ROTORUA NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7567, 20 February 1886, Page 5

ROTORUA NEWS NOTES.

[by telegraph, —own* correspondent.] Rotorua, Friday. Another great chief, called Te Kiri, has gone to his long home. He was a handsome specimen of the Maori race, tall, stalwart, and dignified, both in manner and bearing, although nt times exceedingly fierce and troublesome. Many years ago the late Mr. R. Graham rook a fancy to him, and set him to work in the copper mines at the Great Barrier and the Kawau Island. Latterly he has contiuued to resido at his own place, Tikitere, a place full of horrors to Mr. Sala, but especially notorious for the powerful healing properties of its pungent mineral waters. It was Te Kiri's desire that the Government should form a sanatorium on this spot, and otherwise bring it into notoriety. In the good old days this great chief was much in request as a leader in the celebrated haka and war dance, now dwindled down to a perfect burlesque of its former grandeur, and few who have seen his grotesque attitudes and savage demeanour on those occasions, will ever forget the aweinspiring nature of this dignified fugleman. The body was removed from the Island of Mokoia yesterday, amidst great pomp and lamentation, to his own settlement. A number of tourists took advantage of the occasion by visiting the scene in the yacht Katie, and doubtless during the week many will avail themselves of the sight on a large scale of much feasting, lamenting, and baka. Tourists are here in plenty, but they all appear to be in a great harry, as they seldom dwell more than one day in Ohinemutn, which shows that we are destitute of sufficient attraction to make people prolong their stay.