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Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1699, 15 March 1913, Page 15

Ono of the most familiar names amongst tho old identities of Poverty Boj is that of the late lla]pr ltopata. _ 11ns courageous and. wise old Jsatne chieftain .was tlie ally of the British forces m the =trife whicli was brought about by tlie propagation of Hauhaiiism. his weird religion did npt appeal to the level-headed Kftpata, and he and his valiant followers fought bravely side by «do with the Europeans, whom the fanatical disciples of Te Ua (the originator of the new doctrine) sought to annihilate. lint for the a=sKancp of 'these friendly .Natives, thoio \< little doubt• that,' in the Poverty my district at least the Uanhaiis would have succeeded in thoiv diabolical plan to murder every mail, woman, a';ul child ot the white population. In his lifet lino Major Kopata was honoured by the Government for his brave deeds, lo\ed by tho, people whom he had on many occasions fought to protect from the section of his own race who sought-to destroy them. At his death he was accorded i\ military Mineral, and his memory is reverenced by oil who have any knowledge oi the noble part he ployed in the eventful years during which Uauhauisw held sway in Poverty Bay,