Obituary

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 18, 16 December 1861, Page 13

Obituary

DEATH OF TE KAHUKOTI. The death of this chief of the Ngatipaoa, called Te Kahukoti. has perhaps already been heard of. Te Karamu was also another of his names. He died in the month of August, in consequence of drinking and being drunk with ardent spirits, and this took place at his own village, Taupo, situated on the coast of Hauraki. He was staggering home on the side of the cliff, when before long, his foot slipped, he fell on to the beach, and there met wilhinslantdeath. You \*ill find all the circumstances recorded in the letter of Tamaii Ngapora. Enough. This death of Te Karamu was not announced to the Government before the end of Ociober. On hearing of it, the Governor despatched one of his Magistrates, to make inquiry into the circumstances attending it. And then it was" discovered, as Tamaii Ngapora narrates, that the fault I belonged alone to Kahukoii who had surrendered himself to theconstantuse of spirits, and to drunkenness, for years past; and also, that if the liquor was not supplied to him peaceably, he would take it by force, and drink it off. Hence is seen the propriety Of the following advice, that the Maories should be very cautious lest they be entirely given up to the use of spirituous liquors. It is not only for Waikato, for a single people, btu for all the native inhabitants of the island that this word of caution is given in reference to the spirits, which arc so largely consumed, both by men and women, in every Town. Yes Friends, carefully avoid partaking of that food, for there is death within. Mangere, September 2nd 4 §6l, iHftffc ?h#H 6«#.

On the 22nd August, 1861, Kahukoti went to Waitawa, to the bouse of a Pakeha named Kaaia (Castle). Te Kahukoti went to, that Pakeha, and urged hini to give liira sdme spirits, the Pakeha however, was unwilling to give him any. Te Kahukoti .then got angry and told the Pakeha to 'leave that place. The Pakeha was terrified at this, and gave him two. bottles of spirits which were drank by. him and his companions. Te Kahukoti and one of the women got intoxicated. In the evening, wuen it was Suite dark, Te Kahukoti returned to Te ftwakawa, with one of the women to lead him ; in the middle of the roacl Te Kahukoti said to the woman, return you and fetch Mere (who had been left drunk at the Pakeba's place). The woman said No, I will go on to lead you. Te Kakukoti said, Go back, and fetch Mere, I, am all, right. The woman then left him sitting where this conversation took place, and went to fetch .tjhe one tbey had left behind at the Pakeba's place. After the departure of the women, this man got up arid, walked on by tbe r descent towards the inland, he went along tj»e ledge of rock, and a little beyond, probably, down he fell, his forehead struck against a stone and there he lay. When those women came to the place where one of them had left him, they looked about for him in vain, he had gone: they called, but he did not answer. They supposed that he had reached the village, and. they went on. Had it been daylight, they would probablv Ijave seen him lyiog. They reached the Village and asked if Kahukoti had arrived, No. They at once sent men to track him; tjiey went as far as Kaala's house, but could not see him. On the following morning they renewed the search by the water side, and found his shawl; a little farther on, the blanket; and beyond, they found te Kakukoti, dead : : be was lying face down, among the seaweed. Hearken, 0 tribes. The deceased was a great chief, a relation of Potatan's. Scoff at my loss Oman, say that he was rightly served. Let his fault be a warning to us. This is another of my words. "Let him Uku thinketb he standeth take heed "lest he fall." There is another thing, this man's sin we have seen, and ye have also your sins within you. There has been another death, here at Manukao, Wi Kaibobo, of Paketapapa. He is quite dead; he died from sickness, and is being taken to Te Onep« ; near Tan-'

rangaruru, there to be buried. He died on the Ist September, 4861. Enough. From your loving friend, Tamati Ngapora.