A RANGATIRA DIES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4173, 15 August 1949, Page 5

A RANGATIRA DIES

TIITI KINIWE ROYAL BURIAL AT KOMATA MANY RELATIVES ATTEND Recently there died at Rotorua, Tiiti Kiniwe Royal, who was highly respected and widely known in Paeroa and the Thames Valley. The late Mr Royal was a member of a Maori family which in rank stands as high as any in the Dominion for the family actually traces its descent in direct line from the captain of the Tainui canoe which landed at Kawhia some 700 years ago. The Royals also trace descent from the captains and tohungas of seven other cauoes which voyaged to New Zealand at various stages of fee migration of the Maoris to New Zealand.

Tiiti Kiniwe Royal was born at Ohau, near Levin, in the year 1884 and was the son of Kiniwe Royal of the Ngati Ruakawa tribe and Keriata Huina of the Ngati Tamatera tribe.

Deceased was educated at the Otaki Maori college and later at Te Aute college. Most of his life was spent in the Thames district. As a young man he was particularly well-known as a footballer and in 1907 he toured Britain as a member of Hettet’s League team. In 1909 he again proceeded to England as a member of Maggie Papakura’s party and was also a member of the New Zealand contingent which attended the coronation of King George V. Upon his return to New Zealand' Mr Royal turned his attention to farming his property at Komata, near Paeroa. The late Mr Royal leaves surviving l him his wife, Mrs Agnes Royal, and eight brothers and sisters, there being no children of the .marriage. The brothers are Mr Rangi Royal (Wellington), Ahi Royal (Paeroa), Wi Royal (Paeroa). The sisters of the deceased are Mrs W. G. Nicholls (Coromandel), Mrs J. Murray (Thames), Mrs N. Brown (Paeroa), Mrs N. Swainson (Wellington) and Mrs N. Kuiti (Levin). -

Attending the funeral were a large number of relatives of the Royal family from all over the North Island, as well as King Koroki. A service was conducted at the Paeroa Pa'by the Rev. Karira Karika of Morrinsville. Deceased was buried in the family cemetery at Komata, the burial service -being read by the Rev. Father W. O’Meara.