DEATH OF THE NGAPHUI CHIEF ADAM CLARKE, OF WAIMAI, HOKIANGA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 472, 22 April 1867, Page 3

DEATH OF THE NGAPHUI CHIEF ADAM CLARKE, OF WAIMAI, HOKIANGA.

[New Zealand Herald, fltli April.]

It is our painful duty to record the death of _ this influential and enlightened native chief, an event which will cause unfeigned regret among his numerous European .J _ ... t —l. .I. _. . 1 i j 1 uivuusj auu uiiiu LUaj ua tcymucu us c great public loss at the present juncture in this country.

The deceased chief had left to attend a meeting of natives at Kaipara, where he had scarcely arrived before he was seized with a violent attack of diarrhoea resulting in dysentery, which produced great prostration Oi tiio vital power. No proper medical assistance, we understand, could be procured on the spot, and he was brought back in that state to Hokianga, where he was immediately attended to by Dr Jacks rn, the medical gentleman of the district; but it was then to late for medical skill to be of any avail, and he expired at Herd’s Point, on Thursday evening, the 21st March. The corpse was removed to A'aima the same night, where the widow and friends had remained in ignorance of the event until its arrivaL

A large number of natives from all parts of Hokianga and the Bay of Island* have been assembled for some days past, bolding the usual iangi over bis body, and we believe, that a detl of genuine sorrow has been felt at their loss. The remains were interred at Otawhito on the the 27th ult, by the resident missionary, the llcv. W. Bowse, and a nest structure of wood has been made and pi iced over the grave to be a kind of Maori mausoleum.

It may b« necessary to supply grme information for the benefit of those who were not acquainted with the deceased chief. Clarke was the son and successor of the former native chief of Wairoa whose name was Pi, and who fell in a light at the Bay of Islands in the year 1837; he was therefore not an old man, but rather a Maori of the present than of the past generation lie was baptised about the year 1810 by the Kev. J. Hobbs, and was connected with the Wesleyan missionaries from that time until Ids death, with vyhom he lived on the most friendly terms. His place was seldom vacant in the House of God on the Sabbath. He was the firm sup» porter of the Mission day-school, and strove constantly to elevate and civilise his people Several schemes might be named which he from time to time initiated for this purpose. During tile past three years, while the work of desolation has been going on through the war in the South, chiefly through his instrumentality a local runanga has been formed forthofenciugand improving of their lands, the building of better houses, and the keeping at a distance that curse of the Pakeha and the Maori, —rum. This end, wo are happy to add. lias been realised for two years past. Another thing which he had nearly lived to carry through was the division and settlement of the land among his people, so as to prevent disputes hereafter, by obtaining Crown grants. As one of five Government assessors ho was determined and fearless in carrying out any measure to 'promote the ends of justice, and on several occasions rendered valuable services to the Government. One instance, of recent occurrence, might be referred to—namely, the murder at Haikohe. By his prompt interference on that occasion the further shedding of blood was pro r ented, and he expressed himself very decidedly in reference to the murderers. He was a shrewd, sagacious man, and could ill be spared at the present time. We look in vain for a chief to fill his place, at once so intelligent, so faithful to tho Government, and go anxious to advance in civilisation.