NOTED MAORI DIES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 84, 26 April 1937, Page 7

NOTED MAORI DIES

-CNrn Correspondent.)

Mrs Taima RickR, ef Taupo TARAWERA SURVIVQR

(Bs Telesrraph-

TAUPO, This Day. The death occurred at Taupo on Saturday on Mrs. Taima Hinepare Ricklt, aged 78 years, relie of the late Mt. Joseph Eickit. Deceased was of the Hne known in Maori lore as Te Eere-tanga-Arangi (migration from heaven), and was„a descendant of the paramount priest Ngataroirano. She ws a chieftainess of the Tokorangi Tribe, of the Arawa confederation of trihes, and one of the last survivors of the Tarawera eruption of June 10, 1886. She was born at Tewairoa, Lake Tarawera, and wa? at this place at the time of the eruptiqn and travelled from there to Eotorua on foot with a child on her haek and an old iron kettle in one • hand. Thie fcettle is still in the possession of the family as a souvenir of the eruption. The latc Mrs. Eickit was a great grand-daughter of Hori Tq Ngahue, who was baptised on his deathbed hy Sir George Grey. A sketch of this occasion is included in the George Grey Colleetion at the Auckland Art Gallery. She has been a resiffent of Taupo for the past 56 years aud now lies in state there mourned by a large gathering. The funeral will takp place at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the service being cqnducted hy the Eev. F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa. Deceased ia aursvived by six daughters and four gons, Mrs. G. P. Eeid, Miss E. Eickit, Mxb. W. S Gillies, Mrs. A. A. "Vfallace, Mts, J. E. Story, aU of Taupo, and Mrs. S. GlaTke, of Auckland. Mrs. H. T. and W. Eickit, of Taupo, and Mr, J. Eickit, ' of Awanui. There are 30 gxandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.