LINK WITH HUIA ONSLOW.

Shannon News, 6 March 1925, Page 3

LINK WITH HUIA ONSLOW.

GIFT TQ THE NGATI-HUIA. A very interesting' gift, recalling memories oi a iosmer Governor or xvew Zeaianu, noi'd. unslow, vviio pernaps more tiian any otner uoveinor oi tiie Dominion, \yitii tiie exception oi Sn- George Grey, endeared mmsen to me i\auve ra.ee, nas just neeii received ny Mr Here rsicneison, oi neacn Hoad, Levin, from tiie present Lora unstuw, a son oi uiw xuriner Governor.

Tnis is a biography oi tiie late Huia Onslow (brumor ui me present__Gai;ij, wiiq died on June 2?, written Ins wire. Tne book, witn (lie ionowiug ciovenng letter lroui .Lord. on&iuvv, iias iieen Aoavvarued to Mr lVicnoison ny me lvimisier lor dative Arran's non. j. u. Coates): Giiandon Dark, Guildford.

Sir,—ln view oi me tact mat my brouier, tiie. late nuia Onslow, was Honoured by neing received by adoption ny me Ngau-riuia on aepieinoer 12, isyi, at otaKi, l venture to send tiie accompanying meuioa ox ms me, wrnen iias been written by bis wile, in tne nope mat it may prove oi interest to yoursen and to ovner niemners oi tne lNgati-nuia. 1 am, sir, your obedient servant, OiNSLOW.

dins letter recalls a romantic incident in Lord onsiow's Govomorsnip, wmcli lasted from 1889 to. 1892, During tiiat period a son was born to ium, and nord unslow, wHq took a Keen interest in everytmng^pertaining ’to tne Maori race, decided tliat tins son siiould receive a Maori name. It was during a nue down tiie coast irom Foxton to Wellington, ion winch be was accompanied by tne late Sir Wal" ter Uulier( alter, whom Bulier Lake in this district is named], that Sir ter suggested that they might ride via Poroutaw.nao Pa and consult the late ivaranama te Kap ; ukai, a chief oi the Ngati-Huia hapu oi the Mgatii-Hau-kawa tribe, and a recognised authority qii geneaology, as to a suitable name for the child. It was this_chiei who suggested that he should be called “Huia,” after the ancestor irom whom the hapu took its name. Tjiis chief, famous in Maori history, was the. ancestor of most pf the chiefly families in the North Island, and Karan aina te Kapukai assured the Governor that no more honourable name could be found in the annals of the Maori race.

The name was accepted and the child was christened ih the native church at Otaki, the event being made the occasion Qf one of the. largest gatherings of Maoris which has taken place on this coast for many decades. Two/ chieftainesses of tne NgatiHuia stood as Huia Onslow’s godmothers, these being Mihi Peka, and Pirihka Tameliana, both Of whom have descendants living at Porouta\vhao at the present time. At this meeting he was formally received into the tribe as a chieftain qf the Ngati-Huia hapu.

When the Hon. returned to New Zealand in 1904 as a boy of thirteen, with his sister and mother, he was tendered a .great welcome at Otaki by fiis adopted tribe. On this occasion he presented to tjhe Ngati-Huia a gold watch, suitably inscribed, and a flag (a-Union Jack,' with the word “Huia” insoribed across it), these being received by Mr Here Nicholson as one of the leading chieftains of the hapu. The watch and the flag, which is flown at all gatherings of the tribe at the Hokio, are treasured possessions of the tribe, and the present book and letter will be valued also for the kindly thought which prompted the gift. The Hon. Huia Onslow’s life was marked by a tragic ending. While still a youth be met with an accident while bathing in the Tyrol, which resulted in this becoming, while in the full promise of early manhood, a total invalid. He did not despair, however, but devoted the remaining years

of his life to scientific research with . results of great value to the advancement of knowledge. His work during the war was of the utmost value to the nation, and his example of pluck and determination in the face of the '• gravest physical disability, was an inspiration tq all around him and w>orthy of the highest traditions of the British race. His injuries eventually proved fatal, and the memoir, written bv his wife is a moving tribute to a life that, certainly was not .lived in vain.