PASSING OF THE MAORI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 29

PASSING OF THE MAORI.

DISTINGUISHED CHIEF DEAD. (Fkom Ova Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, August 4. Another of the old time Maori chiefs has passed away at Karetu, Bay of Islands, is the person of Honehana Te Mauparaoa, at the age of about 86 years. The late chief's father, Te Mauparaoa, was a, member of the great Xgatikahurgunu tribe, whose country extended on the East Coast from above Gisborne nearly to the Wairarapa, and came to the Bay of Islands as an ally of the chief Pomare, whom he accompanied in his ill-fated expedition to the Waikato, in which he lost his life. Te Mauparaoa was one of the few who returned, and he remained at the Bay of Islands, taking part ia many of the tribal wars there, and there Hon&hana was born. Te Mauparaoa, accompanied by Honehana, started to return to his * own country, but, staying nt the Great Barrier, hie people were surprised by the Hauraki Natives and defeated. Te Mauparaoa, his son, and family escaped to the mainland on a. raupo raft, and returned to the Bay of Islands, where he resided with Pomaro at; the Otihu pa, near Opua. When Pomare was made prisoner. on the Noith Star about the time of Heke's war, and! the Otihu pa wa^ destroyed, Te Mau-. pardon, bj»£aifie virtually the leading chief, and conducted the inhabitants of the p£ inland to Karetu, -where he built a pa, and resided until his death, on which event his eon Honehana assumed the leadership of his people, and maintained it to his death. He was a fine specimen of the old Native, stalwart, heavily; tatooed, and well versed in- Maori lore, and his example and influence were all for good. His death removes one of the fast-diminishing links with the past, and, as the old chiefs go, it seems ac if thera were now none to take their places.