DEATH OF A GREAT RANGITIRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2769, 12 April 1890, Page 2

DEATH OF A GREAT RANGITIRA.

Raihi TE Toroati, known among Europeans as Rice, died at Maungakawa about 9 p.m., on Tuesday, He was a great chief of the Ngatihaua tribe, and has been greatly respected by both Maoris and pakeltas. For many years he was an assessor of the Native Land Court, and a staunch supporter of the Government until lately. Through the whole of the Waikato War he was loyal to Her Majesty, and ha? often been heard to say: "The oakeha is my brother, the Queen is my mother. Let us unite as one family, and let the Queen be our head and ruler." His age is supposed to be about G5, and he is believed to be a relation of Rewi Maniapoto. Until recently his mana was great, but during the last few years he appeared to be in his dotage, and threw in his lot with King Tawhiao, whose religion he adopted. Previous te that time he was a believer in the English Church, in which we are told he was baptised. His last words are stated to have been : " Remain true to your friends the white men and the Queen, and may the Almighty protect us all, ake, ake, alee! (for ever and ever and over). lam going to sleep (in death); do not forget my loyal tribe." Rice was well-known to the storekeepers of Hamilton and Cambridge, amongst whom he bears the character of having been one of the most straight-for-ward and reliable natives of Waikato. Of lute perhaps he took rather more waipivo than was good for him, and consequently lost some of bis influence : but now that he is no more, that will be forgotten and his praises and deeds will be sung at a great tangi at which nearly the whole of the Ngatihawa will be present. A considerable time must necessarily elapse before anything like the whole of the tribe can be gathered together as they are very scattered many residing at a considerable distance both North and South; nevertheless, great preparations are being made at Maungakawa, and crowds of natives are to be met with on all the roads leading there. Tawhiao's henchman arrived on Thursday, and it is not improbable that the King himself will be present at a later stage of the proceedings. We regret the death of this loyal old man, and also regret the expense to which the Maungakawa natives will be put to by his death. It is only a short time since they were nearly eaten out of house and home by the followersof Tawhiao, who chose to hold a meeting there, and the death of poor old Rice will render- them—as near as Maoris can liebankrupt. Knowing their impecunious state, we asked one of them how they would get the money for thetangi? He replied: "The unsold shares in Pukekura and Mata Mata will have to go," and we fear he is correct. Those who have parted with their land will clamour loudly against those who have not done so, unless they find the needful, and the result will be the land will be disposed of—very probably at a tithe part of its value. When the tangi proper is held, there will probably be a, gond sprinkling of pakehas present; some will go to pay a tribute of respect to Raihi, and many to witness the scene, for it is not every day that a chief of note expires.