DEATH OF AN OLD MAORI CHIEF.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 578, 5 August 1909, Page 4

DEATH OF AN OLD MAORI CHIEF.

(By Tcloerai>h.—Special CorrcßDondcot.* :••■.'■ Auckland, August 4. : ' Another of'the''old-time Maori chiefs haß passed away at Karetu, Bay of Islands, in' the person of Honehana To Mauparaoa, it; tie age of about 86 years. Tho late chief's father To Mauparaoa,. was a meinbor of ( tho great Ngatikahungunu tribe, whose country extended on the-East Coast from above Gisboniie nearly to the Wairarapa, and who came to tho Bay of Islands'as an' ally of. the chief Pomare, whom ho accompanied in his , illfated expedition to tho.Waikatb, in which lie lost his life. Te Mauparaoa was one of the fow who- returned, and ho remained at tho Bay, of Islands, taking part in many of' tho tribal wars there, and tiler© Honoliana was born. Te Mauparaoa, accompanied by Honehana, started to return to his own country, but, staying at tho Great Barrier, his people; wore surprised by the Hauraki Natives and defeated. To.Mauparaoa, his son, and family OEoaped to the mainland on a raupo rift, and returned to the Bay of Islands, where ho resided with Pomare at Otihu pa, near Opua. When Pomare was made prisoner oh. tho North Star about the time of Hoke's war, and Otihu pa was destroyed, Te Mauparaoa became virtually the leading chief, and, conducted tho inhabitants of the pa inland to tho Karetu, where he built a pa and resided until his death, on which event his' "son Honehana assumed the leadership of his people and maintained' it to his death. Ho was a fine specimen ■of . tho old Nativo, stalwart,' heavily; tattooed, and well versed in Maori lore, and his example and influence were all for good. Bjb death removes, ono' of tho fast-diminishing links with the past, and as tlie old chiefs go it seems as if there were now none to take their places.