EPIHA PUTINI TE RANGIATA AHUA.

New Zealander, Volume 12, Issue 1043, 16 April 1856, Page 3

EPIHA PUTINI TE RANGIATA AHUA.

[The subjoined memoir Ims been forwarded to us with i request that it may receive the publicity of our pages. — Ed. N.Z.

Thr life has pone , the breath him fled, And what has been, no more shall he; Thr well-known form , the welcome step, Oh ! where are they, and where is he ? Jabez Hunting Te Ilangiataahua was the son of Te Tuhi the Chief of the Maungaunga tribe whose settlement was at Purapura, on the fertile banks of the Waikato. His mother’s nane was 'J'e Po, a Cbieftainess of celebrity. After tho death of his parents, Jahez was taken under the protection of his uncle Wiremii WetereTe Kauwae, a man of considerable influence-ami p rsonal prowess,— ono of the generals of the Waikato army. Weteiv’s children having died in early life, Jabez was adopted as his son, and became tho leading Chief of the Ngatitamaoho tiibe. We have been furnished with the lineal descent; it is as follows.: ]. Uernta 2. Wbnretipcti 3. Tapane4. Te Apa 5. Taupa 6. Ilangirara 7. TeTubi 8. 'J'e llangiataibna Sons of Te Kangiataahuo,— Epiha Poibi Kerri. W'heu fdwT. was m fits (eons ha had (ha happiness (0 moeV vs'tW w Vbtc>w«l\ vsdvtvja \\\%Uvtv\\m«dUy be was \e\\ \t> fcwAvnktft Vbtt CA\t\'iVv.v.\ fvvWx. G" Si w'iyiiiiST '»s Fab Soy tutrpose of obtaining spiritual instruction; and the Missioimien warn so well pleased with his intelligence, pint? mu) zeal, that they were induced to .send him forth (o tascrucc his benighted countrymen. For many years he was a consistent ami exemplary wan; evincing by bis “ walk and con vemtion,'’ that he looked through lhjn«r3 temjmrai to those which arc vvstuwl •, W\ wWG, )»ie ton many others m these Wn>»>» oS ysmvrtb A*slw>sion, U>> tost “ the power of Godliness," a.ud alter awtole hod aside even •' the form.” Ilis natural abilities, however, —which were great,— and the amiability of his manners, endeared hint to all • his name was always mentioned with respect, and his opinions received with deference. He took a prominent pan in ail important Maori matters, and his services, on manv occasions, were most essential to the Government in disabusing the minds of the aged warriors, of their deeply rooted native prejudices. At the great national meetings of die Waikato tribes, Jabez was always ex peeled "to address the people, and his speeches were invariably of a soo fling- character, calculated to allay the passions; indeed be was emphatically, a man of pence. The last public act ol Jabez Hunting, in conjunction with Te Katipa and other chiefs, was the delivery to the authorities of the five young men who assaulted Mr. Sutton, settler, at Waiuku. At a conference held with his Excellency Governor Browne, on this subj-ct, Jabez Hunting observed : “ O ! Governor, we give up into your hands the young people who did that which is evil. Wc have been advising them fur their good to be obedient to tbeir keepers, and not to attempt to escape from prison. We leave our children with you, O Governor, Laving the fullest confidence in you, and we know that they will he well cared for, when under vour protection.’’ Immediately after bis return to the Maori settlement, Jabez Hunting was taken ill. He was seized with violent pains in the abdomen, on tho ‘2lst ulto., and died on the 22nd, alter having exhorted the pem le to lay aside their petty differences, ami dwell together in unity, as brethren. His body was conveyed to Mangere, by order of the great chief, To Wherowhero, where it was kept till the 28ih, and during the whole of this time tribe alter tribe assembled to pay the last tribute of resiled to the departed chieftain. It is supposed that upwards of eight hundred persons were assembled on this occasion. There was much speechifying from day to day, and amongst other sentiments we heard the following . " Farewell, O our son. Jabez, farewiT ! go hence to the tombs ol tliy ancestors, —go in peace! Jabez, thou art uot derrd, no, our -sou, thou live.st in our .nfTection.s. Heboid, O our son, tby dying request is realized ! for, even before tbon art removed from our sight, the tribes are cemented in a bond of union. O my people, 0 Ngateolmtua, O Ngalipaoa, Jabez s ill lives.’’ Our lamented friend, it is supposed, was nearly forty years of age when be died ; his person was tall and well formed ; Ids Gee was devoid of tatoo, and bis features pleas ng and intellectual. How much Jabez’s loss is deplored imy bo gathered from tbu fact that so great a multitude assembled to weep over his remains. In the death of lids chieftain the tribes bavu indeed, as they assert, lost usage counsellor, and the Europeans a warm hearted friend, but we are prepared to think that many such chiefs will arise whose consistent conduct will call forth the admiration of all.