OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 428, 10 February 1909, Page 8

OBITUARY.

MR. HONE HEKE, M.P TBIBUTES BY THE' PRIME MINISTER, : ; ... AND NATIVE MINISTER. . ■Mr. Hone Hoke, M.P. , for the ■ Northern Maori district, who has been in ill-health , for about two months past, died yesterday morning in Wellington from tubercular haemorrhage. Mr. Heko was only 40' years of age. Hβ was born at JKaikohe, Bay of Islands, and was of high lineage, being related to the famous ohief Hone Heke, who played the principal part in the Native war in 1845. Deceased was educated at St. Stephen's Native College, Auokland, and after spending about a year in the Native Land Court service, he successfully contested the election for- the' Northern Maori distriot, which constituency he has represented ever since., Mr. Hoke deceived a good English education. Hβ spoke both English and Maori'fluently, but always addressed the House'in English; He was of a very genial disposition, and was personally very popular with his fellow member's. -. .. '

I Mr. Heke's death was quite unexpected. Yesterday morning; at seven o'clock the Hon. J. -Carroll, Native , Minister, -was rung up by telephone and was told that Mr. Heke wished to see him. Mr. Carroll at oncerespondedito the' call, but on reaching the private . hospital in which Mr. Heke was being treated ho was informed'that his friend had just passed away. ■ '.■. .. ..:.. . ■-■■ '~ ; ■

! The Hon. Mr. Carroll stated .last evening that ; the burial would take'place at Kaikohe, Bay of Islands. The body' will be removed to Auckland in the course of a few days. :. The Native'Minister,'who is naturally very deeply affected at the,death of his fellow member.and friend, has received telegrams of sympathy from the Prime Minister' and the other members of the'Government.ialso from' members of. both Houses of the Legislature and numerous private friends of deceased. Iji his'message, S,ir Joseph Ward said he was deeply grieved at the sad news of Mr! Heke's' death. , . "Both Houses'of the Legislature," he added, "will miss him. His genial warmth affected everyone who came'in contact "with him. He was steadfast in his principles, and leaned to the'sideof caving the landfor his people. Make -all arrangements -for the carriage of his body to his people." ';' ' ' i Speaking for himself,; the 'Hon.' Mr. Carroll said," alluding to deceased:—"He lived a man, and died a , man. He was;alwaye-kind

towards his.fellow: creatures. ';• On: many, occasions _ho committed Belf-sacritice in''order .to i help, others. Itiga've him; the greatest ":pieasure: to.help.old ,0r...y0ung...: Ifc.was' his ■ nature. In my relationship «with, him, ■ V have never known him'to. use a harsh, word. to man, woman, or, ohlld.' , , ,/ ; ; . ,;,■;• ~'..:■■,■ ■■;. .■ • : :\ PRIME' MINISTER'S '.REGRET.-:'';:/ ; '.■ ;'.';' .'(DXIIEtEdUAI'II—PIiESS.iASSOpiATIONJ ■[■ '.: V;. .-■;,; ..•...• ;Rqtorua, ; : February-' ?; '■;:. Speaking to a press;' representative.'tq-night regarding the late Mr. Hone Heke, the Prime Mihistersaid: that the news of the:late mem-', ber's , death 1 had corrie , as ; a great-shock-to him, '.'and , . , his:.' removal 'from' Parliamentary ■life was most regrettable; Mr. Heke, ,he said, was, in many respects, a , striking re•presentative. of the ..Maori race. ■' Although recognised as a-rangatira of his,own; particular tribe, he was ;as;. a:.Maori, ; representative distinctly ,, a representative , of all the, Maori tribes.' -The , late member,'took a keen-inter-est ' in" all political questions,"including not only subjects of special concern to Natives'but also'matters- affecting' Europeans. Members of. Parliament generally had been astonished at.Mr, Heke's gvasp. of political.matters, and. the , persistence with, which ■: he, stuck'.to'.'a 1 , point, even : although" the; whole of the House mightvbe:against him; '/His geniality 'and other admirable traits off character; made up largely for''minor, defects/from which .few. men- were, absolutely,-free.': Mr..-Heke's"loss would- be felt- by^.the.'Maoris' to; a , muchgreater extent. than..their -pakeha, brethern' might' suppose.' Sir Joseph' Ward said that the Ministry felt Mr. Heke'e loss.very.;keenly,.' and.ithat Mr. : Carroll ■had::cancelled all'.engagements;for .the present.;'. The body would bo embalmed in a lead coffin, and; after, lying in- state' for the. customary .time, •it would be conveyed to the land of his fathers.' He (Sir Joseph)"had "sent : messages of sympathy to the ; rather of the' deceased and the-Ngapuhi; tribe. : "A'.similar message -'had.'been , sent t<>' the relatives by His/Excellency .the Governor.' ■'•.■'■■.'. .' •' ' '~: . '.v / : . : ''.'■ .'■'•: ' ; ■'.■'..' ' '■•