OBITUARY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 307, 26 September 1929, Page 3

OBITUARY.

, PIONEER PASSES. ! Death of Captain Tizard. An old identity, whose early years ■Were crammed full of adventure, passed away last week, in the person of Captain Hayes Henry Tizard, of Okauia Hot Springs.

The late Captain Tizard, who was an his 86th year, was born in Dorset, England, and had resided in the Matamata district for well over thirty years, most of which time he was in charge of the Hot Springs. Captain Tizard first landed in Auckland, •where Birkenhead now stands, in i 1855 as an able seaman. Later, he 1 obtained his master’s certificate and i during the Maori war ran cargoes j of ammunition' for the Government 1

!to various military posts. These included Wairoa, near Clevedon, and Tauranga, in 1864, the Captain being a witness Of the historic engageJ ment on Gate Pah. 5 When the late Mr. J. C. Firth opened up his great estate in this district, Captain Tizard was employed snagging the Waihou river, a job which in those days cost over £4OOO. With a team of 18 to 20 Maoris, this work was accomplished and later the I Captain had charge of freighting operations from Firth’s Landing (now

known as Stanley’s Landing) up and down the river to Thames, Paeroa and Te Aroha. At first the Maoris were opposed to these schemes of the white man, and Captain Tizard had to display ingenuity at times to escape from difficult situations. A story in this connection is related that when Captain Tizard was taking the “ Effort ” to Paeroa the Maoris at Thames made a hostile demonstration. No-

ticing the Maoris had some 'ish the Captain asked how much they wanted for the haul. The price was fixed, and the fish put on board, and no | further opposition took place. When j the “ Effort ” arrived at Puke, near I the junction of the Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers, another crowd of natives excitedly protested. The Captain himself was at the wheel, and he kept putting his hand to his ear, signifying he could not. catch what they were saying. He bluffed and brazened his way to where he wanted to tie up and then listened to their protests. “ But,” he told them, “ the Thames Maoris are making you a present of a lot of fish, and how was I to get it to you without bringing the boat up ? ” The Maoris were delighted, and the fish was unceremoniously heaved over again. After that it was difficult to keep the natives away from the boat. Being thoroughly conversant with the Maori language and customs,

Captain Tizard travelled all over the country getting signatures in connection with the estate, which comprised some 400,000 acres. In one particular ease it cost him £35 in travelling expenses to see one native to whom he had to pay £l3. Some time later Captain Tizard lived for a time just past the 20-mile peg on the T.T.T. Company’s railway line, a siding there being known as Tizard Siding to this day. Another of Captain Tizard’s activities was that he was appointed to take the first native census in the Urewera Country. Returning to Okauia, Captain Tizard took over the Hot Springs, and displayed a keen interest in local affairs. For years he acted as •postmaster, and -being recognised as I one of the foremost authorities in I Maori lore in - the Dominion, was fre- | quently consulted by the late Sir William Herries whilst he was Native Minister.

After repeated attempts had been made by settlers in the vicinity to get a school at Okauia without success, it is related that Captain Tizard arranged for a further visit of inspection by the Education Board authorities. For their edification a number of children were imported from Tauranga, and this time the school was secured. Deceased had charge of the Opal Springs for a period of 27 years, and only retired a few years ago from active work. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Haora, of Ratana, Wanganui, and an adopted daughter, who is the widow of the late Rev. Te Kanapu.

The Funeral. | The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, the cortege leaving the J Springs for Matamata cemetery at 2 I p.m. There was a good attendance | of settlers from round about, and the | pall-bearers were Messrs. A. Story,

C. J. Brindle, W. McDonald and *J. Douglas. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. A. C. Hampton, Presbyterian Minister.