DEATH OF RINA MORGAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 108, 27 June 1885, Page 7

DEATH OF RINA MORGAN.

The aged and sick among the natives are succumbing to the foil destroyer, ami no less than three deaths have occurred during the p-ist two weeks> viz., Keepa to Whaiatt, Te Kari, and lastly Rina Mokena, who died on Sunday morning. Rina was well known as the wife of Mok&ia Hou, the Native Chief, wlio rendered every assistance td the Government in opening the Aroha Gold Field, und who, with his deceased wife, have always been held in high respect. Rina had reached the mature age of 80 yearg,nn i her last hours were quiet and resigned. She passtid away in the midst of her i'anvly, who had gathered together on hearing of her last illness. The usuai tangi was held over the body, and the funeral took place on Wednesday morning the coffin was carried to the grave by the young men of the tribe, and was followed by the relations of the decease and also by tttiiube'rs of the Et.ropiaii residents of Te Aroiia, who desired to pay their last tribute of respect for the deceased. The Rev. W. Turipona, oi the Thames read the beautiful funeral service of the Church of iDiigland in the maori language, and finished by giving an exhortation to all present, both Europeans and Maoris^ on the uncertainty of human life, pointing out thai from the Queen on the throng to thf> meanest slave,- all had td die, and non there were hut mu«t sooner or inter bo carried to their grave* The eldest son of deceased, Aukuhota, is sixty years of age. She was a cheafess ol o reut luiiuente here,' and also iv Waiku.o

and Thames', >md h»r huslumd, an ' children owner? of about hfllf To Ar^u* towmhip, knowa as Morgantown. She was oilo of the first woman who embraced Christianity and became baptised, Mokena, lier husband has been .an active member of the Church of England for 4fc years, knows the Bible well, and is a frequent preacher among the natives. Opopflpod has willed the whole of her property to her eldest grandchild, a danorhtpT of Mr Geo. Lip^pv, w^o^c family own (.110 rest of IV, Aroiia township known us Lijwvtown.