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

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 16, 22 April 1867, Page 94

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

[New Zealand. Herald, 9th. April.]

It is our painful duty to record the death of ,this influential and enlighteued native chief, an event which will cause unfeigned regret among liis numerous European friends, .and which,may Be.regarded as a great public loss at the presentjuucture in this country. The deceased-chief had left to attend a .meeting of natives at Kaipara, where, he had eearcely arrived before he was seized with a.violent attack of diarrhoea resulting in dysentery, which produced great prostration of the vital power. No proper medical, assistance, we understand, pould be procured on tho spot, and he was brought back in that a*ate to Hokianga, where he was immediately attended to by Dr Jacks n, tho medical.gentleman of the district; but it was then to late for medical skill to be of any avail, and lie expired at Herd’s Point, on Thursday evening, the 21st March. The corpse was removed to W'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, boldine the usual tangi over his body, and we believe, that a deal of genuine sorrow has been felt at their loss. The remains were interred at Otawliito on the the 27th ult., by the resident missionary, the Rev. W. dowse, and a neat structure of wood has been made and pi iced over the grave to be a kind of Maori mausoleum.

It may be necessary to supply s me 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 m a fight at the Bav of Islands in the year 1837; he was thereiore not an old man, but rather a Maori of the present than of the past generation He was baptised about the year 1810 by the Rev. J. Hobbs, and was connected with the Weslejan missionaries from that time until his death, with whom he lived on tho most friendly terms. His place was seldom vacant in the House of God on the Sabbath. He was the firm suppoiter 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 tilts purpose. During the past three years, while the work of desolation lias been going on through the war iu the South, chiefly througn his instrumentality a local rutiauga has been formed forth*) feuringand improving of their lands, the-building of better houses, and the keeping at a distance tlmt curse of the Pakeha and tho Maori, rum. This, end, wo are happy to addj has been realised for two years past Another thing which he had nearly liveu to carry through was the division and set dement of the land among his people, so as to prevent disputes hereafter, by oblnin ing Crown grauts. As one of the Government assessors he was determined and fearless in carrying out any measure to promote the ends of justice, and on several occasions rendered valuable servic s to the Government. One iustance, of recent occurrence, might bo referred to—namely, the murder at Kaikohe. By his prompt interference on that occasion the further shedding of blood .was pre’ ented, and he expressed himself very decidedly in refer ence to the murderers. He was a shrewd, sagacious man, and could ill be spared at ills present time. We look in vain for a chief to fill his place, at once so intelligent, so faithful to the Government, aud bo auxious to advance in civilisation;