TARAPIPIPI TE KOPARA.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1269, 12 April 1878, Page 3

TARAPIPIPI TE KOPARA.

Concerning the death of this Maori chief, a Northern paper has the following:— We are informed by telegraph of the death of a Maori chief, who for some years has been of considerable importance in the Thames and Piako districts, Tarapipipi te Kopara. After the death of the famous William Thompson, the chief who has just died assumed one of his names, Tarapipipi, and was recognised as having charge for the Kingito party in the Piako. Of late years, however, Tarapipipi has been quite friendly with the Europeans, and has given no trouble. Ho was a very tall, stout man, and apparently had just reached the prime of life. Some weeks ago he took ill, and made up his mind that he was going to die. By the orders of the Native Minister medical men were sent to attend him at his settlement on the Piako, both from Waikato and the Thames. On Dr. Payne and Mr G. T. Wilkinson seeing Tarapipipi, on the 24th of February, they found him suffering from inflammation of the brain, aggravated by a general stoppage of the secretions. He had not been able to retain any food on his stomach for six weeks. A messenger had been sent to King Tawhiao for a new form of prayer and special incantations. These returned during the doctor’s stay. The chiefs mot in conclave, and decided that, as it would take four days for the charms to work, the doctor be requested to return in four or five days. The doctor wanted to administer to the patient at once, but the natives rejected his advice, and would not allow anything to interfere with the action of the incantations. They were like bigotted bonnropathists when it is proposed to try allopathy. These charms, however, do not seem to have been effectual.