A REMARKABLE VISITOR TO AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11825, 30 November 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

A REMARKABLE VISITOR TO AUSTRALIA.

-a, A RED INDIAN CHIEF. One of the most remarkable men the Dominion of Canada has produced has just arrived in Australia, in the person of Dr. Oronhyatekha, who not only represents the highest social and academic achievements open to the ordinary British citizen, but also a long line of rulers of the aboriginal race of America. ( Oronhyatekha is chief of the Six Nations," a federation ot Indian tribes once possessing the valley of the Mohawk, and the western part of what is now the State of New York. They fought gallantly on the British side at the time of the war of independence, and after it disdained to remain in the country of the "Yankees," against whom thev had fought, and crossed into Canada, where the British Government assigned them a tract of country where they and their descendants have lived ever since. Oronhvatekha, or "Burning Cloud," is hereditary chief, and his late wife was a descendant of Brant, one of the most famous chiefs at the time of the wa, referred to. The chief is dark in complexion, but not nearly so much so as one would suppose his race made necessaiy. When King Edward, then Prince ot Wales, visited Canada, as a young mail, Oronhvatekha was deputed to present, an address from his compatriots, and did so in the full costume of a sachem o. sagamore of his race. The Prince took a fancy to the young Mohawk, and it was at his request that he went to Oxford University to study. He had already shown his ability in this direction, ami fully utilised the opportunity, subsequently returning to Canada, taking his degree as M.D. at Toronto, and practising bis profession with much success. In social matters Dr. Oionhyatekht has been at the front from the first. He was for years supreme head of the Good Templar" organisation, and is still a rigid total abstainer. In Freemasoiuy he has attained to the much-coveted Thirty-third Degree, and has been president of the union of fraternal insurance societies. It is partly in connection with one of these bodies, the Independent Order of Foresters, that Dr. Oronhyatekha has come to Australia. He has been. Supreme Chief Banger for many years, and has been the chief factor in the building up of this order from the day of small things, 21 years ago, till it has Attained its present strength. Dr. Oronhyatekha is travelling in part for his health, which, since the death ot his wife, last year, has been considerably shaken, and partly to improve the work of the order in Australia, and properly organise its management in th<~ various States.

On November 15, at the Y.M.C.A. Hal!, Pitt-street, a conversazione was given by the Independent Order of Foresters, representing" the united courts of the Order in New South Wales, in honoui of the visit to Sydney of Dr. Oronhyatekha, the Supreme Chief "Ranger. Mr. J. S. Larke, High Chief Ranger,. uresided..