MAORI IDENTITY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 149, 27 June 1933, Page 13

MAORI IDENTITY

DEATH OF MRS. JANE FOLEY

HEROIC INCIDENT RECALLED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' EOTOEUA, June 26. The death has occurred at the age of ; 97 years of Mrs. Jane Folcy, a Maori woman who holds an honoured place in the history of New Zealand. She had a most interesting history, taking 1 part as a combatant in the Maori wars both on the side of the hostile tribes and as a member of the friendly party assisting Captain Gilbert Mail1 in pursuit of Te Kooti. Mrs. Foloy was present at the siege of the Gate Pa, and was the central figure in the historic incident when she took water under fire to Colonel Booth of tho Imperial Forces, who was lying badly wounded within the barricade's. She also participated in a- skirmish when a band of Maoris,- on their way to join the Tauranga Natives defending the Gate Pa, came into conflict with a party of Forest Bangers. ! After escaping "from the pa she joined a party of Arawas under the chief Matenga, who was acting in conjunction with Captain Mair against Te Kooti.. Mrs. Foley, in addition to her native tongue, spoke English and French fluently, and was several years a teacher and governess1, She- was an expert shot, and had many interesting reminiscences of the early. days of the colony. ' She was married.twice, and liyed \to see five, generations of descendants. . . . ' , " ' ■