NINETY SIX YEARS OLD

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 113, 23 November 1938, Page 2

NINETY SIX YEARS OLD

Mr. valentine savAce

BIRTHDAY- TO-DAY

An old Opotiki resident. Air. Valentine Savage, who is at present in Auckland, celebrated his 96th. birthday to-day, a special party being arranged, at which Opotiki residents now in Auckland, were invited- Air. Savage was horn on November 23, 1842, at the Wade, now known as Si 1verdale, near Auckland. At the age of two his parents went to Alatata. in the Bay of Plenty. When a youth lie went to Auckland and there learnt the trade of boat-building. He also lived at Thames for some time. He built a number of boats at Whakatane and carried on his trade at Opotiki until he was nearly ninety. He built a number of very fine launches and was celebrated for his very fine workmanship. He also- took a very keen interest in rowing and was of very great assistance to tlie Opotiki Rowing Club for a number of years. Some years ago he retired to his estate at Hawai to the east of Opotiki. After residing on the coast for a few years, Air. Savage went to Auckland and has lived in Hamilton and Auckland since.

Air. Savage lived in Opotiki through the troubleous days of the Alaori War in the Opotiki district and had many exciting experiences. His father married a member of the tribe Whanau Apanui, his people Jiving at- Hawai. In 1859 lie went to Hawai as there was trouble between his people and the Ngatai hapu. This was some years before the military arrived in the Opotiki district. Later*the Hauhau trouble started to brew in the district and Air. Savage, who- had been in the western end, of the Bay. visited Opotiki. AN bile there he met the Rev- Carl Volkner, who not very -long afterwards was killed by the fanatical Hauhaus. Air. Volkner at the time was busily engaged in building a church, which in later years was fortified, being provided with loopholes, and a mote made around it. Here the settlers used to gather for shelter in times of threatened trouble. Air. Savage did not see Mr. Volkner alive again. He stayed in Opotiki a day. or two and then left for Hawai. Next day lie reached Tunapaliore, where there was great excitement among the Maoris as the Hauhaus were trying to stir tip. the people. Ho was warmly welcomed by his tribe and lie urged them to have nothing to do with the Hauhaus, who, lie said, would do them no good. The Hauhaus had erected a pole at. Whitmire, near the Hawai stream, and around this they danced until they were frenzied for war. Air. Savage, however, persuaded his tribe to remain peaceful. Patara had arrived from Taranaki with a large number of followers early in 18(35. In thci meantime Air- Volkner took his wife toi Auckland and during his absence flu* trouble ■ amongst the . Maoris reached its height. On Patara’s arrival in Opotiki he was greeted by ahoiit 800 natives, who had assembled from various parts of the, district. A large encampment had been prepared and a great review was hold, the natives going through every manoeuvre known to them in warfare- Patara. boasted that they fully intended to take the heads of all ministers, soldiers and Englishmen, and to carry them as trophies to their great prophet Horopapera at Taranaki. The rebels had fully 800 guns with them. Later that day Kereopa, the Haulinu prophet. came amongst the people, fie carried the head of a soldier under his arm. He delivered' a lecture lasting an hour and n-half, the subject being religion. "He said the ministers had been telling them.lies and robbing them of their'lands, money and blood, and advised his hearers strongly to take to the new faith. Patara worked the natives up until they were in a irenzied state and weird scenes were enacted. On Sunday, February 26. everybody in the village was converted to tin* new faith. The natives took possession ef Air. Volkner’s church and lmld their services there. The missionary's house was ransacked and everything sold to the natives. Most of the natives were worked up to such a state of frenzy that they, wore in a state of stupidity. Alany of them spent the nights in the open air lying on the ground in a state of nudity. Patara was at Torero when Air. Volkner returned from Auckland, and had been trying toi persuade the Torere natives to join him. Kereopa was still in Opotiki, and as Patara J!\ expressed his intention t<> Volkner. Kereopa proceeded to rai'i> out that intention. The passengers and crew of the schooner were placed under a guard, and having persuaded (Continued on IJage -l).