THE CHIEF MATUTAERA POTATAU.

Aotearoa, or the Maori Recorder, Volume 1, Issue 1, 1 January 1861, Page 8

THE CHIEF MATUTAERA POTATAU.

Matutaera Potatau Te Tapuke, son of the late celebrated Waikato Chief Te Wherowhero, succeeds his father in- the Chieftainship over the . Waikato tribes, having been duly inaugurated shortly after the demise of Potatau, in accordance with the customs of the people. Matutaera resided with his father at Mangere for many years, and married Sarah the daughter of Tamati Ngapofa of that placea most, excellent exemplary man, deservedly respected by all. Tamati was a particular , favorite of Sir George Grey’s, who corresponded with him from Africa. Although a chief ;of great rank, he is the priest and teacher of his people and has raised , a noble stone building at Mangere, for the worship. of the true God, whom his fathers knew- not, although he had given his -well-beloved.son as a ransom for their sins. 1 . . -

During the lifetime of his father, the present representative of the Ngatijnahuta tribe took no active part whatever in political affairs; modest, unassuming, and extremely retiring in disposition, his voice was seldom or never heard, and his presence seldom if ever beheld in the councils of the people. ■ Whakaawhi, 1 Matutaera's mother, was a chieftess of Waikato- and he is -the only living child. Potatau's two daughters, Tiaho Te Paea, relict of the late Jabez Bunting, chief 'of Ngatitamaoho; and Makereta Tae, wife of the chief Patara of Mangere, are by another wife, Raharaha, who is still living. Matutaera has five children, three sons, and two daughters, who are respectively named Tamati, Hori, Heta, Tamo, and Rangi. There is' a great genealogical tree in connexion with this ancient princely family, extending its branches North and South; we subjoin ■& fragment, merely seven generations, covering a period of about 200 years, furnished by the Chief and Native Assessor Ihaka Takanini of the Akitai,-a remnant of the famous Waiohua nation, the ancient inhabitants- of Auckland and the surrounding districts, who were subdued when heathenism held its- iron sway over the New Zealanders. Another branch of this renowned nation is represented by Paul Te Putu, the great land proprietor of Coromandel The following is a portion of the genealogical tree referred to above : ■•■'.■ ■■■■'- 1. Tapaue. 2. Te Putu. .•/ -■ . -■';• . 3. Tawhiao. ' . .. ~ ' '■■ 4. Tuata. ■ ■','.■'■". ". ..'•' , ' 5. Te Rauanganga. ',--■':_ ■ 6. Potatau Te wherowhero. ' ' " ; his brother Hori Takiwarulate husband of Towha daughter of Rewa Chief of Ngaitawake of the Bay of Islands. Th.ei»« . - . sister was Tiki. ; . . •" " 7. Matutaera Te Tapuke.

.Matutaera is now residing atNgaruawahia, Waikato, where his father ended his earthly pilgrimage, strictly adhering to Potatau’s motto, “ Religion, love, and law; ” and earnestly endeavouring to carry out the dying injunction of the most influential personage, perhaps, of his generation. And this injunction was none other than to maintain by every possible means, friendly relations with the Government of the country, and the European settlers spread over the land. '