DEATH AT 102 YEARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19417, 27 August 1926, Page 12

DEATH AT 102 YEARS.

AGED MAORI WAR VETERAN. SKIRMISHES WITH TE KOOTI. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DARGAYTLLE. Thursday.. A veteran of tho Maori War, Tuntt Tarahina, a Chatham Islander, died at Opatu Lagoons, Awakino Valley, Northern Wairoa, this week, at the age of 102 years. He was born at Chatham Islands in 1824, and belonged to the Wesleyan denomination. He was a descendant of the supreme lord, Rangihaua, who was the original owner of tho Chatham Islands. Tunu Tarahina lived at Taranaki and was the ferryman at Waits,ra for many years. He enlisted with the Imperial troops at Taranaki with 15 others and was ongagod in many skirmishes against Titokowaru the Hnuhau. Eo was also in the fighting force against the murderers of a missionary and with tho troops protecting tho different surveying parties against surprise attacks. Ho was engaged against the notorious To Kooti and was with the party which surrounded that notorious chief and called upon him to surrender; they found To Kooti very elusive and daring, and were never again ! able to get within shooting range of him. He had lived in different parts of the North, but for the greater >part of his life was an elder friend and guest of tho Parore family.. He had refused many offers to return to his island homo.