THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, April 20, 1854. DEATH OF THE CELEBRATED CHIEF HOOK-NOSE.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VI, Issue 139, 20 April 1854, Page 1

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, April 20, 1854. DEATH OF THE CELEBRATED CHIEF HOOK-NOSE.

One of the most famous warriors of former days,—a man equally and deservedly esteemed by the tribes and by the Europeans —one whose memory reached back to the days when the great English navigator, Cook, visited these islands—has recently

paid the (Icl)t of nature:—The renowned Tc Taniwha, or Hook-nose; is no more ; in the fulness of many days, he expired in the presence of his trihe, at Coromamlcl Harbour, on the 21st of November. During his last illness Hook-nose experienced the most marked respect of his native brethren; many chiefs of distinction paying a parting visit to the dying veteran. This circumstance so different from native usage which delays such ceremonial visilsYdl death has claimed his own and the body has been laid out in stale, abundantly testifies the high esteem in which the deceased was held. Hook-nose was a great and skilful leader; and his own personal prowess was of so daring a character, that victory was frequently the consequence of his individual gallantry. But lie was possessed of higher and nobler attributes than mere animal courage. "He was prized," writes a native friend and biographer, " chiefly on account of his deeds of kindness." From the writer in question, wo learn that on a certain occasion, Hooknose and his tribe, which were then exceedingly numerous, had been invited to a feast near Waikato. On his arrival, he found a party of Northern warriors, amounting to a hundred men, under the leading of a chief named Ngauri, in company with his host. These were returning from a war party; therefore, as was customary al such mcclingsj previous to commencing the war din.CC, a sliam light took place. At displays of this kind, the light-footed of either parly arc wont to dart forward and close with their opponents in single combat, the utmost good feeling being supposed to prevail. On the present occasion, Hook-nose and Ngauri were the principal actors. The latter, however, seemed determined to convert the mimic into actual strife, for brandishing his bright tomahawk in tho air, he rushed upon his antagonist with unaccountable fury. Hooknose received him wilh the utmost intrepidity, warding his advances with a long spear, and after a desperate struggle felling him to iho earth, am) seating himself on his prostrate foe in token of his triumph. On witnessing the discomfiture of their Chief the Northern party fled, in the greatest consternation, lo their canoes, leaving their fallen hero to his fate. Hook-nose was speedily surrounded by his warriors who clamoured loudly for the blood of Ngauri, and who were equally eager to follow the retiring steps of his bewildered tribe ; but the magnanimous Hook-nose exclaimed "Restrain yourselves; ours is ihc triumph;" and had compassion on his fallen foe. " And thus it was," observed his biographer, "Te Taniwiia saved ihc life of Ngauri, and permitted him lo rcliirn lo his people in ihe North, and greet them by rubbing noses." Hook-nose in his youth, must have been a very handsome'man", being tall and well proportioned in his form, and dignified in his demeanour:—His profile, from which his European name has no doubt been derived, bore a great resemblance to ihalof England's mighlv hero, the Duke of Wellington. His original name was Tc Horeta, that of Taniwiia (Sea God) having been acquired in an aetion wilh the enemy. Having put them to flight, Ihey made their escape to their pah and were in the act of securing their canoes, whcnTe Horeta came up—'' Do not fasten them, I claim litem," said lie. The reply was, " We will keep them ourselves." " We shall sec whether you rcplilescankcep them," returned Tc Horeta, and springing from a high bank in the hope of getting into the canoe, ho fell into the stream, but contrived lo get under ihc bow of ihc canoe; whilst in this position the, men on board endeavoured to spear him; but leaping into the catioc he drove ilicm overboard, and took possession. On beholding this the people in the pah, utterly confounded, called out " ho is a Taniwiia (Sea God) not a man." Hence the origin of his name. [To be continued.J