suffering from dropsy for some months past and his death was not altogether unexpected. .The deceased was o4 years of age. There is a local interest in the death of Waitara, inasmuch as he spent nearly the whole of his life at Taita in the Hutt Valley. He was employed by the late Mr. Mason in his beautiful gardens at the Taita for some years, and assisted in the laying out of what is really a botanical Elysium. Apart from that he was the owner of the Taita Hotel, which was his property at, the time of his death, and, with his own hands, planted the trees wliich surround the property.

Married the Prophet's Daughter. Fifteen years ago, he went to Parihaka, and became a convert to tho To Whiti propaganda, subsequently marrying the only daughter of the prophet —his third wife. Though a half-caste, lie was a thorough Maori in his kindliness and hospitality, but allied to those good qualities woro tho shrewdness and intelligence of the pakeha, which happy combination, together with his ardent adoption of the Te Whiti crecd, made him the old chief's righthand man, and when he died his mantle descended on the shoulders of Taaro. He vrai careful of his people's comfort, so much so that he laid down a water service in Parihaka at his own expense, and at the time of his illness was engaged on a scheme to light tlio township with electricity.

His Hospitality. "Waitara was a most hospitable man. It is related that on one occasion the village, was visited by a Governor, who was, of course, entertained by Taarc. The feast was all prepared, and the Governor had passed into the whareftai, when Taarc noticcd the coachman sitting to _ attention on his box seat. ''Come in and eat," said he. "What, sit down with the boss?" questioned the surprised coachman. . "Yes, why not?" said Taare. The coachman explained that- it was the custom 1 of 'the poor man 1 to wait until the rich man had eaten. "That is not our way," said Taare, "with us the rich eat with the poor—come along!" But the coachman was not to be persuaded, 1 and Taare retired puzzled.

Parihaka. Parihaka is situated about 23 miles from New Plymouth. It consists of about forty or fifty houses 1 and whares, which look as if they had been strewn over the ground as dice from the box. They face any and all ways, and it is quite common for the front of one whare to overlook the back of"an6thei\ Taare lived in a modern house near the centre of the village, immediately in front of which stands a monumental statue of To Whiti.

Waiting for the Water. Taare Waitara. was hot without an "opposition." in 1 l'arihaka, who scoffed at the modern ideas which permeated his To Whiti-ism.. This feeling made itself manitest when Taare laid on the Mater. Jhe "opposition" declared that the water would never come through the pipes, which had been conducted to each wliarc. .Sure enough the water did not run, when it was expected to do so, for the simple reason that the ram which was to pump the water into a T l'-i-''!io elevated tank would not work. Not to bo defeated,.Taare'sent to New Plymouth for an expert to fix the ram, which did not take much engineering. At a certain time it was stated that the water would How, but the misbelievers, who assorted that it would not,' smoked moodily at their whare doors— and each turned his tap full on. Thc-re was no result immediately, and they grunted with satisfaction over their pipes as they eyed the dry tap-mouths. Then came a yell from the whare nearest tho reservoir—"Water, h& come!" and as the ram did its work, water began to flow from each of tho open taps, and they realised the potency of laare's policy—and went on smoking.

How He Humbled the Publican. ■ A typical story is told of deceased as follows: —One morning ho roso in tho early hours, and drove into New Plymouth, arriving about S a.m. As be had had nothing to cat before leaving, bis appetite bad a keen edge, and a breakfast of some sort becamo a matter of paramount importance. He adjourned to a hotel (in his ordinary working clothes), and asked the proprietor if be could have breakfast.

"No, no breaklast here for you!" was tho brusque reply. "How much do you charge for breakfast?" asked Taare.

j'A shilling 1" replied mine host. 111 give you five shillings for breakfast, ' offered Taarc.

No, you can't have breakfast here!" was the publican's ultimatum. Taare ato elsewhere.

A week or two later an occasion arose, and Taare gave a great spread at •I arihaka. Jlany of tlio leading men of wPi y" 10 " 111 alld others attended. »liilo tho feast was under way and the hearts of all present Merc warpi for laare s rich hospitality, the host noticed the publican of the above episode making havoc with the breast of a chicken. j-l 0 could not resist the impulse within him, and, rising from his seat,- ho. made his way behind the banqueters, and touched tho publican on the shoulder.

lIP- 0 ?; ou ! ;now m 6 ?" 1 16 asked. I( £°> said the publican. Do you remember the Maori who offered you ss. for a breakfast?" insistcd Taaro.

~ 0,1 ~ Tes! snxd the publican. Witl! « ♦ 'l' aS n ?, 6— l ? are Waitara I" »itli that ho walked back to his scat leaving the publican to his thoughts. ' Tha End of Te Whiti-Ism. Taaro Waitara dies a man of considerable wealth, represented in land and . He y. ill be buriid most piobably beside his famous father-in-la«" m the heart of Farihaka, and with Ins dcnartiirc to the happy lnmtine ground it „ said that Te Whiti-ism will i o ' Trti 01 1)ro P lll!t ,ras to tlio effect that the reign of the pakelia m iSew Zealand was merely ephemeral, and that 0110 day lie would bo swent into the sea and tho Maori would como into Ins own again. Holding that belief as part of their strango old-time religion, the Parihaka Natives had ™ lttlo to do with pakehas as possible, and have always been most conservative in the matter of parting with their lands to the wluto man.