DEATH OF HON. W. K. NIKORA

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 15, 17 July 1915, Page 9

DEATH OF HON. W. K. NIKORA

TRIBUTES IN PARLIAMENT. The late Hon. W. K. Nikora, M.L.C.. news of whose death after a severe illness at Te Avoha was received in Wellington yesterday, was born at Coromandel on 26th December, 1853. His father, Mr. William Nicholls, arrived in New Zealand from Falmouth, Cornwall, by the ship Aurora, which landed i her passengers at Petone beach early in 1840. He settled. at Tauranga, and married the sister of the chief of the Ngaiterangi tribe, and the son was therefore descended on his mother's side from an ancient Maori tribe, tracing back its descent to Te Rangihouhira, who lived in the Bay of Plenty district ten generations ago. Educated at the Rev. Mr. Ashwell^ school, Taupifi, the deceased gentleman followed the occupation of farmer and land agent, since 1872, and was also a Native interpreter^ When Ohinemuri County was separately constituted, in 1885, the Hon. Mr. Nikora was returned at the first election to represent Paeroa. He was a member for nine years, and for five years was chairman of tho County Council. He was appointed a member of the Legislative Council, and sworn in on 27th Juno, 1913. PARLIAMENTARY REFERENCES. Referring to the death of the late Hon. Mr. Nikora in the Legislative Council, yesterday afternoon, the Leader (Hon. Sir Francis Bell) said that ,tho deceased legislator had proved himself to be a capable administrator and a very careful attendant to his legislative duties, except when he was prevented from doing so by the illness from which he unfortunately suffered all the time he was in the Upper House, and which eventually resulted in his premature death. -They all felt genuine regret that his place was now empty. It was a lamentable thing that a man .who gave such good service to his own .people and to legislation affecting them all should have been called away before there was any opportunity for the promise of his career being fulfilled. Siv Francis Bell then moved that the Council record its appreciation of the ser* vices of t the deceased Councillor, and extehd its sympathy to his wife and family. After the Hons. C. A. 0. Hardy, C. H. Mills, and W. Beehan had paid their tributes to deceased, the motion was carried, and the Council adjourned as a mark of respect to his memory. PANEGYRIC TO A DEAD COMRADE Probably the most eloquent and impressive speech heard this session in the House of Representatives was the short panegyric delivered yesterday afternoon by the Hon. Dr. Pomare, whose language was rich in the sentiment and poetry of the Native tongue. Dr. Pomare, whose voice was not untouched by emotion, said :— v "Sir,— l feel the solemnity of this occasion, seeing that my tribute to the memory of the hon. gentleman who has Just passed away will be but poorly and inadequately expressed. 1 feel that no language ot mine could extol his life's services enough, but I have this consolation, for I know that the language of throbbing hearts, amongst both Maori and pakeha .throughout his district, will bear sufficient testimony to his worth. His death, sir, removes from life's useful sphere Jin ever sympathetic adviser to his Maori people, a Councillor from the halls of legislation and a friend indeed to those in affliction. The intimacy of a friendship of many years makes mo gay that he was the noblest Roman of them all. In the language of our people I say— The Btars are getting scarce-" The giant of the forest is laid low— the midpost of the tribal house has fallen; the ridge pole has snapped asunder; the house leaks and the shivering orphans of Tv are left disconsolate. The canoe of fate (Karamu-Rauriki) fashioned out of the tree of _ sorrow and t teal's, in mythologic Hawaild, has visited the home of my friend., as it must visit the home of every man, and has borne him to those mysterious realms of night, whose gates open but the one way, from which the canoe ever returns empty. E Wiri, haere va!"

The weekly session, of the Star of. Wellington Lodge, 1.0.. G.T., ■was heldii in St. Peter's Mission Hall, Taranakii street. Members of the Hope of Petone Lodge, in strong numbers* were offi- . cially received, and also a small party j from Pioneer Lodge. The visitors officered the lodge. Sis. Olliver (nee E.* Clark), who was recently married, was presented w*itl» a handsome set of table cutlery, quite a number of members making congratulatory speeches. Musical items were rendered by Bros. Brian, Price, Ingrani, Howitt,, Kingsly, Rose, sen., and Sis. Rose. Greetings were received from Melbourne and Malta (per Bro. Mossip), and from the Zealaudia Lodge, R.M.S. Philomel. At next meeting tho Rev. Iviiowlos Smith will give a humorous address entitled^ "Wit and Humour.*,?.