Chief Killed by a Cow.

Patea Mail, 15 July 1880, Page 3

Chief Killed by a Cow.

(From our Correspondent) Waitotara, Wednesday. A shocking fatality occurred here on Monday night. Messrs James Peat and C. E. Brewer had taken a cow for slaughter at Mr Brewer’s place, about a quarter of a mile below the township, on the river bank road. The smell of blood frightened the animal, and she rushed back. Mr Peat tried to stop her from going through a small gap in the furze hedge, but he was tossed from his saddle by the infuriated beast, which rushed up the road towards the township. Mr Brewer’s assistant on horseback followed to head her. Some natives going to Ihupuku, a native village below the railway bridge, were warned to got out of the way, but would not move aside. One of them, an influential chief named Piremiona te Kahue, was charged by the cow full tilt. The chief was thrown violently to the ground, and gored so severely that he died in a short time.

TANGI AT PATEA. News of the chiefs death reached Patea on Tuesday, and the assembled natives set up a tangi howl, especially the women. The deceased was well known to them, and some left immediately to attend the regular tangi at Waitotara. A curious application was made to the Judge of the Lands Court yesterday. Tairoa, a leading chief, asked the Judge in private to suspend the business of the Court till after the natives had held their tangi over the death of Piremiona te Kahue. Judge Heaphy said that it is not a custom with British Courts to suspend business on the occasion of a death of a person, no matter how high his position. The business must therefore proceed, although he sympathised with the natives in their grief. Tairoa then said : If a horse and rider fall in a race, you don’t stop the race, but pull them aside, and let the race go on. I see.