OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9490, 20 April 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

OBITUARY.

DEATH OF A MAORI CHIEF. For some time past the Ngapuhi chief To Haara ha«i been lying in a critical condition at Tautoro, near Kaikohe. On Sunday, April 8, however, he rapidly sank, and at four p. in. he expired. The news flashed to all parts of the north, and the Maoris assembled in large numbers, to such an extent, that it was deemed advisable to remove the corpse to the large meeting house known as Te Whakakotahitanga in Kaikohe, where the usual tangihanga took place. Feastings, etc., were carried on until Thursday morning, when the corpse was again removed to the settlement of Ohaeawai. The coffin was borne by four horsemen, the cross-sticks of the litter resting on each rider's saddle pommel. A red ensign covered the coffin as a pall, and a cross of chrysanthemum and pine leaves was laid on top. Between six and seven hundred natives followed, and the cortege was over half a mile long. On nearing the settlement (the home of the deceased), guns were laired, and continued firing fully an hour. .Meanwhile the natives accompanying the corpse, becoming aware of the fact that the villagers of Ohaeawai were preparing a war dance, by way of reception, iaid aside the coffin for a time, and got themselves in readiness to meet the attacking party. Primitive spears and clubs from a neighbouring clump of bush supplied the weapons, and in a semi-nude state tho journey was resumed, the coffin-bearers being now on foot. The whole scene was transformed from a peaceful one to a state of activity and warlike evolution. Old Puataata assumed command, and the old man really looked every inch a warrior as he brandished his taiaha, and directed the movements of his party. His instructions to his followers were—Kite kino, patua ! kaua e waiho ! ke te ngawari, kia ngawaii hoki. (Should we bo attacked, strike! spare not ! should they restrain themselves, restrain yo also.) Each party on hearing tho other adopted a defiant attitude, and on coming to close quarters it looked very much as though a proper out-and-out engagement in the old Maori style was inevitable. Happily, however, things took a different turn, owing probably to the formidable appearance of the Kaikohe party, and operations then resolved themselves into the performance of a harihari. Afterwards t he coffin was placed in a lfcrge blacklined tent, and the tangihanga recommenced. The burial took place on Saturday forenoon, and nearly every European for miles round turned out to witness the ceremony, expecting to see another war dance; but their hopes were doomed to disappointment. The war dance didn't eventuate. The corpse was quietly carried into the Native Church at Oiiaoawai, the burial service read by the Rev. Matiu Kapa, and then conveyed to the churchyard and interred. All told the spectators anil mourners must have numbered one thousand.

It is with widespread regret that it will be learned that Lieutenant-Colonel P. F. da Quincey, the Serjeant-at-Arms in the Mew Zealand House of Representatives, died on April 15. The deceased gentleman had been "many years in India, where he contracted malarial fever. The effects of this never left him. Lieut.-Colonel Paul Frederick do Quincey, son of Thomas de Quincey, the great English writer, was born at Grasmere, Westmoreland, on Nov. 26, IS'2S, and was educated at the High School, Edinburgh, and at the Lass wade School, near that city. He entered the army in 1545 as ensign in the 70th Regiment, and served with distinction in India from 1846 to 1860, when, having become successively captain and major of brigade on the permanent staff of the Bengal Presidency, he was ordered with his old regiment, which he had rejoined after serving with several others. l , for active service in New Zealand. Colonel de Quincey arrived in that colony in May, 1861, served there for a time, commanded the Ist Company Transport Corps, and then rejoined his regiment; but seeing no prospect of returning to India without sacrificing his position, sold out, and turned his attention to farming, with the unsatisfactory results usually experienced by military men. In 1863, the war breaking out, and the Auckland Militia being called out for active service, he was appointed to the command of the left wing of the 3rd Battalion Artillery, with a captain's commission and without pay, and embodied it on those terms. Major-General Galloway, under whom he had served in India, on being appointed to the command of the colonial forces selected Captain de Quincey as his military secretary, to which appointment he was gazetted with the rank of major, and soon afterwards he was gazetted to a lieutenant-colonelcy. On General Galioway leaving the colony in 1561 he was succeeded in the command by Colonel Haultain, Lieut.-Colonel de Quincey continuing as military secretary. Subsequent to the termination of the war in the Auckland province he lived principally in the country till the year ISS9, when the office of Sergeant-at-Arm3 of the House of Representatives having become vacant the appointment was conferred on him by the Speaker. He was also Visitor to the Auckland Asylum and a J.P. The funeral took place on April 16. After a long and painful illness extending over a period of upwards of two years Mr. Alexander Brodio, once a prominent figure in Auckland and the Thames, expired on April 15 at his residence, Grafton Road. Mr. Brodie's history has been a somewhat eventful one. He was born in Leith, near Edinburgh, and at an early age joined the Royal Engineers. After studying fortification, military telegraphy, etc., he was sent out as one of a party of engineers to Canada, and helped to save the vessel from foundering, at sea, for which he received the special thanks of the Duke of Cambridge. He arrived in New Zealand in February, 1863. When the Waikato war broke out he was selected from a number of others to accompany the Imperial troops to New Zealand as special engineer in connection with the construction and operations of the first telegraph in the colony, and during the whole of the struggle he stuck to his post on the frontier. The line which he constructed wa3 of immense advantage to the troops, and the Government, and Mr. Brodio s services were fully recognised by General Cameron and other Imperial officers, as well as by the then DoFence Minister, Mr. Thomas Russell, and the late Sir Frederick Whitaker, who was also a member of the Ministry of the day. At the clone of the war Mr. Brodie elected to make in New Zealand a homo for his wife and family, and obtained his discbarge from the service, and when the Thames goldfields opened he cast in hie lot there, and until quite recently was one of the most prominent members of the community. Mr. Brodie joined the Lodge St. ADdmv, Scottish Constitution, in Auckland, ai d contiuued an active member of it r,p to the time of his illness. In social life Mr. Brodie was of a cheerful disposition, a warm friend, and one who thought no trouble too great to further the interests of others. He was sociable in his disposition, and was a universal favourite. He was fifty-three years of age at the time of his death, and leaves a widow and nine children, three sons and six daughters, four of whom are grown up but the others are young, the youngest being only seven years of age. Sincere regret was expressed at the Thames on receipt of information from Auckland announcing the death of Mr. Brodie, and as a token of respect flags were hoisted at half-mast upon the municipal buildings. The funeral took place on April 17, leaving his late residence, Grafton Road, for the Purewa cemetery at two o'clock. It was not only laree, but was thoroughly representative, and a peculiar and striking feature was the strong preponderance of thoso who had been connected with and resident at. the Thames, besides which a number of leading Thames men at short notice came to Auckland specially to be present at the funeral and pay the last tribute of respect to an old and valued friend. The coffin was literally covered with beautiful wreaths and emblems, and others .for which space could nob be found were borne by some of the mourners. News was received on March 25 of the very sudden and quite unexpected death of Mr. Frederick Ireland, at Palmerston North. The deceased was very well known and highly respected in Auckland, both in commercial and social circles, having been for for many years a partner of the Well-known firm of Ireland Brothers, leather merchants of High-street and Panmure. He was found dead in bed, the cause being heart disease. Mr. E. T. Robinson, Inspector of Schools, Greymouth, died on April 18. He had been ill for some months.

The extremely sadden death of the popular physician, Dr. Henry, spread a gloom over Wellington on April 10. The shipping had their flags at half-mast. Dr. Henry came to the colony in che ship Ironsides, in 1864, of which Captain Vaux was master. Dr. Henry was the ship's medical officer. He took part in the Waikato war, and had a share of all the fighting that took place after Rangiriri. In thecourse of time ha was elected to the House of Representatives for the Buller. He was successful in Parliament, bub Parliamentary duties interfered with his professional pursuits, and he retired. He resolved to shift his practice to Wellington. His ability at once found recognition, and his professional position became assured. Dr. Henry married a Miss Armstrong, who was, I believe, a niece of Dr. Aickin, of the Whau, who was afterwards the medical superintendent of the Auckland Asylum. She was, therefore, a relative of Mr. Graves Aickin, of Queen-street, Auckland. Mrs. Henry died three years ago. Dr. Henry was consulting physician to the Government Life Assurance Department, j and Health Officer for the Wellington District. His life was insured for £2000. He leaves behind a son (who is also a medical man), and two daughters, who are loaders araoner the musical people of Wellington. Dr. Henry was 59 years of age. The funeral took place on Wednesday morning, the 11th April, and was very largely attended, the remains being interred with military honours. The Permanent Artillery furnished an escort and gun detachment. The Garrison Band were also present. The cortege was representative of all classes in the community, and included the boys of the Wellington College, of which institution the deceased was one of the governors. An old resident of the Rangiora district ' passed away on April 8, in the person of Mrs. Dudley, relict of the late Archdeacon Dudley, and therefore connected with Archdeacon Dudley of Auckland. The deceased lady, who was then Mrs. Stagg, came to the colony in the ship Merchantman in the year 1857, in which also came Captain Gore Brown, Governor of the colony, Captain Fuller, and other well-known persons. Her husband died early in the sixties, and in 1866 she married the Rev. B. W. Dudley, who was then located at Rangiora. She has resided there since her marriage, and became a widow in August, 1893. Mrs. Dudley assisted her late husband very materially in his work of visiting in and around Rangiora, and will Ions; be missed by the poor of tho parish, whom she has most generously helped in times of need out of her private income. Tho church of the town also owes a great deal to her liberality, for in addition to giving largely of her means she has devoted a great deal of time in raising funds for the satno. An old Aucklander has just died in Fiji, namely, Sergeant-Major Molloy, at the age of 85. A party of armed Native Constabulary, under command of Lieutenant Ratu Epiti, fired the usual salute over the veteran's

grave. After he quitted the British Army in August, 1567, Sergeant-Major Molloy was commissioned by the War Office to take charge of the guard of pensioners on board the convict ship Fairlie, for Tasmania. Thence lie wont to Victoria, where he immediately received an appointment as drill instructor of the police at Bendigo. After some few years he was appointed SergeuntMajor of the \\ illiamstown division of volunteers. While there, the convicts rose and murdered Mr. Price, the InspectorGeneral of Prisons, and then broke loose ; but they were all captured and secured by the Sergeant-Major, with the aid of the volunteers, before a company of the 40th Regiment, who had been despatched to the scene, could arrive. For this he received the thanks of the officer commanding, and of the Government. Ho took part in the Waikato war, having been appointed by Colonel Pitt Senior Sergeant of the 4th Waikato Regiment, and, volunteering for the front, was appointed Colour-Sergeant. Our Wellsford correspondent writes : — It is with regret I have to report the decease of another of the pioneers of the settlement, Mr. Thomas Hunt. Mr. Hunt came to the colony in the first ship (the Matilda Wattenbach) of the fleet which brought out the Nonconformist settlers. He served in the Waikato militia during the Maori war, and was present at several actions, obtaining the rank of corporal. He held the New Zealand war medal. Mr. Hunt leaves a widow and nine children to lament their loss. On Wednesday, April 11, the flags on all the vessels in the river at Helensville, and on all the buildings in the streets, were half-mast high owing to the death of Mr. Charles May Burton, who had lived at Helensville since 1879. The deceased won the respect of all the residents by his upright conduct, and his desire to serve them in every way in his power. Mr. James Fabian Wills, who had reached the ripe age of 81, died in Wellington a few days ago. In early life Mr. Wills was harbourmaster at Portsmouth, England, but he came to the colony in 1830, landing- in Wellington from the ship Phoebe Dunbar, and has lived in that city ever since. Mrs. Robertson, wife of Dr. Robertson, of the Phoenix Foundry, Wellington, died very suddenly at Masterton on April 8 of apoplexy. The death is announced in the Southern papers of the wife of Dr. Warren, of Gore. The deceased lady was (the Standard says) of undoubtedly high musical attainments. Some of her pianoforte compositions were accepted by the publishing firm of Blocklsy and Co., London. She left a number of musical manuscripts, which are of considerable merit. From a Sydney paper we hear of the death of the Rev. E. H. Gulliver, M.A., at the age of 51 years. Mr. Gulliver was well known in Auckland, having resided here for soruo time. He was an able scholar, and an eloquent preacher. While here he interested himself in many social movements, and was for some time connected with one of the educational institutions in the city. A few years ago ha left Auckland and went to Australia, where he has died. A Kaurihohore correspondent writes : — It is my sad duty this week to record the death of one of our best and most respected settlers, Mr. Duncan McLennan, who died after a protracted illness on the 10th April, aged 74 years. Our lamented friend was born in Ross-shire, Scotland, in the year 1819. He emigrated to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, in 1837. In 1862 he removed to Prince Edward Island, where he settled down to farming, got married, and had six of a family, three sons and three daughters, all of whom, with his worthy widow, now survive to mourn the loss of an excellent father and husband. In 18SO, Mr. McLennan came to New Zealand with his family, and settled down amongst us at Kaurihohore, where they all have proved a most desirable acquisition to our community. In all places where our departed friend's lot has been cast, ho always identified himself with every good and noble movement. The death of Miss Essie Grattan, of Devonport, is announced elsewhere. The circumstances connected with her death are peculiarly sad and pathetic, as she was on the eve of her marriage at the time when the malady which cut her off developed itself. William Du Maulin, a very early settler in the Northern District, Canterbury, died on April 17. He arrived in Sydney in 1828, and came to Canterbury in 1853. Mr. J. P. Lucas, head master of the Blenheim Borough Schools, died on April 13. He was an (3d Mason, and on April 15 was accorded a masonic and military funeral. Very general regret was experienced by the paseengers, officers, and crew of the steamer Mararoa, which arrived at Auckland on March 27, by the sudden death of the chief officer, William John Wilson, at the early age of 38. He died as the vessel was approaching tho wharf. Dr. Walker attributed death to tuberculosis meningitis, and as he was willing to give a certificate having attended the deceased before his death, an inquest was not deemed necessary. l)r. Lightbourne, for many years in practice at Hawera, died suddenly on March 27. The cause of death was failure of the heart. In our obituary columns will be found recorded the death of Mr. George Brown, of ) Devonport. He was well known in the diei trict for his usefulness and zeal in social reform, and had been a Wesleyan local ■ preacher for 40 years. Deceased leaves a . widow and grown-up family. . Our Kawakawa correspondent writeß I "I am sorry to have to record the very ■ sudden death of one of our most respected r citizens, Mr. Henry Parker, aged 64, who i for the last 20 years has been intimately s connected as a business man with Kawai kawa during all its changes and vicissitudes. He was a very good neighbour, upright and , straightforward in all his dealings, and was i very much respected and esteemed. His loss will be severely regretted."

It will be seen by our obituary column that Mr. Frederick W. Dawson, builder, an old and respected colonist, has passed away at the ripoage of 75. Deceased is the father of Dr. Dawson, of this city, and leaves a grown up family to mourn his loss. An old colonist named John Murray, 75 years of age, died suddenly at his residence in Nelson-street, Wellington, last week. A Naval Brigade veteran, named Stapple, who was one of the fow survivors of the crew of H.M.s. Orpheus, wrecked on Manukau Bar, New Zealand, many years ago, has just passed away. News has been received that Mr. H. Bevan, a settler, near Manukau, who saved a train last year from crossing a partlydestroyed bridge, is dead. He got up from a bud of sickness to warn the train, and this hastened his end. He was only 35 years of age, and leavos a widow and several children.