Died, at Rotorua, on the 28th of October, of an affection of the heart, Te Wiremu Hikairo. He was a Chief of great influence, he was the prop, and the shelter, and the defence of the tribes. In him centered the strength of the people, being descended from the brave ChieftaiNs who guided the famous " Arawa." to land. He was a man of great nerve in battle, and many were slain by his prowess. He was a man of wealth, having many canoes at his disposal. He was master of the various rites and ceremonies used by the great warriors, and was familiar with the incantations used on the
land a.id the sea—and the signs of the heavens and earth. There were only two other Chiefs who could boast of their descent from the ancestors who came hither in the " Arawa"— namely, Te Pukuatua, of Rotorua, and the great Heuheu, of laupo. This chief of renown was the subject of disease for two years. When he was about to i-xpire, the Chiefs of liis tribes gathered round him to ask him questions and to receive his dying commands. >ume of them said to him, " Are you likely to recover from your sickness, or will it end in death?" He replied, "I have a protector." " Have you anything further to say V inquired his friends. •' No," was the reply, " There is a companion with me, but I cannot recognize him." When he was dying he said. "Cling to Christianity; be kind to my children, Eruera Wiremu and Mita. These were his last words.
On the 31st of the same month Korokiu died. He was also a Chief, and a man of energy, he was somewhat less in rank than Hikairo. The works of his youthful days were evil indeed. When he became advanced in years, he thought of his former practises, his heart grew sorrowful at the remembrance of his evil deeds, and he determined to devote himself to that which is good. Whenever disturbances arose in this or that district of Rotorua, there was Korokai in the midst of them, endeavouring to settle the disputes, and restore peace, by which means the lives of the people were saved. He continued this line of conduct until he became an old man, and was obliged to support himself with a walking stick. On the occasion of a great meeting in those paits, this peaceful and gen-tle-looking old man, stood up to welcome the visitors when he was seized with a violent distemper, his limbs were shrivelled like a leaf, and he fell to the ground senseless. The assembled Chiefs clustered round him like a swarm of flits, bemoaning his fate. Shortly after this he revived, and said to those near him—" farewell!" He then fell asleep. And now the waters of Rotorua are ruffled by the breath of storm ; and the mountains are standing solitary ! The land is clothed in sadness, while the winds whistle round the lonely dwelling, for death has borne him hence ! — Contributed by a Kative.
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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 3, Issue 76, 20 November 1851, Page 3
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507Untitled Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 3, Issue 76, 20 November 1851, Page 3
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