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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 32, 5 March 1873, Page 2

Hknabe Eubu. —The remains of this chief, whose death we announced on the 26th instant, were deposited in their last resting place at Wae-renga-a-hika on Friday last. In him the Europeans have lost a good man and -a firm friend, whoso useful career has been terminated in a way at once unexpected and painful, the general tenor of which deserves something more than a passing notice at our hands. Henare Euru was an influential chief of some note, and member of the Whanau a Taupara hapu, of the Aitanga a Mahaki tribe, resident in tins district; and from the earliest days has done much to pave the way to friendly relations between the white population and his own people. There is only one instance on record of his defection from a loyal fealty to our cause, and which, during the later days of his life, he atoned for by honest expressions of regret. This was in the early days, before the detestable doctrines of Hauhauism had taken root, when on Kereopa’s first visit to this Bay, Henare, from a love of curiosity, enlisted under his banner, and in the hope, rather than in the belief, that the promised incantations would relieve him of his lameness. To this end he was induced to make a nightly companion of the skull of a murdered soldier, which Kereopa’s mob had brought over from Taranaki; but, failing to bring about the desired end, very sensibly cast aside a temporary superstition of which he so soon became ashamed. On the establishment of the Eoad Board here, Henare Euru was elected as a member to represent the natives, in which capacity he did much good. He made many practical suggestions, and was very susceptible of wrong. It was he who eayly supported, if, indeed, he did not initiate, the Dog Eegistration Act being brought into force; and, although imbued with a feeling that? the operations of Eoad Boards generally were disliked by his people, he supported the law because it was the correct thing to do. Two or the days before his death, he sent for Wi Peri and other friends to whoip he said, “ I ask you to make a will, making over all my lands to my children, but you all know I have given Whata-u-poko to Bead in payment of my debts,” and requested the fact should be made known at his funeral. This was done by Captain Porter, who also read over the grave an account of a vision Henare had seen, and his touching farewell which had been taken down, as he felt his end approaching. These will convey the true feeling of his heart, the former of which is a poetic embodiment of the trouble which his temporary apostacy caused him to the last. “ I saw,” he said, “12 springs of water; and had with me, at the time, a companion —a doctor, who told me to bathe in them. I did so, in all of them ; when I came out of the last, I was wrapped in a white sheet. I saw another spring of very white water, and I saw an angel standing on the brink of it. The angel spoke to me, saying, ‘ Why did you desert your church ? ’ I said ‘ I had no reason to give.’ The eyes of my companion, the doctor, were turned upon me, in a threatening manner, and I continued, ‘ I did so because many others had done so.’ ” The following is Henare’s written farewell: —“ Farewell, all my people, and my children; turn ye to God and the Gospel. Farewell to all my pakeha friends. Farewell Pitt, Poynter, Eead, and all. Turn to the Gospel.” The respect in which Henare was held was evidenced by a large concourse of people. The Poverty Bay Mounted Troop mustered in force, and furnished a firing party, who fired three vollies over the grave, as the last fitting tribute they could pay to the memory of him who had stood by them in many real dangers.