DEATH OF TAURUA TE TAWAROA.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume III, Issue 1, 31 January 1857, Page 7

DEATH OF TAURUA TE TAWAROA.

It becomes our painful duty to record the demise of the Cheftainess of the Patukirikiri tribe, residing at Coromandel, Taurua Te Tawaroa Makuini. Our lamented friend was one of the old Maori school, wedded to her native superstitions, owing to which we presume she was dignified by the appellation of the Old Witch* She was, however, most friendly to the European settlers, and manifested the greatest anxiety in regard to the cultivation of "kindly relatioas betweeen her tribe .and the Government of the eouniry. The writer has had frequent opportunities of noticing her conduct, and he feels happy in the reflection, that all he knew of Taurua commanded bis respect. At the great Coromandel meeting in reference to the gold question, the speeches of the aged chieftainess excited considerable merriment; but there were few in that assembly more willing to give up their lands to the Government on that occasion, than Taurua. The locality known as the Wynyard Diggings belonged to Taurua, and up to the lime of her death not the slightest •obstacle was offered to their working, nor any advantage taken of her novel position as Cheftainess of the Coromandel gold diggers. Taurua was highly venerated by the tribes of the Thames; and indeed her name was respectfully mentioned by remote tribes in various parts of the country. * Taurua expired on the 25th of December i£s6, surrounded by her weeping relatives, and some days afterwards the tribes inhabiting the surrounding country assembled to pay their last tribute of respect to her memory. The following is a lament composed by cat of her friends::—

Lo the cloud is lingering o'er the mountain Of Taururu. May be it was the path By which Mukuini made her exit. (jo hence in peace O Tawa, since the fame Of thy great speeches has extended o'er the land. Lo, when the assembled Chiefs stood forth At Patapata, the people listened, And approvingly thy name was uttered by the iribes; While the tidings were borne along to Grey, Far in the South. But where is now my Maire that stood So gracefully in forest shades? My covert, —the covert of the people Thro' HauraLPs shores/ The axe of death Has felled it, and now it lieih low. Lo in the great assemblies of the people The friend is absent now ! But rise Again, and let us see thy face Marked with Mataora's chisel. Sleep on, O Mother, in that world beyond While the tribes Ti Tama and Te Kiri Are in this world, motherless and sad. If Taurua was called the Old Witch, she was also called the Queen, in consequence of her rank and the active pari she look in the public discussions of the Maori race. She leaves one son minted Piia, a discreet young man, who is lo be duly installed into the office of Chief of the bereaved tribe.