OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1918, Page 6

OBITUARY.

MR. JOSEPH tHAWKEN. By the death of Mr. Joseph Haw-ken, at the age of i>l years, the Dominion has lost another of its pioneer settlers. The deceased was a man of sterling character, and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. He arrived in Yew Plymouth by the Cress-well, a/bout 1552. Ho farmed the Mission Station near New (Plymouth for nine years, and at the same time had a farm near Omata, in partnership with the father of Mr. Percy Smith, of New Plymouth, the former-Surveyor-General. When the first Maori War broke out, the deceased volunteered. The Maoris took off all the stoelc. from the Omata farm at the outbreak of war. Deceased was shot at the famous Waireka fight, and lay out all night on the and his brother was shot near Sentry Hill about the same time. He afterwards joined Captain (then Sir Harry) Atkinson's "Bushrangers," and was with .the force risrlit through the fi*st and second Maori Wars In 1867 deceased took up land ar KakaraiKea. near Patea, he and the late Mr. James Bell being the first Euroroan settlers in the Patea district. Deceased came with his wife and five children along the coast from New Plymouth in a bullock dray, this being tire first family to trek down to South faranaki. They took three weeks for the journey, at considerable risk from Maori attacks. Shortly after starting farming operations at Kakaramca, the Titokowaru war broke out, and deceased lost everything. The Maoris destroyed all the crops on the farm, and took away all the live stock. The family were compelled to go to Patea, and for a short time occupied tho Patea Blockhouse. Upon returning to his farm, deceased built a raupo whare, and lived there till other white settlers arrived in the district, 'iw-irn- 1 to Wanganui about JP * *** He is survived by a wibir . t ters, and thre< sons: Mrs. J j>- ,ajj (Auckland), Mrs. Peowe (Wa'itotiWv Mrs. Prance (Wa-