“The Press” In 1867

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31275, 23 January 1967, Page 12

“The Press” In 1867

January 21 FUNERAL OF WILLIAM THOMPSON.—The Thames correspondent of the "Southern Cross,” reporting the death of the celebrated Maori chief, William Thompson, says:— By Thompson’s death Natives have lost a great political leader, to whom they have always looked in cases of difficulty. His word was law with them. With Europeans his word could be relied on, which is a great thing to say of a Native, as it is known it is generally quite the other way. In Thompson the settiers have lost a friend not to be replaced, who saved them thousands of pounds worth of property, besides keeping hundreds of murders

from being committed during the war, and was up to his last hour using his influence for the good of the Natives and European settlers. His last words were to stick to the Europeans and religion. The Waikato settlers have to thank Thompson for the peaceful state of their district. On the 29th several of the Ngatihauas came down from the country to purchase provisions for the funeral feast, and to meet Te Rahu, N.A., who is expected from town with provisions, as there will be a vast assembly of Natives from all parts of the country—Tauranga, East Coast, Taupo Lake, Hangatiki, Kawhia, Raglan, Waikato, Thames, Piako, and the South—all come to see the great man. This feast will cost several hundred pounds to Thompson's people.