MAORI IRON DUKE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 145, 4 June 1936, Page 6

MAORI IRON DUKE.

Address to H.B. Historical

Society

PAREIHE’S LEADERSHIP

Members of the Hastings Historical Society listened to a very interesting address given by Mr. I*. 11. Tomoana in tho Hustings Methodist Hall last night Upon Pareihe Te Kai-a-Te Kui-a-kokopu, otherwise tho Maori Iron Duke.

Bishop Bennett was in the chair. He said tWt Pareihe was one of the leading chiefs, and probably one of those most responsible for the holding of tho lands in Hawke’s Bay by tho Nga Ka Hungunu tribe; one well known R,r his leadership and heroism. Had it not been for his intervention and leader, ship it was possible that some other tribe might have stepped in.

The lecturer gave a lull account of flic early days, .and recited some traditional verses, and remarked on the significance of some early similes. Pareihe it was who advised his followers when the district was raided by other tribes to leave Hawke’s Bay in the meantime and to secure arms with, which to drive them out. In those days tho Maoris were securing firearms from the whalers on Mahia Peninsula, in exchange for flax and fibre. Pareihe’s followers went to Mahia to collect firearms, so that they might fight the invaders of Hawke’s Bay. Their leader urged them: “Don’t let them take root in Hawke’s Bay.’’

Mr. Tomoana occupied the greater portion of his address with quotations from native exhortations ami verses, mostly in the Maori tongue. His interpretation of a haka, unusual in its clarity of expression, was so good that Bishop Bennett asked him to repeat it.

At the close of his address he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Mr. George Ebbett, who said that no man was better qualified to speak upon local native history than Mr. Tomoana.