AN OLD-TIME MAORI.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 861, 6 July 1910, Page 8

AN OLD-TIME MAORI.

PATARA TUHI AND SIR JOHN GORST. (By TeleEraph.-Spccial Correspondent.! Auckland, July i. The late chief Patara Tula had a most interesting history. Ho was one of the fiuest types of the old-timo Maori, a man who, with his magnificently tattocd and impressive face, presented not only an interesting personality, but one who bad an adventurous as well as a picturesque past. His age was about 8(i years. He was a son of the noted fighting chief Paratero Maioha, and was descended from Moturoa, the adventurous sailor chief who commanded the canoe Tainui, the Mayflower of the Waikatos. The celebrated Te Wherowhero, the first Maori king, was Patara's uncle, and Patara himself was uncle to the present Kins Mahutu. i'atara'3 early days were passed with his tribe, the Ngati. He could remember when living with his people on the shores ol Kawhia Harbour, seeing the great army of Waikato and West Coast warriors depnrt in 18J1' in their vat against the Natives of Taranaki, and • their return with the- spoils of victory. When the tribal wars ceased, soon after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, the Maoris turned their attention towards acquiring the arts of the pakoha. and Patara.picked up some education at the missionary schools, being an enterprising man, he quickly made a name for himself. He was an ardent supporter of the King movement in the 'fifties, and it was in this connection that bis name became intimately associated with that of Sir John Gorst. In ISC2 Sir John Gorst .(then Mr. Gorst) was stationed at To Awamutu. as the representative of Sir George Grer, and started a newspaper entitled "Pihoihoi Makemake" (the "Lonely Lark"), in opposition to the King movement. Finding that the articles in the "Pihoihoi" had a telling effect, the Maoris started a Kingito newspaper called "Te Holrioi" (a mythical bird), of which Patara was both editor and printer. ' The articles in the 'Pihoihoi' being more vigorous than those in the "Hokioi," the Kingitcs found that they were affecting their supporters; and, making up their minds to clear Mr. Gorst and his.paper out of the Waikato, they wrecked the office of the newspaper. The editor was ordered to leave the district, with the alternative of death, but he refused to go, and it was on the advice of Patara, the opposin* editor, that the Maoris sent a letter to Sir George Grey giving him three weeks to get Mr. Gorst away alive. Ultimately bir John went to Ngaruawahia, and was there most hospitably entertained 'by Patara, and actually accommodated in the .printing office of the "Hokioi." Patara fought with the Maoris throughout the war which followed, having, uianjadventurous experiences, and then retired into the King Country, beyond thi> reach of the pakeha. In 1884 the ex-edi-tor of the "Hokioi" accompanied Tawhiao to England, and spent the remaining years of his life at Mangere, where he lived in retirement. Three remarkably fine portiaits of the old'chief have been painted by Mr. G. F. Gotdie, the wellknown Auckland artist, one being hung in. the Auckland Art Gallery, and the other in the Canterbury Art Gallery at Christchurch. An excellent bust of him by Illingworth is to be placed in the Dominion Museum in Wellington. When Sir John Gorst returned to New Zealand in October, 1906, as the British representative at the Christchurch Exhibition, ho. was met. at the Queen Street Wharf by his former-day rival editor, and had : a most amiable chat over old times. His remains will be buried at Tanpiri this week, but the date has • not vet been fixed. A big tangi will probably'be held..