DEATH OF LOYAL MAORI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15503, 9 January 1914, Page 8

DEATH OF LOYAL MAORI.

RECORD OF GOOD SERVICE. ■"'■ [BT TELEGRAPH.— CORUESFONDJSST.J Qisbosne, Thursday. £__" Tan old natives, who fought on the site; of the British during the Maori risings, , are gradually diminishing in numbers, rid the latest of them to pass away is* Tut* Nihoniho, for many years a conspicuous'.' figure in Gisborne. Tuta bad been in ... poor health for several years, and k*» suffering from paralysis, the result ■ of a fall from a horse, at'Waipiro Bay. ; J:M|! was in Gisborne last month, and when iw left to return home to Greytown, 1V»;« rarapa, it was understood he was to undergo an operation. News has come to' .hand that Tuta died last Monday.•'' The deceased was a warrior to the very marrow. He was a splendid type of hi* race, and a perfect gentleman, being gre«; respected by all who knew him. II« served at the Waerenga-Ahik-. fight in -IMS | and held the rank of captain under Ms'ls: Ropata in the Ngatiaporou contingent, and was present at the Ngatapa, Makan Manngapohutu. and other engagement*' Tuta was noted for his conspicuous bravery, always being in the forefront. He was ■>'. enthusiast over defence matters and always took a keen interest in the ware of any country. When'he visited London somatime after the Waerenga-AMka fight in 1865 Tuta was presented with a sword, ■:? the late Queen Victoria, and later he ear* •. prominently before the Gisborne public during the Boer War x when he jffered to take 1000 men to South Africa. Whoa this offer was declined he wanted to 'snpf! t a native contingent to garrison the ports to allow British soldiers to go to the war. This also was declined, and to relieve to < disappointment he sent a present of »'.. valuable greenstone mere to Lord Roberta.