DEATH AND BURIAL OF TE PUNI THE FRIEND OF THE PAKEHAS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 150, 22 December 1870, Page 7

DEATH AND BURIAL OF TE PUNI THE FRIEND OF THE PAKEHAS.

Poor old Te Puni, or as he is more generally known, E Puni, is dead. He was decidedly the most faithful and friendly Maori in the colony, and had it not been for his exertions the New Zealand Company would -never have been able to purchase the Port Nicholsou territory, nor without his protection would the lives of tho early Wellington settlers have been worth a day's purchase while in the immediate vicinity of such firebrands as were Rauparaha aud Rangieta. But from the arrival of Colonel Wakefield to the present time Te Puni proved himself a faithful and attached friend to the Pakehas, and his death is much regretted by all that knew him. He was certainly ono of the most gentlemanly Maoris I ever saw, and his character was unimpeachable. He was supposed to have been about 90 years of age, and had evidently been failing for some time back. The immediate cause of death was paralysis. The General Government very properly undertook the cost of the funeral, and ib took place yesterday with great ceremony, fully 600 people being present, although the day was a wet one. All tlio towu Volunteers went out, and there was quite a military muster, all the country companies being also assembled. The Native Minister hurried down from Wanganui to attend the funeral, aud over the grave he pronounced in Maori a funeral oration, dwelling ou the virtues of the deceased chief, urging others to imitate them, and pointing out how great, as evidenced by that day's assemblage, was the respect iv which Te Puni had been held by the Pakehas. The Bishop of Wellington read the burial service in Maori. One of the most noticeable features in t'\e funeral procession was the old colonists, walking two and two, and arranged in order according to the date of thoir arrival, from 1810 upwards. In this procession, leaning on the arm of Mr. R. J. Duncan, was arioldfig'iting chief of the Ngatiawa, supposed to be the oldest man in the colony. He is still able to speak and walk, although very decrepid, and he says that he remembers the landing of Cook. Certain it is that hs looked nearly as old when the settlers arrived 30 years ago as he does now, and Te Puni and other old Maoris always spoke of him as one who had been a man when they were boys. Te Puni's pall-bearers were the Hon. W. Fibzherbert, A. Ludlain,

M.11.X , W.Lyou, J.P., George Hunter, -T.P., George Crawford, J. C. Crawford, LI.M., and three native chief's. Luncheon for four hundred people >v is provided by tho Government. Tv; old chief leaves l\vo sons, but fioy do not inherit the virtues of t'vir sire, being drunken rowdy c'mradvns. It is said, and I believe on good authority, that a few days before his death Te Puni heard his sons quarrelling as to who should have his money when he was gone, and indulging in anticipations of the splendid debauch they would have with it. He accordingly called them and his friends into the room, and before they could prevent htm thrust a pile of bank notes into the fire, saying he would burn the money rather than they should quarrel over it and drink it. The value of the notes is said to have been about £1100, but this probably ia an exaggeration. He, however, kept £200 for the expenses of his funeral. — Wellington Correspondent, Dec. 15, 1870. '