HISTORIC FIGURE PASSES.

Otaki Mail, Volume 27, 22 October 1919, Page 4

HISTORIC FIGURE PASSES.

- /SOME INTERESTING' MAORI HISTORY. Further interesting details of the life of the late Tcouc Makarika (Mc--1 Gregor), a half-caste Maori of Foxton, .. are taken from an exchange:— • | Tutcpourangi’s (Teono’s grandf father) people, in order that his only daughter, Hinckaua, might not fall into the hands of Te Rauparaha and his allies, gave her over to Captain Jock McGregor, whose ship was then at anchor at Whakapuaka, Cable Bay, Nelson. McGregor 'married her and a son, Tcone was born at Wellington. He was left there in charge of some Europeans while Jock McGregor went to Wanganui and bought land from the Wanganui Maoris. After a time he returned to Wellington to take his son [to- Wanganui. Arriving at the mouth of the Manawatu River he left hia son in charge of the ferryman while he went on to Wanganui to get a horse to convey his son to Wanganui. On his return to the Manawatu he discovered that Wereat te Waha, Chief of the Raukawas, had kidnapped his son. Eventually Tcone Makariki married a daughter of Pouti Hairuha (chief of the Takihikus), whose wife Was Rangiwaia, a cousin of Ihakara, who was chief of the Ngatiraukawa, and who !3old this part of the Wellington-pro-vince to the Government under Dr. Featherston. , Jock McGregor, Tcone’s father, was the man who jumped over the Wani ganui Cliff close to the Wanganui bridgo when the Wanganui Maoris chased him. The spot is now known as “McGregor’s Leap. ’ ’ Tcone Makariki leaves a widow and several children, grand children and great-grandchildren, numbering in all about 200. Ihakara, Mrs Seiascia, Mrs | Tuiti McDonald, and Mrs Hui (of I Koputaroa) arc children by his first | wife. IHis remains arc now at Koputaroa, and will be buried in the family cemetery there.