MAORI CHIEFS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4382, 6 April 1875, Page 3

MAORI CHIEFS.

DEATH OF MOSES TAWHAI, OF HOKIANGA. (From the Nvw Zealand Herald, March 29.) Many old colonists and others will have heard with deep and sincere regret before this of the- death of this brave and loyal old Ngapuhi chief, who came suddenly to his end by a fall from a horse, on Sunday, the 14th instant. On that day he had attended Divine service as usual, together with his people, at the Waima Mission Station. After the service, he was in the act of mounting his horse to return, when he was observed by some who were standing near to overbalance himself, and to fall heavily with his head downwards to the other side. Kind hands soon lifted the unconscious chief from the ground, and every effort was made to restore him to consciousness, but without avail. It was evident that the fall had dislocated the neck, and that immediate death was the result, as he never breathed afterwards. The body was conveyed to the kainga, and laid out in Maori fashion, immediately, and as the news spread natives from all parts—Ngapuhis and Harawas alike —arrived in crowds to pay their last honors, and to perform the tangi over the dead body of the deceased chieftain. The funeral took place on Thursday last, when the corpse was followed to the grave by many Europeans as well as Maoris. Amongst the rest Judge Maiming and Judge Monroe, Spencer, Von Sturmer, Esq., (Resident Magistrate), and the Hon. Wircmu Katene were present to testify their respect to their old friend. The service was read in Maori by the resident missionary, the Rev. W. Rowse. Moses Tawhai is almost the last representative of that band of chiefs who early embraced Christianity, and became at the same time the staunch friends of the pakeha. He was baptised at Mangunga, by the late Rev. John Whiteley, in the year 1836, and remained a consistent member of the Church until his death. He, with others, signed the Treaty of Waitangi in the year 1840, and was ever a most loyal subject of the Queen, ready at any moment to take up arms in support of her authority. He for many years held office as a native assessor under the Government, by whom he was highly respected. A daring warrior in his early days, he bore scars to his grave as mementoes of the fierce and savage struggles of the Maori tribes before the introduction of Christianity. Ho won for himself a name throughout these islands for his courage and power, but his efforts, after he became a Christian, were ever employed in the promotion of peace, good order, and education among his people.

DEATH OF MOHI MANGAKAHIA. (From the 'Thames Advertiser.) The Thames Advertiser gives the following particulars of the career of Mohi Mangakahia, a Coromandel chief :—“ Few natives have been so famous of late years as Mohi Mangakahia, who died on Sunday at Wangapoua. He gained his fame, not through any exploits of the Te Kooti or Titokowaru class but through having become involved iu a series of lawsuits, which, after CQntiuuing for some nine or ten years, have only lately died out. Mohi had dealings with Craig, and Harris, and Macfarlane, and was mixed up in all their complicated lawsuits in a way which we should not like to be called upon at once to give au epitome of. For a considerable time Mohi was the instrument by which the Messrs. Harris assailed Mr. J. S. Macfarlane. His action was greatly censured, but probably he was injured and blamed, while not deriving much of any profit which was obtained. Mohi was a man of good birth, according to Maori notions, and he was the principal landowner in the district of Wangapoua. He belonged to the Ngatitamatera tribe, and by one strain of his ancestry he claimed descent from the Ngatihuarere, the people who inhabited this district before the arrival of the present tribes, who conquered them. This conquest, we may say, is computed to have taken place some six or seven hundred years ago. Mohi was a well informed man for a native. He was well read in Scripture, and was thoroughly acquainted with the history of New Zealand. His natural acuteness, and his extensive experience, made him quite a lawyer, and he was in the habit of practising as counsel in conducting cases before the Native Lands Court. Mohi was married to a daughter of W. H. Taipari. We have no doubt there will be a considerable gathering of the Thames natives to cry over his remains.”